DRINKING. 323 



The Arrapahoes would have been utterly impoverished 

 but for the excess of rivalry among the traders, who, in 

 their eagerness, got over the line into the Indian territory, 

 and were pounced upon by the Indian Department. 

 Sixteen or eighteen w T ere arrested and sent to prison. 

 This broke up the trade for the time, and in good season, 

 for the Arrapahoes were barely saved the necessity of 

 going to war to recuperate. 



Texas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and 

 Dakota, all compete with Kansas and New Mexico in 

 this most lucrative trade. Buffalo hunters have come to 

 regard a keg or two of whisky as a necessary part of 

 their ' outfit,' adding immensely to the number of skins. 

 The only wonder is that any Indians are left alive. 



The peculiarity of the ' Indian drunk ' is, that, if there 

 be only liquor enough, it is quick and complete ; conse- 

 quently he is not ' quarrelsome in his cups.' For the 

 number of drunkards, the very few outrages or murders 

 committed among themselves is very remarkable. 



Drunkenness is not a female vice, and in all my 

 experience I have never seen a drunken Indian woman. 

 They, however, look with amiable complacency on the 

 bestiality of their lords, and seem to regard it as a matter 

 of course. On one occasion I witnessed the reverse. A 

 Ute squaw was trying to take home her husband, who had 

 not had quite enough whisky, and was only ' obstinate 

 drunk,' though he could scarcely walk. She was very 

 patient he, brutal. Finally he struck her. Seizing on 

 a good-sized rod that happened to be lying near, she fell 

 upon and beat him most unmercifully. Thinking he had 

 had enough, I walked towards them to interfere. Seeing 

 me she threw down the stick and began to laugh, while 

 the husband sat upon the ground blubbering like a 

 whipped school boy. 



The guide at Fort Martin Scott, Texas, was a Dela- 

 ware, a faithful and reliable Indian. His pay was for.ty 

 dollars per month. On drawing it he would go to 





