JOHN SPRINGER TO JOHN PRIMBAU. ; 737 
several matters. I hope that you will help me. If you help me, I shall be apt to 
rejoice continually. O ye white people! you have regarded us Indians just as so many 
very bad quadrupeds! Fie! weresemble you in having blood, though you were made 
with white skins and we with red ones. 
In former days we knew nothing at all; but now we have learned your deeds from 
you. As we have learned your methods, we wish to imitate you in practicing them. 
We will follow you in this respect. O ye white people, tell us one of the things by 
means of which we may improve! My friend, tell us one of the many things which 
have been advantageous to you. My friend, we have great love for you. 
Some Indians went to the Indian Territory, but they have returned. The Indians 
are very sad. I have seen them. They are the Ponkas. Shame on you! why do 
you wish those to die who desire to see and know your ways? O ye whom I regard 
as hearers of God’s words (among those who are otherwise), you have not obeyed 
God’s words at all! I think, O ye white people, that you do not even know what pity 
is. The Ponkas desired to work very hard for themselves, but you have kept them in 
an unsettled condition. When this letter reaches you, and it is put in a newspaper and 
scattered over the whole country, send me a paper. 
JOHN SPRINGER TO JOHN PRIMEAU. 
April 26, 1879. 
Kag¢ha, can’ge ta" ceta™ tkikawi"a¢a-maji. Can’ge ta” q¢d éde i” tea® 
My friend, horse the so far I have not bartered. Horse the lean but now 
(std. (std. 
an. ob.) an. ob.) 
ci" ¢é ha. Ki itea™ wab¢ita" héga-maji, wéb¢i"wi"-maji tdnke. Beéfcta™ 
fat goes . And now I have plenty of work, I may not sell. I finish it 
yi, can’ge ikikawi"a¢é ta minke. Itea™ gfujf angtyai nid ¢ingé, udaqti 
when, horse I will trade. Now ens our pain hasnone, very good 
ole 
a™naji®. Ki Thank’ta"wi™ 4fi ¢a"y4 ond wika™b¢a. Cin’gajin’ga wiwija &’ya 
we stand. And Yankton vil- tothe you I wish for you. Child my there 
lage go 
cta”be né wika"b¢a. Ii Ma"teti-ndji" i¢imaxe te ticka™ e‘at™ i¢apaha"-maji 
yousee you Iwishforvou. And Standing Grizzly Lask hima may deed how I do not know 
him “go bear question 
~ = a = =a z Sons rd yn’ |< A 170 y 
ha. Wabag¢eze ci ugé¢é tia’ ¢aki¢é ka"b¢éea", waqi“”ha ¢é nize yi. 
fo) Ona 
5 Letter again soon you send hither I hope, paper this you when. 
to me recelve 
it 
NOTES. 
John Springer was a half-blood Omaha. John Primeau was a half-blood Ponka, 
who resided on the Santee reservation, Knox County, Nebr. 
737, 5. Ki Ma*teu-naji", ete. If té, the, be substituted for te, may, we may trans- 
late thus: “I do not know about the matter concerning which I questioned Standing 
Bear,” 
youn yi-——47 
