Year: 1869




The Wilmington (Dsl, Commsrcial
prints private letter from DR.. Edward
Painter, one Of the recently appointed
Quaker Indian Agents We extract Whist
he says about the Omahas: a
while we were looking at some Buf-
falo fish during the lrst day OF our Jour-
ney, We discovered company Of our
Omaha Indians coming down the road
toward us on their little ponies, with
pack saddles, laden, we supposed from
their appearance, with robes. furs, kc.
These were the first We had seen OF the
objects of our concern, for whom we had
forsaken the comforts Of our home to
aid in the tardy redress Of the great
wrongs we believe they have suffered,
and felt my heart glow with strange
aud deep emotions as they approached
us. They came along in single flo on
their ponies, some males and some fe-
males, with here and there q papoose
swaddled up in a blanket, riding quiet
/ ly along with squaw who was the
Eowner; its little coppery face and slick
black hair peering out above the blank
let that inclosed it. Some of them had
llong poles, dragging their ends on the
Iground behind the ponies. These were
to set up for tepecs, which they cover
with Buffalo skins to make kind of
tent when they encanp for the night, a
hole being left for the smoke to escape.
We spoke pleasantly to them as they
passed along by us, to which some of
them replied with kind Of grunt and a
pleasant grin. One of them was fine
looking fellow, perhaps 25' or 80 years
of sge, his face painted red up to the
roots Of his shining and exuberant suit
of jet black hair. He looked inquisi-
lively at us, and the gnrrulous proprie-
tor of the fish pond beckoned him ur to
our wagon. saying. as he approached us,
by way Of an introduction, Major-Oma-
ha-new Major (for, be it known, the
agent at the reservation is always known
by the title of Major, and was told in
herited that title in virtue Of his posi-
tion from Government.) He could un-
derstand little English, and, on dis
covering who was. he honored me with
! a broad grin and grunt, promptly ex-
tending his hand. We had . cordial
shaking of hands, which felt to be
more than a mere form After some
little attempt at conversation by means
of dumb show, he ventured on trial Of
little English. which the woman said
meant hungry turned instinctively
to our lunch basket, but before took it
from the wagon the thought flashed over
i my mind, what if the whole company
should be hungry, and we had not
enough? It was fortunate this idea oc-
Cured to me. for in all probability they
would have gathered around and soon
emptied our little store; and their hum
ger, beside, was probably more imagi-
nary than real for we were informed
this was common pretext for getting
money. The woman helped me to put
him of by saying, new Major hungry,
too so he turned away and passed on
without seeming at all discomfitted.-,
We spent the night at q small hotel by
the wayside, where we had some conver-
sation with settler in the neighbor~
hood, whom we found, by his peculiar
dialect, to be from New England He
was the first one we had met with VIII o
seemed to have a violent prejudic g
against the civilization of the Indians,
aud insisted upon it, they ought to be
removed from the valuable reservation
they now occupy. He said such people
never could be civilized that he had
seen them roast a dog and eat it. con-
tented myself with remarking that his
repugnance to dog meat might be part
ly from prejudice. and though l did not
fancy it myself. If it suited them to eat
it, they were at liberty to do 50 =
I have had some talk with the Chiefs
this morning. through the interpreter
There are seven Of them. Yellow Snake
is one of the most active. He got me to
examine his eyes this morning. ! shall
no doubt have plenty of medical prac-
tice, have had several cases already. I
had long talk with Louis Saunsace,
tho interpreter wish could
tell you you more about the Indians. A
number Of them have called on me,
among them several chiefs-Yellow
Snake, Gihiga, Lion, Cinde- ha-ha, etc.
They are fine specimens of their race
Some Of them have gaudy red blankets,
with leggins; few dress in citizens
clothes. A number of young women
have also called to see US, and all seem
ed pleased that we have come. They
will let us have cows to make - much
milk and butter as we please. To look