head soldiers,
who volunteered, are on their mission to the wild Sioux. As far as I
know, there is a very general desire for schools; and God is surely
opening the way for the building up of his kingdom."

RED CLOUD, SPOTTED TAIL, AND THEIR FRIENDS IN WASHINGTON.

History will point to the visit of these great chiefs of the Sioux
tribes at Washington as the most important event in their lives,
because it not only staved off a great war threatened on the plains,
but most likely inaugurated a system of just and fair dealing for the
time to come, that may prevent any more cruel and bloody wars with the
Indians on our frontiers. Hence every incident that took place there is
interesting; and as it is a costly expense to the government, it is
likely to be discouraged in the future, and if boys have another chance
to see some "big chiefs," they will have to go a great way, perhaps to
Nebraska or Dakota, to have a good look at them.

The party belonging to Zin-tak-gah-lat-skah--Spotted Tail--left
Minnesota before Red Cloud's from the Powder River country, and arrived
first in Washington; but their interests were the same, so nothing was
done until General Smith arrived with Red Cloud and reported to the
Secretary of War. He then turned them over, as we say, to the Indian
Bureau, which has a suite of offices, etc. in the Patent Office
building in Washington. The Secretary of the Interior, who is a member
of the cabinet, and General Parker (Chippewa chief), Indian
Commissioner, received them as their charge during their stay in
Washington. Before Red Cloud came, however, Spotted Tail had an
interview with General Parker. He said:

"The government does not fulfill its treaty promises, and that
supplies of goods promised and money owed for lands were not sent
to them at the times agreed on, and that the white man, wherever he
can find many buffaloes and gold, comes on the Indian's land and
takes the Indian's ponies."

Colonel Parker told him of the many difficulties the Indian Bureau had
to contend with in order to get moneys through Congress, and the great
difficulties such a great government as ours had to go through in
conducting all its affairs. But he gave his word to Spotted Tail that
all the promises now made in the treaties would be fulfilled, and that
they should get the provisions as soon as possible. He said that the
Indians must not go to war among themselves, preying on other tribes,