d in a chair, but grew upon the ground." He then sat down
on the earth, and continued: "Here is my mother, and I will stay
with her and protect her. Laramie has always been our place for
talking, and I did not like to come here. You are getting too far
west. You have killed many of our young men, and we have killed
some of yours in return. I want to quit fighting to-day. I want you
to take pity on us and go away."

A Cheyenne chief next addressed the council. He said,--

"We have been told that these forts are to be abandoned and the new
road given up, and we have come over to see about it. If this is
true, tell me so. I never thought we would come to a council so far
west, but the old men prevailed and we are here. All last summer we
heard that General Harney wanted to see us at Laramie, but we would
not go. General Sherman also sent for us, but we would not listen
while you were here. I do not know the name of my father there
(pointing to Dr. Matthews), nor who at present is my Great Father
(President) at Washington, but this I do know, my father (his
parent) when he raised me told me to shake hands with the white
man, and to try to live at peace with him, for he was very
powerful. But my father also told me to fight my enemies, and since
the white man has made himself an enemy I fight him. How are you
our enemy? You come here and drive away our game, and he who does
that steals away our bread, and becomes the Indian's bitterest
enemy, for the Indian must have food to live. I have fought you,
and I have stolen from you, but I have done both to live. The only
road you have a right to travel is the Platte road. We have never
crossed it to fight you. I am a soldier. I have a great many young
men here who are soldiers, and will do my bidding. It is our duty
to protect and feed our old men, women, and children, and we must
do it. If you are friendly, why don't you give us powder and
bullets to shoot game with? We will not use them against you,
unless you do us harm. I want ten kegs, and when the other tribes
know you have given them to me they will know we are good friends,
and will come in and treat, and we will all live at peace. I come
here to hear talk, not to make talk. We are poor. Take pity on us,
and deal justly by us. I have done."

The next speaker was a Crow chief, who, standi