MA*TCU-NA®BA TO UNAJI*-SKA. ‘ 749 
TRANSLATION. 
I have just received this letter. I received it just now as the Dakotas started back 
to you. I will send to you to tell you that they sent here to ask us some questions. I 
do not know what the young men have given you, still I will ask them the questions, 
though I hesitate a very long time from fear of failure. You ought to come and ques- 
tion them yourself! Joseph La Fléche reached the Ponkas in the Indian Territory. 
T will tell the news which he brought about them. He said that the Ponkas had 
scolded your father and had ordered him to return hither, but he was staying near 
them. When Joe and Susette reached the Ponka village, the Ponkas told him, so he 
says, that Ceki had startedsthis way with five lodges about two weeks previous to 
their arrival. It is now very near the time for them to have come to the Omaha 
village. Up to this time it has been four weeks since Ceki and his companions started. 
He also said that two Ponkas, Big Snake and The Chief, had been arrested and 
confined. When they had spoken of going to make a friendly visit to another tribe, 
the Ponka agent consulted them. ‘Hold on! Wait! I will send and consult the 
President. Should he be willing, you shall go, and I will give you provisions for the 
journey,” said the agent. But Big Snake and The Chief would not obey him. They 
and the Ponkas went away and traveled to the Cheyenne village. When they got to 
the Cheyenne village, the Cheyenne agent arrested Big Snake and The Chief. Then 
the policemen took them and the rest of the Ponkas and brought them back to the 
Ponka reservation. : 
It is said that the two, who have been confined, will be released soon. At this time 
the rest of the Ponkas wished to steal off and come back to us, but Joe told them to 
remain where they were. 
We have aided Standing Bear. He is dwelling on a piece of land belonging to 
the white people, near the boundary of the Omaha reservation. We have aided him 
to-day ; I was with those who “ touched the pen-handle.” Up to this time only those 
who pray to God (among the white people), the lawyers, and the Omahas have aided 
Standing Bear. 
A lawyer sat with me to-day; we sat together talking with one another. The 
lawyer promised to go to see the President. By the time that he gets there the matter 
will be settled. We shall dwell together, but we do not know in which of two lands 
yonder he will dwell. The lawyers and those who pray to God take sides not only 
with the Ponkas, but they speak of befriending all of us Indians. Therefore we are 
very glad. 
We Omahas are in excellent health; we have made food for ourselves; we have 
raised all that we planted; we are very prosperous. I haye not yet seen Standing 
Bear. I will see him to-day or to-morrow. 
These men, Wiyakoi*, Icta-ja"ja", and Raccoon-skin Head-dress, have started back 
to you in order to go on a visit to Spotted Tail. (Send me word the very day that you 
hear of their departure.) And I will go to see you, 
