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Show FORTY YEARS AMONG THE INDIANS. 37 CHAPTER III. My Scrutiny of the Mormons Employment as an Indian Trader Acquaintance with " Winter Mormons" A Proposition of Theft Loomas Threatens my Life My Resolve to Kill him He Finds his Death at Other Hands. TT FTER settling myself with the Bishop's family, I r\ soon got so that I could hobble around a little. Everyone was kind and treated me with great confidence. I listened to the elders preaching and soon concluded they were honest and knew it, or were willful liars and deceivers. I was determined, if possible, not to be fooled, therefore I commenced to watch very closely. I soon found that the people took an interest in the Indians, and although they had been at war and the Bishop's son had been killed by them, there was no general feeling of bitterness. The Indians were around the fort more or less, and the people were desirous of friendship. After I had been there a few weeks recruiting, Messrs. Patrick and Glenn came to Provo ; they were traders on their way south to barter with the Indians and whites. They knew nothing about trading with the Indians, something I had learned considerable about from Old Thomas, who had traded with them during our trip. I had also dealt with them while in New Mexico. This firm offered me employment for the winter, to go to San-pete valley, then the head quarters for trading with the Ute Indians. This suited me, for I wished to become better acquainted with the Indians and gain their friend-ship, also to learn their language. Some of them could speak more or less Spanish, but not enough to converse satisfactorily. While in Manti, during the winter, I 279973 |
