IN THE OLD WEST 167 



sufficiently proves the pernicious effects of the 

 liquor-trade on the unfortunate and abused abo- 

 rigines ; and it is matter of regret that no philan- 

 thropist 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 be- 

 fore the accumulating evils of body and soul, 

 which their civilized 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 conquerors. 



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 ser^^ed 

 to pass away the time until the trade commenced, 

 and many packs of dressed robes changed hands 

 amongst themselves. When playing at the usual 



