TAH-TUNGA-SANA'S ADDRESS. 99 



•* Would the Brave Bear and his people be friends to us ? We are friend 

 iy — we are generous. We will give tobacco to the Brave Bear, that he 

 and his people may smoke and be our friends. But the Long-knife will 

 not here give him the lire-water. Let him come to the Long-knife's lodge, 

 then shall he have of it a little, that he may bless the Long-knife in his 

 heart. The Bra\ e Bear can have none now. 



" The Brave Bear says, his people are generous, but they are brave, — they 

 are all soldiers. Be it so. My people are generouB,-^they are brave — 

 they are all soldiers ! Does the Brave Bear wish for fight ? My people are 

 ready to either smoke or fight ! The Brave Bear says, unless I give him 

 the fire-water for his people, they will nerve tlieir arms for conflict, and 

 take it ! WiU they ? Let them try ! The Long-knife says, let them 

 try /" 



The conclusion of this reply was received witli a bad grace by those to 

 whom it was addressed, and created great excitement among them. Seve- 

 ral left for the village, obviously for the purpose of arming and returning 

 with increased numbers to the meditated attack. 



Meanwhile our arms were put in a proper condition for resistance, and 

 all needful arrangements made to give the assailants a warm reception 

 should they commence upon us. This done, our commandant brought a 

 few plugs of tobacco, and, laying them before the Brave Bear, said : 



" It is good that the Brave Bear and his people should smoke. Here ia 

 tobacco, — let him take it to his warriors tliat we and they be friends ; — or 

 would he ratlier fight?" 



Bull Tail (Tah-tunga-sana,) who had had hitherto remained silent, now 

 arose and addressed his companions: 



"Tah-tuiiga-sana is grieved at the words of the Brave Bear. Womd 

 my brothers fight the Long-knife, and rob him of what he has brought to us, 

 that they may become fools by drinking the fire-water? 



" Who shall then bring us medicine-irons (gtms) to kill our meat ; or 

 knives to butcher it; or blankets and beads for our squaws; or the red- 

 earth (vermilion) to paint our faces when we arm for war ? And, who 

 shall bring us all the otlier things so needful for us ? 



"The Long-knife will not do it. You rob him. No one will bring them 

 to us. We shall be .without them ! We shall be poor indeed ! 



" Brothers : Why would you drink tlie fire-water, and become fools ? 

 Would it not be better that the Long-knife no more bring it to us ? We 

 give for it our robes and our horses ; — it does us no good. It makes us 

 poor. We fight our own brothers, and kill those we love, because the fire- 

 water is in us and makes our hearts bad ! The fire-water is the red man'i 

 enemy ! 



"Brothers: Tah-tunga-sana is old; — will you hsten to him. He has 

 been always the friend of the pale-face. When first the Yellow-hair (Gen. 

 Clarke) came to the red man's lodge, Tah-tunga-sana took him by the hand. 

 He will always take the pale- face by the hand. He loves the pale-face. 

 The pale-face is his brother, — he is our brother ! — He brings us many good 

 things. 



"Brothers : The Long- knife has spoken well. It is good that we smoke, 

 —that we, and the Long-knife, and his people may be friends. Let us ac* 

 §• 



