WAQPECA, AN OMAHA, TO MR. PROVOST. 643 
NOTES. 
This Frank La Fléche is the younger brother of Joseph La Fléche of the Omaha 
tribe. Frank is a chief of the Ponka half-breed ‘“‘ band.” His daughter Susanne is 
the wife of Makata. She and her husband were at the Quapaw Reservation, Indian 
Territory, when this letter was written. 
The author was present at the interviews with the President and other officials, 
as a check on the interpreters, whom he corrected once or twice. 
642, 9. ieskai. This interpreter was Baptiste Barnaby, who was not a Ponka. 
He was fond of liquor; so the agent brought the chief of police, Big Snake or Uhanige 
ja", to watch him and keep him sober. Big Snake did his work well. 
TRANSLATION. 
I think that we shall fail to obtain the land which we desire for ourselves (7. é., 
the old reservation in Todd County, Dakota). We shall now ask for the Omaha Res- 
ervation (as our home). Up to this time we have not mentioned the damages at all 
(but we shall do so hereafter). 
We have no sickness whatever. If there is a total failure (to get either our old 
land or the Omaha Reservation), we will speak of the damages (or pay). ‘They have 
said to us, ‘‘ You ean seek a land for yourselves in the Indian Territory.” We have 
not yet expressed a wish to go where they have said. Now, you and your husband 
must attend to the horses. I send you all that I have to tell you for some time. The 
interpreter is bad ; he drank whisky as soon as we brought him here. 
WAQPECA, AN OMAHA TO MR. PROVOST. 
Z August 24, 1878. 
Wamiuske d‘titba a*wa" i-ga ha, kagcha. Na*ji éna wii téinke, a°¢a4 
Wheat some lend me i O fricnd. Thresh- that I give will, you give 
ing quanti- back to me 
ty to you 
té. Weéearze diba ka" b¢a. 
when Measure four I desire. 
(or if) 
TRANSLATION. 
My friend, lend me some wheat. If you give it to me J will give you back that 
much of threshed (wheat). I desire four bushels. 
