OMAHA AND PONKA LETTERS. 11 
““T wish to be strong on both sides.” He suggested another transla- 
tion: ‘I wish to have them together (i. e. your two oxen and my two) for 
gaining strength.” But G. said (1889) that the sentence refers to hav- 
ing the house as well as the oxen. 
9,11. An unintelligible sentence is omitted here. 
9,12. Wakanda ¢inke b¢a-maji tédi, we¢ihide, etc. We can not 
say whether John asked everything for himself only, or for his tribe. 
10,4. Ada ja® g¢adi", ete. L. rendered this by, “Therefore I wish 
to walk in a good shade of cross-wood (probably boards laid across to 
form a poreh in front of his house).” But, judging from the context, 
and some of John’s statements at various times, it is more probable that 
the reference is to the cross of Christ, and if so, the sentence must be 
translated, ‘Therefore I wish to follow the course of the very good 
shadow of the cross.” John favored the religion ‘of the white man,” 
as he considered it, on account of its supposed temporal benefits ! 
John Nichols probably heard some of the Dakota ministers speak of 
the ‘‘ shadow of the cross,” as he can speak Dakota. 
TRANSLATION. 
You say that when God sees a poor man and pities him, he helps 
him. Therefore I go towards the good God, though I was a common 
(or wild) Indian in the past. When one helps another by giving him 
all kinds of tools, and he goes to the light (they are), brothers to each 
other. I wish to dweli in a good house. I wish to hear the name of 
my friend on God’s side, and I desire him to help me. (I desire) a good 
smelling house. The oxen which I have shall be strong by means of ac- 
tion(?). If you wish to give me two of yours, we desire to receive them (?). 
Therefore [ wish to have them together for gaining strength (see note). 
I have heard your words well. O friend, I wish you to help me. I wish 
to dwell in a good house. I desire the wild Indians to see good tools 
by a stout door. O friend, I go to you and towards God. (Next sen- 
tence was unintelligible: something about the land.) Whenever I die 
(in) the shadow of the cross, I should, at least, be lying in a box (i. ¢., if 
he died as a Christian, he should be buried in a coffin). Before I go to- 
wards God I wish to have the following articles: plows, oxen, cows, 
hogs, chickens, axes, hand-saws, hammers, nails, cross-cut saws, wagons, 
shoes, gloves, shirts, hats, comforts, mowing-machines, scythes, a grist- 
mill, hay forks, horse-collars, ox-yokes, iron chains, dish closets, earthen 
dishes, cups, stoves, chairs, bedsteads, pillows, and a threshing-machine. 
Therefore I wish to follow the course of the very good shadow of the 
eross. If you all aid me, I desire to reach the light. Ihave heard your 
words, O friend, and they make me very glad. I go towards God. To- 
day when I heard the words in your letter, I was glad; I was very 
thankful. If you help me, I will be apt to have plenty of implements. 
I desire all the tools which I have called by name. Now I wish you to 
give me (according to) all my words towards God. I am not outside 
