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Show July 13 , 18 4 Elder ic ar'1. obinson wrote the following concerning his mission among the Indians: Fort {armony, July 13, 1854 Jear Parents : I have been amongst the Indians on a mission ·.rith so.,1e others , I now intend to ive you a slight sketch of ,y travels anon st ther.i . On the morning of the 21st of June,I and fivo others with Bro Lewis as our captain with an Indian guide started in a ··mstern direct· on to strike the headviaters of the Santa Clara . :e traveled about 30 miles then struck the California road , vm took don this road and passed through the little valley where I v as snowed in 'h m I went to California . This little valley put me in mind of the h!ll'd snm·i storr that I and 111any others endured vho are still in that country . ·repassed on till we ca..1e on the Santa Clara , here •;e found some Indians who were tilling the earth , our guide told them vm were f iandl : h , C'"' up to shake hands , some of them lale1 not how; they would lift up tlieir arms and place their wrists in our hands. Some of them were afraid and trembled like a leaf . 1.le told then what we c&rne for ~ to learn their language and to do them good . ·· e sang a hymn and prayed , they invited us down to their wickaups which V1Pre about 2 miles belon ; we went and camped under a large cotton tree . They had he ard that ·1e baptized sone Indians about our fort; thay 'ff.nted to be baptized and be I. ormons ." 'e baptized and confirmed ei{sht and laid our hands on one old man for his healt h . Our captain talked to them as wJll as he could through one of our boys and to_ld them they were ormons no·..1 , they must not steal , but do as we told therr1 and the Lord would bless them . T e next riorning we bid the Indians farevJell and , rav e l e d own th, r i ver about 16 miles over a rough country ~ sonetimes on th. barren bench and sonetimes on the rivPr bottom till vie cnme to the "3i, Chiefs" wickaup , as the Indians cal: him . He came out to neet us and showed us where to camp . Ee is about as larfe a · looki ng Indian as I saw in the nation . T.e is a stern, sober looking Indian , he looks as though he vould be 2 friend whilst friendly and a fearful ener11y whilst at enmity . Te asked for s ome tobacco to s noke ; our captain gave him some, 'le t~1en had a friendly smoke , and after vie had done smoki1.rs , we s ang and pra, ed , whtch we al-J,mys di.d every night and morning . ie told tham that v1e had come to learn their lan~uage , that we might to ( - be'!' - ) able to t alk with them and tell them many good things . Je told them them we had a book in our possession that was the History of their Fathers end was written many years ago and spoke about them and that we ·would tell them more about the book when -ve could talk to them . This s ~ened to please them and gr.!"ldl'-=ill: the stern and sullen expre ssion of the Chief ' s countenance gave way to a smile . .. He wanted to look at it ; we shov-1ed it to hi:n '•nd told him that it · ·as found by a good man who God t alked to and s1-,rrwed him where it wac- that it i.ms on plates of gold and t his was the ·writing on pa,.,E r ; he seemed pleased . le t alked· through one of our boys who understands a 1 i ttle Indian to our guide and ga re him a fmv lead i ng i terns to tell the Indians . He got up , told them the great Shenovmb , which means God , had told our )reat c2. ,ta.in to tell us to leave our sq_naws to come to thel'l ·to do them good to learn them ho· to work , to build houses , and to be like the 1:or1rJ.ons . The chief got up , said he was friendly and believed :1e had come to do them good , and believed that God did talk to our bi.c; Captain . ·re sang and prayed , laid hands on a little child and t hen dismissed them . The next norning before the sun was up the Chief came to us wit h a child to lay_our hands on it ; we did so ; they have great faith in the layi ng on of hands , alt hough they knew nothing ahout it till we v1ent amongst them . After breakfas t and prayer he invited us to his wic kaup , we went up , he gave us some victuals to eat · which were not very palctable , we :9artook very slightly ; afterwards we had a smoke all round . Te then sang and prayed . They delight i n singing , which art they have lost , the - do nothing but hum . The Chief said he wanted to be baptized with many of his band . Je bapt i zed and conftrmed 66 that afternoon, we told them through our guide they were Mornons no1J and must not steal nor fivht other Indians but be good . The next day e baptized 15 more and ....conf ·,.._.P d. them . re then forr.1ed them in a cj rcle ··,c, 1 I 1 1 1 1 |
