398 THE WINNEBAGO TRIBE [eth. ann. 3T 



father had been freed. We were ^'e^y happy, and went back to our 

 people. 



At that time a yoimg man named Young-Bear was startmg for 

 Nebraska, and he said that he would take me along. I was very 

 happy. So m that manner I was brought to this country. Here 

 I have had only happy days. When my father got married everyone 

 disliked me. Wlien I worked I was workmg for my father, and all 

 the money I earned I had to give to him. 



-\fter a while I went to school, and although I liked it I ran away 

 and then went to school at Carlisle. I wanted to lead a good life. 

 At school T knew that they would take care of me and love me. I 

 was very shy and lacked a strong character at that time. If a person 

 told me to do anything I would always obey immediately. Every- 

 body loved me. I stayed there six months. I was also taught 

 Christianity there. When I came back to my country the Episcopa- 

 lian people told me that they wanted me to be diligent in religious 

 niatters and never to forsake the religion of the Son of God. I also 

 desired to do that. I entered the church that we had m our country 

 and I stayed with them six years. 



At that time the Winneliago with whom T associated were heavy 

 drinkers, and after a while they mduced me to drmk also. I became 

 as wicked as they. I learned how to gamble and I worked for the 

 devil all the time. I even taught the Wimiebago how to be bad. 



After a while they began eating peyote, and as I was in the habit 

 of doing everything I saw, I thought I woidd do it, too. T asked 

 them whether I could jom, and they permitted me. At that time I 

 had a position at the comity commissioner's office. I ate tlie peyote 

 and liked it very much. Then the authorities tried to stop the Indians 

 from eating peyote, and I was supposed to see that the law was 

 enforced. I continued eating peyote and enjoymg it. All the evil 

 that was in me I forgot. From that time to the present my actions 

 have been quite different from what they used to be. T am only 

 working for what is good; not that I mean to say that I am good. 



After that I married and now I have three children, and it would 

 not have been right for me to continue in my wickedness. I resolved 

 that thereafter I would behave as a growTi-up man ought to behave. 

 I resolved never to be idle again and to work so that I could supply 

 my wife and children with food and necessities, that I would be ready 

 to help them whenever they were in need. Here in my own country 

 would I remain till I died. This (peyote) religion was good. All 

 the evil is gone and hereafter I mil choose my path carefully. 



I know the story about the origin of the peyote. It is as follows : 



_Once in the south, an Indian belonging to the tribe called Mes- 



callero Apache was roaming in the country called Mexico, and went 



hunting in the high hills and got lost. For three days he went with- 



