The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1891-11-14

in this country. We might travel between
two places dozen times and never follow
exactly the same track. My dog weighed
100 pounds when in good condition to run,
and ne and my Indian friend have been my
only companions on many long and per
ilous journey.
GREAT POWER OF THE coNJCRERs.
The power exercised by the conjurers
over their tribes Is very great, and they
know that the missionaries come TO break
iC. When an Indian feels an inspiration
or an inclination, whatever it may be to
become conjnrer he goes through a sim
gular course of training. He will sit
alone for hours at night on the summit of
the cliffs, talking to the clouds and listen
ing to the sounds of the winds. During
the daytime he is secreted in cave, An
air Of mystery surrounds his life and move
ments. He starves himself almost to
death. Months after absenting himself
from the tribe be comes back. Then he is
a coniurer. | went to see one of these old
men one night, as was my custom when
visiting new tribe. My scout had gone
ahead to tell him the missionary was com
ing. The old man was unusually danger
Gus and ,unning. entered his wigwam
and told him the truth about the object OF
my visit. i have come to break the power
you WELD over your people, said. i will
take supper with yon first and then we will
talk the matter over His eyes lighted up
with an expression Of triumph and exulta.
tion. He glanced toward his poison bag
and then surveyed me with an expression
of satisfaction and contentment. l knew
what he meant and recalled the entreaties
of my cout, who had begged me to stay
away, and when | refused said in despair
that he would accompany me If | would
promise not 10 eat or the conjurer's food.
Now, you are not going TO poison me,
said to che conjurer, as his eyes returned
from the poison bag. i know what YOU
have there, but you dare not give 1t to me.
Come, be friendly; will furnish the tea
and you the meat, and before he had a
chance TO object began to make tea while
the conjurer jumped up and threw several
chunks of meat into the pot. The rascal
told me it was venison, but know it was
dog meat. never had any trouble with
| him after that.
ARE INvETERATE GAMBLERS.
"Oftentimes our journeys lay across
| swollen streams and restless lakes" Rev.
Mr.. Young continued, land the trips were
perilous to an unusual degree, bu. my
scouts always brought me through safely
and learned to sccf at danger. These
Indians know nothing of intoxicants and
are therefore trustworthy. They do not
even know how to brew inebriating liquors
from herbs. Their only vice is gambling,
and have almost persuaded them to quit
that They gamble by sitting around On
the ground and guessing at the numbac Of
sticks one of the gamblers holds in his
hand, which is 81 creted under blanset or
the skin of an arimal When fr.t vent
among the Cree Indians this vice wa,
prac.iced to an alarming extent. | have
known Indians to go TO the far agencies
with their entire winters catch OF pe.ss
and come back without stitch of clothing
to protect their forms. They would hover
over the blankets guessing at the number
of stick until they had lost BLANKETS, furs
sleds, dogs. guns, clothing and finally wife
and children. These of course were ex
ceptional cases. Poygamy formerly ex
listed in the tribes, but that vice has al
most disappeared.
''The Indians are now honest and re
ceive our teaching with evident comfor
to themselves. | found many noble anC
generous fellows among them. many pleas
ant travelling companions. Some of thea
are very witty in their own tongues
They tell very funny and peculiar jokes a
the end of long journey, after the FIRE
have been lighted for the night. For NOR
than ten years have lived among then
without fastening either the doors or win
dows of my house. never suffered th
loss of any of my property, although som
of my belongings tempted these peopi
sorely When think of Their fidelity an
faithfulness to me, and the splendid Sc,
;; vices rendered to me and my good viii
during onr long life among them. fe'
fully compensated for the h,rlshtl
through which passed aud the sufferin
that at times attended my work.-Cnicae
Sunday Herald.