The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-29
look THEIR BEST WIVES.
Sad Day for the Indians Who Gave
Up Poiy=nEsy.

Last week was hard one for the old
men OF the Kiowa Comanehe, and Apache
tribes of Indians. They had to give up all
their wives but one Some Of the medicine
chiefs had as many as ten women whom
they called wives. All but the favorite
one are now living away from the old
/ bucks tepee.
When the law was passed throwing open
TO settlement the Kiowa Comanche, and
Apache reservation, Ii was decided that
these Indians should be more civilized. It
was with this end in view that the Indian
agent announced to all the men that they
must give up their numerous wives or they
/ would receive no part Of the land to be al
lototed, nor would they receive their share
Of the money shortly to be paid them. It
was a hard blow to the tribes, as they have
always pfsGt!eed polygamy without any
/ Interference.
/ In reply TO a letter from Agent Mischare.
the Indians gathered at Darlington on the
first of the week. The old men had all OF
their wives with them. The agent made
speech to them in which he set forth the
fact already stated. The medicine men
made replies Rolling Pony. who had ten
beautiful Joung sG:aws and one old one,
was the principal talker against the giving
up OF his wives. He said that they repre-
sented him as wealthy man and if he had
to give all of them up but one the Indians
would think he was a very poor man and
he would lose his influence among his
people. He said that for his wives he had
paid nearly Loco ponies and had been
twenty years in gathering them around his
tepee. He made no mention OF loving any
of them. but said they were good workers
and tended his crops in good shape. The
agent asked him If he loved them and
which one he liked best. He made no
reply, saying he did not understand the
question.
Then the agent told him he must make
his choice then and there. The squaws
were all lined up before the old man and
he looked at them long and earnestly. FL
nally he selected the Oldest one Rolling
Pony has been an Indian policeman for the
last ten years. but he told the agent he
was going to quit now, as the Government
had not given him a fair deal. The dis
carded squaws will be taken charge Of by
the Indian agent and made to work for
their living
Mario. a Kiowa warrior. had five wives.
but he gave up all but one Gawkey,
Comanche policeman had eight wives and
he kept the Oldest one About sixty old
men had to give up their many wives and
they invariably took the one they had
bought first. casting the youngest and
prettiest aside. The squaws who were
thus deserted did not seem to mind it, but
were glad to be released from the hard
work in their husbands harem. The old
men were very much against giving up the
many sQuaws, first because they repre-
scented many ponies and. second, they
were 4 mark of influence in Indian So
clety. The more squaws a medicine man
possessed the more popular h. was. Il is
among this class of people that the white
people who want 20 take free homes in
the nav Coy to be given away socn
viii have to live. They are peacsable In
dians now. but they cling TO thair old
customs with a deathlike telEtcity.