OMAHA AND PONKA LETTERS. 109 
NOTES. 
107, {, wabag¢eze, used in this letter instead of the regular Ponk: 
equivalent, “‘wabaxu.” ‘“Wabag¢eze” is the Omaha word. 
108, 1. Dasi, instead of “Q@asi,” the latter being the form used by the 
Omahas and the Ponkas up to 1880. Frank, used instead of ‘Sasu.” 
108, 2. Commissioner, instead of * Ijiga*¢ai jinga.” 
108, 2-3. Iyigat¢ai ... aka uawakie: a seeming inconsistency, requir- 
ing a change to “Iyiga"¢ai ¢inke, Commissioner ¢inke, uawakie (or, 
Grandfather the st. Commissioner the st. I talked 
ob. ob. them 
uakie),” or, “Igiga*¢ai aka ... a®wati/kiai.” 
I talked to Grandfather the P he (07, they) 
to him, sub. talked to me. 
108, 4, wa¢acta"be, a case of “‘hapax legomenon.” The author has not 
yet found a verb, “ wacta"’be ,” in the 3d sing.; but there is * wacta™ be,” 
you see them, from wada"™ be, 
108, 7, egi¢a"l. genuga-zi does not quote tke decision of the Commis- 
» 4, e8 L s 
sioner, but he gives the substance of what he said, in the next sentence, 
followed by advice to the tribe. 
TRANSLATION. 
O father-in-law, I have received your letter. I am very glad because 
you have told me that my children are in good health. When I was 
about to start to this place you made one request. You said that I 
ought to exert myself in behalf of the tribe when I reached Washing- 
ton. For that reason I have been doing all in my power, and these 
two men, Frank La Fleche and Mr. Dorsey, have been aiding me. I 
have had an interview with the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. I 
told him about the troubles in the Ponka land. I also told him that 
the chiefs had a strong desire to visit him in Washington (?). In 
fact, I spoke a great many words to the Commissioner. I told him 
about ali the trouble that had been given us by the cattle trespass- 
ing on our land, ‘Lhe Commissioner said what he would have done. 
When [ start back to you I shall be accompanied by aa inspector. 
O ye people, be making some plan before the arrival of the inspector. 
Be considering what shall be done. For the Commissioner says, *‘ When 
the inspector reaches your land, you shall tell him about all of your 
difficulties.” The Commissioner is a man with whom I am pleased, for 
he always talked very gently to me. After some days I will call again 
on the Commissioner, in order to talk with him once more before my 
departure. As this man, Mr. Dorsey, has been aiding me considerably, 
I shall see the Commissioner very soon. When this letter reaches you, 
I wish the agent to see it. In that event it will be told correctly. I 
also wish all the Ponkas to hear it. 
