And there was another thing that the people rejoiced in greatly.  I will speak of that also.  That was in war.  When they went to war and came near the enemies’ dwellings and saw the enemy there they would choose out about ten of the bravest young men and dispatch them to kill some of the enemy.  Then they would draw near to the houses, and soon though there might be five whose hearts were not able for it, the others would go on and kill a man at his house.  And the great joy that I spoke of was thus:  of the five who had killed an enemy but only four of them could take the glory, but their names would be praised throughout the whole Indian nation; they would be glorified and considered as chiefs.  But most of all, he who first killed the enemy he would be the chief.  And then when they had returned home even the women would rejoice greatly.  They would dance night and day, all of them.  And as I, myself, was chief, I considered this the very greatest joy.  Such were our customs.

But now from the place I now occupy, I look back and remember these things.  And though the Indian people had all of these customs, I know not one of them that made the people prosper or brought life to them.  I have not seen that brought life to the people.  And thus from where I am now, I am always looking to the future.  On this account I am looking forward.  The Indians have been told the words of the Grandfather, (the President).  And they tell us that by these words the people will prosper.

“Plant; by that you shall live,” the Grandfather told them.  And now I know a little that the Grandfather spoke the truth.  The Grandfather gives me food for six days, but even though I eat a very little each day, in three days I have eaten it all up.  But now I have raised corn and though I abide here eating nothing else, by it I live.  And also to go from my place to where the Grandfather gives me rations takes one week to go and the same to come back and I stay over a few days to rest when there, and so it altogether covers over three weeks or more.  Therefore, though I have settled here and desire to busy myself in all the white man’s ways that I am able, I have not yet become independent.  And therefore, I earnestly wish, if it were possible, that the Grandfather would enable us to receive a year’s rations at a time, and then we would make speedy progress in the white man’s way.

And because of this also, the children do not advance much in their learning.  For when we go after the food they also go along.  If they should stay behind, food is scarce, therefore they go along.

And now I hear it said that schooling in the Dakota language is to be altogether stopped, and on this account I am sad.  For in the school-house here they learn well and also they pray.  It is because they do these things in the Dakota language that we have been brought to understand them and to love them, and gladly live in accordance with them.  Then also if it was all done (the teaching and praying) by a white man we would understand nothing about it, and so I do not think it would be well.