The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-10-13
CHOSE OLDEST WIVES
Indians Are Induced 10 Stop PraefIes q
Polygamy.


Inst week was a hard one for the
old men Of the Kiowa, Comancne anu
Apache tribes of Indians, says inc
wichita (Kan.) correspondent OF Inc
Chicago Record. They had to give Wy
all of their wives but one. Some Oh
the medicine chiefs had as many as zen
women whom they called wives. All
but the favorite one are now hNihS
away from the old bucks tepee
When the law was passed throwing
open to settlement the kiowa, CONAN
che and Apache reservation, 1t was de-
cided that these Indians should Do
more civilized. 1t was with this emo
in view that the Indian agent an
nounced to all the men that they must
give up their numerous wives, or they
| would receive no part of the land 10
be allotted, nor would they receive their
share Of the money shortly to be PAID
them. 1t was hard blow 10 the
tribes, as they have always practiceu
polygamy without any interference.
In reply to letter from Agent Mis-
chare, the Indians gathered at Daring
ton on the first of the week. The OLD
men had all of their wives with them.
The agent made q speech to them In
| which he set forth the fact already
stated. The medicine men made re-
plies. Rolling Pony, who had ten
beautiful young squaws and one old
one. was the principal talker against
the giving up Of his wives. He said
that they represented him as wealthy
man and IL he had to give all OF them
up but one the Indians would think
that he was q very poor man and nc
would lose his influence among his PEG
Die. He said that for his wives he hat
paid nearly 1000 ponies and had beer
! twenty years in gathering them arount
his tepee. He made no mention OF Low
:. ing any OF. them, but said they wer'
6 good workers and tended his crops II
;. good shape. The agent asked him !
he loved them and which one he Ike
best. He made no reply, saying he oil
!, not understand the question. Then tn
) agent told him he must make III
choice then and there. The squaw
;, were all lined up before the old ma
and he looked at them long and earl
estly. Finally he selected the Older
one, she being shown in the photograp
with him. Rolling Pony has been .
Indian police for the last ten year
q but he told the agent he was going
quit now, as the government had NJ
given him a fair deal. The discar9e
% suuaws will be taken charge OF by u
Indian agent and made to work \!
their living.
Mario, a KiOwa warrior, had ny
n wives, but he gave up all but on
Gawkey, a Comanche policeman, IA
eight wives and he kept the Oldest on
a About sixty old men had to give
nl their many wives and they inyariaD
took the one they had bought frs
casting the youngest and prettie
aside. The sQuaws who were thus d
serted did not seem to mind 1t, d.
Is were glad to be released from the hal
r. work In their husbands harem. IL
Old men were very much against giviI
up the many squaws, first because tn
t. represented many ponies and. secon
they were a mark Of influence IN L
dian society. The more squaws a me
icine man possessed the more popul
9, he was. 1t is among this class OF pc
~ pie that the white people who want
take free homes in the new country
he be given away soon will have to III
90 They are peaceable Indians now, 0
they cling to their old customs WIN
deathlike tenacity.