OCR Text |
Show 322 FORTY YEARS AMONG THE INDIANS. said I was not aware that he owned these people. He said he was the U. S. agent from Sacaton; that he had heard that I was teaching these Indians Mormonism, and inducing them to leave the agency, and that he wanted the business stopped. I told him it was none of his business what I was doing with the Indians; asked him if he knew what Mor-monism was. He said he did not know anything about it. " Then you had better wait until you do before com-manding me to quit teaching it. I teach them to quit stealing, gambling, getting drunk and practicing other and worse vices; and to be cleanly and industrious; and advised them to earn their own living; and get ready to educate their young people; to quit killing witches; burn-ing their dead, etc. How does that suit you?" " O that is all right." " Well, sir, that is a part of Mormonism." He seemed a little " stumped," then said, " Well, if I hear of any trouble, I shall forbid you employing these Indians." I here showed him a letter that I had received from him when we first came in, asking me to give employment to a party of Indians, saying that they were good men and willing to work, but had no means of support, and that anything I could do for them would be appreciated. I called his attention to what I had done for this people, according to his request, and asked him if he would like a copy of the letter sent to Washington. I never heard any more complaint from the agent. The Indians that I had taken in to help on the ditch had but little stock and had agreed to take care of it, which they generally did. But visitors would come to see them and would sometimes be careless. But the greatest trouble we had was with some five |