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Show 204 THE INDIANS OF THE they did not surpass their unfortunate enemies. The Paw nees also occupy a reservation in the eastern part of Nebraska, and may be no longer regarded as among the hostile Indians of the plains. The Sioux and Cheyenne roam over the prairies, border ing the mountains, and up into them, and the former claim as their favorite hunting ground a portion of Dakota Ter ritory, through which the Government has established, and is endeavoring to protect an emigrant route. This they refuse to give up, and in a large council at Fort Laramie last June, no advantageous treaty for the possession of that country could be made. The Sioux tribe is the largest on the plains, and their hos tilities to emigrants since the failure of the Indian Commis sion to treat with them satisfactorily on the occasion referred to, will probably result in another Indian war next sum mer. The tribe is divided into seven principal bands, who roam from Minnesota to the Rocky Mountains, but each in a somewhat circumscribed locality which they claim as their own hunting- ground. In consequence of this division of the tribe they sometimes call themselves' the Seven Coun cil Fires. They have proved the most dangerous enemies the white man has among the savages of the West. In 1854 they massacred Lieutenant Grattan, and thirty men, without leaving a man of his party to tell of the mas sacre; and in the winter of 1866- 7 Brevet Lieutenant- Col onel Fetterman, Captain Brown and Lieutenant Grummond, with over ninety men, shared a similar fate at the hands of the same tribe, and such other Indians as had united with them for murder and robbery. The Utes range in and west of the Rocky Mountains, from Bridger Pass as far west as Salt Lake City, and then southward to New Mexico. The Shoshone ( or Snake) tribe have their favorite hunting- ground in the Wind River Valley, and travel south and west during the summer months. These two tribes are now at peace with the white man, and receive their annual presents from the Government. Only |