732 THE ¢EGIHA LANGUAGE—MYTHS, STORIES, AND LETTERS. 
When you visit the real Dakotas (7. e., the Tetons), I wish to hear about what 
matters they talk to you. There is hardly anything for me to tell you. There is no 
news where lam. This Ponka, Standing Bear, came back, but the soldiers came after 
him and carried him and his party to Omaha City. I do not know yet how they will 
treat them; whether they will return hither, or whether they will take them to the 
Ponkaland(in Indian Territory). As they did not say “* Help me!” I did not help them. 
Iam sad on that account. I send to tell you news. Seven lodges of Omahas went 
away, and they have not returned. Some migrated to the Pawnees, but they have 
not yet returned. 
I have just heard a very bad piece of news. It is said that the people in the 
south, beyond the Oto village, have the small-pox; that their bodies have broken out 
in running sores, and that many have died. Get your agent to ask for medicine 
among the white people. If you are vaccinated you will not have the small-pox. 
We Omahas will do likewise; we will ask about the medicine for ourselves. An aged 
Ponka man whom I kept has died. His name was Lean Black bear. Tell Smoke- 
maker. 
Now, Isend you a correct account of the matters of which I tell you. When you 
receive the letter, return one to me soon. 
qAGT’-NA*PAJI TO MU®TCE-QA*®]9E. 
A*wa” waja cté udgaca"-maji, ada" can’ge a”¢in’ge, a"wa™qpani hi. 
In any direction what- I haya not traveled, there- horse T have none, Tam poor 
ever fore 
[-aji-ga ha. Egi¢e ‘a™¢ingé’qti u¢igaca™ ¢ati te. QPidaji/qti ¢agdé i¢d- 
Do not ie Beware altogether in vain you travel you lest. You are very you go Tam 
coming come sad back 
nahi*-maji. Nikaci”ga d‘uba ikageawa¢é ¢a™ja, wa¢ita® Akihidai éga*, 
not willing. Person some I have them for though, work they aired as, 
friends 
niaci”ga uké¢i" icka® eqai té gaxe anga™¢a-baji. Ada” i-iji-ga has Céna. 
Indian common deed their the todo we do not wish. There- donot be f Enough. 
fore coming 
NOTE. 
See 726. After ga¢i®-na"paji had sent that letter, Mt™ e-qa™joe wrote again, 
insisting on coming to visit the Omahas. This elicited the above letter. 
TRANSLATION. 
I have not traveled in any direction whatever, so I have no horses; I am poor. 
Do not come! Beware lest you travel and come altogether in vain! I am not willing 
for you to start home much displeased. Though I have some persons as friends, they 
attend to work, and so we do not wish to do the deeds of wild Indians. Therefore do 
not come! Enough! 
