214 FREE TRADER*. 



With thia the reader is introduced to that nation for the first time, which 

 ftffords me occasion to speak of thorn more particularly. 



The Arapahos are a tribe of prairie Indians, inliabiting the country bof- 

 dering upon the South Forii of the Platte and Arltansas rivers. 



Their territory embraces an extent of about forty-five thousand square 

 miles, a portion of which is well watered and interspersed with numerous 

 fertile spots. Timber is rarely found, except in the creel^^ bottoms and 

 among the mountains. A large section of it, however, is dry, sandy, and 

 •terile, and almost entirely timberless and destitute of water. The game 

 of these regions includes all the varieties common to the mountains, which 

 are quite abundant. Tlie territory also possesses large mineral resources, 

 and includes aftiong its stores of hidden wealth, gold, silver, copper, lead, 

 iron, coal, soda, nitre, salt, and sulpher, with vast beds of gypsum. 



This nation boasts some five hundred and twenty-five lodges, numbering 

 not far from four thousand souls. In appearance, as well as manners and 

 customs, they assimilate the Sioux and Chyennes. Their insignia of na- 

 tionality is a tattooed breast, by whicli they are distinguished from neigh- 

 boring tribes. They aflTord to the observer the rare instance of increasing 

 numbers in an Indian population. 



The Arapahos since tlieir first treaty with the whites, some fifteen years 

 ago, have maintained terms of the strictest friendship on tlieir part. They 

 have never been known to kill or even injure a white man in the interval, 

 and rarely to steal from him any article of value. They seem to take pleas- 

 ure in the bes^^towment of kindness and hospitahty upon such whenever in 

 their power, but commonly in expectation of reward, and are exceedingly 

 annoying as beggars. 



These Indians, though brave, are less warlike than contiguous tribes, — 

 being at variance only with the Utahs and Pawnees, whose countries are 

 severally invaded as occasion serves, and often with success. 



They possess considerable taste for traflicing, and regularly meet the 

 Sioux, Chyennes, Cumanches, and Kuyawas for that purpose, and many 

 of them know how to drive as good a bargain as tlie most expert Yankee. 



Notwithstanding the many good qualities possessed by them, they are in- 

 ferior to their neighbors in morality. The Sioux and Chyennes are far 

 more chaste, and never indulge in the low practices common with the Arap- 

 ahos. Virtue with the former is guarded by the strictest vigilance and 

 jealousy, while with the latter it is made the minister of lufit and is prosti- 

 tuted for a paltry bribe. 



As yet no effort has been m^ade for their improvement, though I regard them 

 as mere susceptible of civilization tlian any other of the prairie tribes. They 

 appear to be great admirers of the manners, customs, arts, and mode of liv- 

 ing prevalent among the whites, and only lack the requisite instruction to 

 become their successful imitators. 



The camp at which we are at present located consists of four lodges,— 

 three of whites, and one of Blackfoot Indians. 



Each of the whites has his squaw wife, and the usual accompaniment of 

 ruddy faced children. In regard to the latter, I must say they were mora 

 beautiful, interesting, and intelligent than tJie same number of full-bloods,— 

 •ither of whites or Indians. 



