OMAHA AND PONKA LETTERS. 97 
if possible. [I am here with my brother-in-law Cheyenne and Mahi*- 
ska (White Rock, or Peter Primeau), the captain of the Ponka police 
LOTCE.”” 
TRANSLATION. 
I am very desirous to see you to-day, but I passed you in coming 
hither. I have come to (the border of) the Santee Reservation. When 
I was going to the Indian Territory you commanded me to test one 
thing. I traveled all over the Indian Territory (before accomplishing 
it), but now I have completed it. Therefore I will dwell there. Hear 
it! All the people(on the Ponka Reservation in the Indian Territory) 
have said it to him (Standing Bear), therefore I am going to (the place 
where) Standing Bear (dwells). I have accompanied these persons 
who are rectifying our affairs; they are taking me with them. When 
-I reach Standing Bear, perhaps he will come to some decision. I go 
because I wish to know it. The Ponka people, as I have heard, have 
been very kind to you personaliy. They have generally been kind to 
you because they remember what you did for them in the past. I tell 
you because I have a strong desire to tell you that. When I used to 
spend the winters here, I was usually poor, and you saw me in that 
condition. But now, since I have been living in the Indian Territory, 
I think, “‘I am not poor!” I have many horses and cattle. I havea 
very good farm and a well-built house. You have been asking me to 
write to you, but I have not done so heretofore. [send you a letter 
to-day. I think thatitis just as if [saw you and shook hands with you. 
CAHIE¢A TO HE-SA*-GINKE. SAME DAY. 
Gata”adi ¢ana?’ ¢i"te wigika"b¢a’-qti-na’-ma™ ha. Wana- 
At last you may be grown [am generally very anxious to have ; Domestic 
you, my own ani- 
ee kaw nl ~ 4 , 
g¢e igi” kida a™¢in’ge. Wisi¢é-na"-ma™ ha. Cé¢u Umaha- 
mal towatchover Ihave ane Tam usually thinking : Yonder among the 
mine for me of you Oma- 
, . . is rs , . 
madi mani” té wa¢iqpa¢i® iwiyuhé. E’be Uméha wi" 
has you walk the you are poor I apprehend Who Omaha one 
it for you. 
— f , S , , vw, 
Pati‘kaja ¢é yi, u¢tihe f-ga. 
tothe Ponkas goes if, following be com- 
him ing. 
NOTE. 
He-sa"-¢inke was probably related to Cahie¢a. 
TRANSLATION. 
As you are probably grown by this time, I am very anxious to have 
you with me again. I have nobody to attend to my domestic animals. 
10967 7 
3 
