eel, and what your condition is, so
that we may have a perfect understanding, and that we may make a
peace that shall last forever. In coming here, you have seen that
this is a very great people, and we are growing all the time. We
want to find out the state of things in the Sioux country, so that
we may make satisfactory treaties. In a day or two the President
will see the chiefs, and in the mean time we want them to get ready
to tell him what they have to say, and we will make our answer. We
want also to use our influence so that there shall not only be
peace between the Indians and whites, but that there shall be no
more troubles about difficulties between different bands of
Indians."

The Commissioner also said to Spotted Tail that "he thanked him for
being present, and was glad of the good will he had for the whites."
Most thought the conference was ended, but Red Cloud, through his
interpreter, said he had something to say.

Stepping up quickly to the table, and shaking hands with the officials,
spoke up in a firm voice, "My friends, I have come a long way to see
you and the Great Father, but somehow after I got here, you do not look
at me. When I heard the words of the Great Father, allowing me to come,
I came right away, and left my women and children. I want you to give
them rations, and a load of ammunition to kill game with. I wish you
would blow them a message on the wires that I came here safe, all
right."

Secretary Cox said he would now only welcome them again, and would
telegraph Red Cloud's message, and for the rest, he would see what
could be done. To-morrow he would show them what was to be seen about
the city. On the next day (Sunday) white people did no business, and on
next day evening the President would meet the Indians at the Executive
Mansion.

They were invited to have their photographs taken, but Red Cloud
declined.

Red Cloud and Spotted Tail went up to the Capitol, where they climbed
to the dome, taking a view of the city; but what most interested them
was the large mirrors and the marble busts of two Indian chiefs. They
came into the Senate while the Indian Appropriation Bill was under
consideration, and while they were fanning themselves incessantly, the
interpreter explained what they were doing, but the Indians said
nothing. But the greatest event for them was the

_Grand Reception to the Indian Delegations by the President, attended