A POW-WOW. 221 



out with Hispano-Mexican, and an occasional word of Ute, 

 the substance of what he said was quite intelligible to us. 

 The old savage commenced by stating that we were in their 

 country; all that we could see belonged to them (i.e. we 

 were trespassers). He then told us that he and his braves 

 were brothers to the white man, therefore his country was 

 theirs (rhetorical flourish). He had been to the great 

 council-camp of the whites, and talked with their big chief. 

 Our big chief was his friend, and years ago had given him 

 his picture in silver ; on saying this he exhibited a medal 

 suspended by a string round his neck. It was a medal, 

 with an effigy of James Buchanan on one side, and a 

 representation of the Capitol at Washington on the other. 

 Then he enlarged upon the benefits we were receiving from 

 them. Our animals were eating their grass. We were 

 cutting down arid burning their timber, and killing and 

 eating their game (evident foundation-laying for buck- 

 sheesh). Then he demanded our reason for being in the 

 valley, and asked when we were going to leave it ; winding 

 up with an eulogium on the wealth and generosity of all 

 whites, who never allowed themselves to be outdone in 

 giving (broad hint to shell-out handsomely). Then the old 

 bilk sat down. Solemn pause. " My name is Norval " 

 evidently no go on this occasion. So one of us rose and 

 replied to the following effect : We had heard that a very 

 brave Ute chief (initiatory compliment) had been to see our 

 great father, and that they had agreed together that the 

 Ute and whites should be friends and brothers (never heard 

 of it before). We were very glad to see that chief face to 

 face, and to have shaken hands and smoked the pipe of 



