promised visitor, and have since then never gone on the war-path. This
may seem an incredible tale, but is a fact.

Also near us were the Zuni Indians, who, like the Pueblo Indians, lived
in stone-built communal houses, had entirely different customs to those
of the Apaches and Navajoes, and are perhaps the debased descendants of
a once powerful and advanced nation. Whilst speaking of Indians, it may
be said that the plains tribes, such as the Comanches, believe in the
immortality of the soul and the future life. All will attain it, all
will reach the Happy Hunting-Ground, unless prevented by such accidents
as being scalped, which results in annihilation of the soul.

Is it not strange that though these barbarians believe in the
immortality of the soul yet our materialistic Old Testament never even
suggests a future life; and it seems that no Jew believes or ever was
taught to believe in it.

Indian self-torture is to prove one's endurance of pain. A broad knife
is passed through the pectoral muscles, and a horse-hair rope inserted,
by which they must swing from a post till the flesh is torn through.
Indians will never scalp a negro; it is "bad medicine." By the way, is
not scalping spoken of in the Book of Maccabees as a custom of the Jews
and Syrians? The tit-bits of a butchered carcass are, to the Indians,
the intestines, a speciality being the liver with the contents of the
gall bladder sprinkled over it! Horses, dogs, wolves and skunks are
greatly valued for food.

Amongst certain tribes Hiawatha was a Messiah of divine origin, but born
on earth. He appeared long ago as a teacher and prophet, taught them
picture-writing, healing, etc.; gave them the corn plant and pipe; he
was an ascetic; told them of the Isles of the Blessed and promised to
come again. In Mexico Quetzalcohuatl was a similar divine visitor,
prophet and teacher.

But to return to our own immediate affairs. At a reasonable price we
bought out another cattleman, his ranches, cattle and saddle horses. As
required by law, we also adopted and recorded a cattle brand. Our first
business was to brand our now considerable herd, which entailed an
immense amount of very hard work. This in later years would have been no
very great undertaking, but at that time "squeezers" and branding
"chutes" were not known. Our corrals were primitive and not suited for
the work, and our cattle extraordinarily wild and not accustomed to
control of any kind. Indeed, the