310 INDIANS. 



General) P was sent with a small force to treat with 



a band disposed to be troublesome. He took with him as 

 guide and interpreter a Delaware chief, Black Beaver, a 

 warrior celebrated throughout the length and breadth of 

 the plains. Beaver was semi-civilised, had been to Wash- 

 ington, owned a farm, and was a person of social con- 

 sequence in his country. The refractory Indians were 

 assembled in council, and the difficulties adjusted. Lieut. 



P then proceeded to descant upon the numbers and 



power of the whites, and the folly of the Indians making 

 war upon them. As a peroration, he directed Beaver to 

 tell the Indians about steamboats. Beaver had seen 

 steamboats, and gave a glowing description. At its con- 

 clusion a murmur ran through the council. ' What do 



they say, Beaver ? ' asked P . ' He say he don't 



b'lieve that d d lie,' said Beaver. ' Tell them about 



railroads, then.' Beaver had travelled on railroads, so 

 proceeded to give his ideas and experiences on that sub- 

 ject. Again a murmur passed through the assembly. 

 4 What do they say now, Beaver ?' asked P . 'He 



say he don't b'lieve that d d lie either.' Somewhat 



nonplussed for a wonderful thing which they might 

 believe, P at last said, ' Tell them about the tele- 

 graph.' ' I don't know what that is,' answered Beaver. 



P explained that by the aid of a little wire he could 



stand where he was and talk to the Great Father at 

 Washington, &c., &c. Beaver listened attentively, but 

 with a grave face, and made no attempt to translate. 



'Why don't you tell them?' said P , impatiently. 



6 'Cause,' said Beaver, nodding his head slowly and 



emphatically, ' 'Cause I don't b'lieve that d d lie 



myself.' l 



1 This story was told me in 1867 by the officer to whom it is accredited. 

 After I had written it out as above, I came across it in General Marcy's 

 excellent work on frontier life. The story illustrates my point, and, whoever 

 may be the author, it is too good a one to lose. If I am poaching on the 

 General's manor, I apologise. 



