166 FREE TRADERS. 



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

 affords me occasion to speak of them more particularly. 



The Arapahos are a tribe of prairie Indians, inhabiting the country bor- 

 dering upon the South Fork of the Platte and Arkansas 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 creek bottoms and 

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

 sterile, and almost entirely timberless and destitute of water. The game 

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

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

 and includes among 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 which they are distinguished from neigh- 

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

 numbers in an Indian population. 



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

 ago, have maintained terms of the strictest friendship on their 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 bestowment of kindness and hospitality upon such whenever in 

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

 annoying as beggars. 



These Indians, though brave, are less warhke 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 trafficing, 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 the 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 lust and is prosti- 

 tuted for a paltry bribe. 



As yet no effort has been made for their improvement, though I regard them 

 as more susceptible of civilization than 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 Blacktbot 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 more 

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

 either of whites or Indians. 



