LIFE IN THE FAB WEST 127 



has sprung up in the United States to do battle for the 

 rights of the Red men, and call attention to the wrongs 

 they endure at the hands of their supplanters in the 

 lands of their fathers. 



Robbed of their homes and hunting-grounds, and 

 driven by the encroachments of the whites to distant 

 regions, which hardly support existence, the Indians, 

 day by day, gradually decrease before the accumulating 

 evils, of body and soul, which their civilised persecutors 

 entail upon them. With every man's hand against 

 them, they drag on to their final destiny; and the 

 day is not far distant when the American Indian 

 will exist only in the traditions of his pale-faced con- 

 querors. 



The Indians trading at this time on the Platte were 

 mostly of the Sioux nation, including the tribes of 

 Burnt-woods, Yanka-taus, Pian-Kashas, Assinaboins, 

 Oglallahs, Broken Arrows, all of which belong to the 

 great Sioux nation, or La-cotahs, as they call themselves, 

 and which means Cut-throats. There were also some 

 Cheyennes allied to the Sioux, as well as a small band 

 of Republican Pawnees. 



Horse-racing, gambling, and ball-play served to pass 

 away the time until the trade commenced, and many 

 packs of dressed robes changed hands amongst them- 

 selves. When playing at the usual game of "hand," 

 the stakes, comprising all the valuables the players 

 possess, are piled in two heaps close at hand, the winner 

 at the conclusion of the game sweeping the goods 

 towards him, and often returning a small portion " on 



