to any given locality, but are found as
traders, trappers, or hunters among most of the Indian tribes
inhabiting our continent. I even saw them living with the Mormons in
Utah. They are among the Indians as the Jews among the whites,
essentially wanderers.

The Shawnees have been associated with the Delawares 185 years. They
intermarry and live as one people. Their present places of abode are
upon the Missouri River, near Fort Leavenworth, and in the Choctaw
Territory, upon the Canadian River, near Fort Arbuckle. They are
familiar with many of the habits and customs of their pale-faced
neighbors, and some of them speak the English language, yet many of
their native characteristics tenaciously cling to them.

Upon one occasion I endeavored to teach a Delaware the use of the
compass. He seemed much interested in its mechanism, and very
attentively observed the oscillations of the needle. He would move away
a short distance, then return, keeping his eyes continually fixed upon
the needle and the uniform position into which it settled. He did not,
however, seem to comprehend it in the least, but regarded the entire
proceeding as a species of necromantic performance got up for his
especial benefit, and I was about putting away the instrument when he
motioned me to stop, and came walking toward it with a very serious but
incredulous countenance, remarking, as he pointed his finger toward it,
"Maybe so he tell lie sometime."

The ignorance evinced by this Indian regarding the uses of the compass
is less remarkable than that of some white men who are occasionally met
upon the frontier.

While surveying Indian lands in the wilds of Western Texas during the
summer of 1854, I encountered a deputy surveyor traveling on foot, with
his compass and chain upon his back. I saluted him very politely,
remarking that I presumed he was a surveyor, to which he replied, "I
reckon, _stranger_, I ar that thar individoal."

I had taken the magnetic variation several times, always with nearly
the same results (about 10 deg. 20'); but, in order to verify my
observations, I was curious to learn how they accorded with his own
working, and accordingly inquired of him what he made the variation of
the compass in that particular locality. He seemed struck with
astonishment, took his compass from his back and laid it upon a log
near by, then facing me, and pointing with his hand toward it, said,

"Straanger, do yer see that thar instru-_ment_?" t