632 THE (EGIHA LANGUAGE—MYTHS, STORIES, AND LETTERS. 
TRANSLATION. 
O Gray Hat, when you came hither after your visit to the tribes up the Missouri 
River I talked with you. (And now I talk about the same business.) I have been 
to the place of the President, | mean Washington. I went thither to sell my land to 
the President. I saw some people down the Missouri River who were just like Amer- 
icans, and I noticed that when they sold their land they were rich. 
The President gave me a good road. I have not found it, therefore Iam poor. I 
am poor, I say, for that reason. I am always in darkness. I hope that I may soon 
come out into the day of God and his Son. O ye Americans, I hope that henceforth 
I may reach the light. I think that if you will help me my children will improve, 
thus realizing my hopes. O ye Awericans, though these Dakota tribes are very bad 
you give them many things and they are wealthy. But my people have behaved 
well, they have obeyed your words (though you have not given us many things). (If) 
there are a great many white people along this Missouri River, I shall die poor. When 
you are attending to the Indians who will not behave I am obeying your words. [Tam 
ever in darkness. I think that you should at least have visited me before this time. 
A missionary is here at the Ponka village. He knows about my poverty. He 
shall hear of the things which are difficult for me to endure. From time to time I 
will get him to write about those things. And when you hear his words, O ye Amer- 
icans, I imagine that you will think “ He tells the truth.” : 
Those whom we have had as our agents have not been upright. I have not found 
any of their acts advantageous to me. {f desire to have one of the truly honest per- 
sons. If you send me one of that kind and he aids me, 1 may improve by means of 
his assistance. 
O Gray Hat, when I heard that you were to speak (in our behalf?) our affairs 
really improved a little from that time onward. I desire only what is right. I think 
that itis good. In future I ought toimprove. Therefore I desire substantial appli- 
ances of different kinds. I desire wagons, cows, oxen, plows, scythes, spades, cross- 
cut saws, nails, harness, and a grist-mill. If I obtain the things which I have 
named, I think that I cught to improve by means of them. 
The lands which I have are by no means large, therefore I desire substantial ap- 
pliances of different kinds. It has been thirty-three winters since I returned home 
after my first visit to the President, and I have not yet had even one substantial im- 
plement. -Therefore I desire them. The missionary knows what I wish toobtain. And 
I hope that you may do for me just as I desire. There has not been even one thing 
here of advantage to me. My only present dependence is the missionary. 
