mookbt] the Messiah's letter 781 



Every body never get sick, be young again,— (if young fellow no sick any more,) 

 work for white men never trouble with him until you leave, when it shake the earth 

 dont be afraid no harm any body. 



You make dance for six ""*> night, and put you foot [food?] in dance to eat for 

 every body and wash in the water, that is all to tell, 1 am in to you. and you will 

 received a good words from him some time, Dont tell lie. 



The Messiah Letter (Cheyenne version) 



When you get home you have to make dance. You must dance four nights and one 

 day time. You will take bath in the morning before you go to yours homes, for 

 every body, and give you all the same as this. Jackson Wilson likes you all, he 

 is glad to get good many things. His heart satting fully of gladness, after you get 

 home, I will give you a good cloud and give you chance to make you feel good. I 

 give you a good spirit, and give you all good paint, I want you people to come here 

 again, want them in three months any tribs of you from there. There will be a good 

 deal snow this year. Some time rains, in fall this year some rain, never give you 

 any thing like that, grandfather, said, when they were die never cry, no hurt any 

 body, do any harm for it, not to fight. Be a good behave always. It will give asat- 

 isfaction in your life. This young man is a good father and mother. Do not tell 

 the white people about this, Juses is on the ground, he just like cloud. Every body 

 is a live again. I don't know when he will be here, may be will be this fall or in 

 spring. When it happen it may be this. There will be no sickness and return to 

 young again. Do not refuse to work for white man or do not make any trouble 

 with them until you leave them. When the earth shakes do not be afraid it will 

 not hurt you. I waut you to nnike dance for six weeks. Eat and wash good clean 

 yourselves [The rest of the letter had been erased]. 



The Messiah Letter { free Rendering) 



When you get home you must make a dance to continue five days. Dance four 

 successive nights, and the last night keep up the dance until the morning of the fifth 

 day, when all must bathe in the river and then disperse to their homes. Yon most all 

 do in the same way. 



I, Jack Wilson, love you all, and my heart is full of gladness for the gifts you 

 have brought me. When you get home I shall give you a good cloud [rain ?] which 

 will make you feel good. I give you a good spirit and give you all good paint. I 

 want you to come again in three months, some from each tribe there [the Indian 

 Territory]. 



There will be a good deal of snow this year and some rain. In the fall there will 

 be such a rain as I have never giveu you before. 



Grandfather [a universal title of reverence among Indians and here meaning the 

 messiah] says, when your friends die you must not cry. You must not hurt anybody 

 or do barm to anyone. You must not fight. Do right always. It will give yousat- 

 isfaction in life. This young man has a good father and mother. [Possibly this 

 refers to Casper Edson, the young Arapaho who wrote down this message of Wovoka 

 for the delegation]. 



Do not tell the white people about this. Jesus is now upon the earth. He appears 

 like a cloud. The dead are all alive again. I do not know when they will be here; 

 maybe this fall or in the spring. When the time comes there will be no more sick- 

 lies and everyone will be young again. 



Do not refuse to work for the whites and do not make any trouble with them until 

 you leave them. When the earth shakes [at the coming of the new world] do not 

 be afraid. It will not hurt yon. 



I want you to dance every six weeks. Make a feast at the .lance and have food 

 that everybody may eat. Then bathe in the water. That is all. You will receive 

 good words again from me some time. Do not tell lies. 



