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Show 20 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. Friday, September 29: 10 a. m., grand.parade of old Indians in native cos-tumea thru agency grounds; afternoon, racing and sports. Saturday, September, 30 : Judging exhibits ; agricultural convention ; speak-ing bg; leading Intlians on farming, stock raising, good'citieenship, industry, ete. The fair week opened bright and pleasant, and the Indians began arriving on the 24th, all in high spirits. An open space in a bend made by the Little Bighorn River was reserved for a camp site. Some hundreds of old-fashioned Indian tepees were artistically set in a semicircle' along the bank of the river, presenting a beautiful' appearance with the rich green timber as a background. A hundred or more lodges of Cheyenne and Sioux came to visit the fair and were warmly welcomed by the Crows. The old Indians had made a request, which was granted, that they might enter the camp in native costume and in the same manner as in olden days when war and hunting parties returned after an absence. I t was a very touch-ing and impressive spectacle as, about sundown, the old fellows began to arrive from the hills on all sides in small groups, singing their own songs and chants as they came. Early the next morning all the officers were at their posts, each wearing a bright-colored ribbon badge appropriately inscribed. Nearly all were drest in neat suits of citizen clothing. Much work had to be done, and they were soon organized into groups and laying hold of their tasks to the best advantage. The largest of the dance tents was set up for farm exhibits. lmprov'ed tables were run around the inner sides, and one long table thru the center. These were covered with white sheeting and divided into spaces for the different districts; then word was sent to camp to bring the exhibits in. As each Indian had kept his own exhibit in his wagon and covered, scarcely anyone hew what his neighbor had brought; so the unloading was a highly interesting and even exciting event, punctuated continually by laughter, huzzas, and friendly banter. Takes the Gun, a full-blood and wholly uneducated Big Horn In-dian, drove up a four-horse team of iron grays that were well matched and would weigh about fourteen hundred pounds apiece; they were hitched to a new lumber wagon and wore a fine, new heavy draft harness. A wild cheer arose- when he drove his outfit in front of the hall, and one still wilder and louder as he drew the cover from his wagon and revealed a double box load of as good corn, grain, melons, pumpkins, squashes, and other vegetables as could be found in any country. Next came Bird Horse, driving R, well-built four-horse team of bays with new wagon and harness, and bringing. an ex-hibit equal to Takes the Gun's. And just here came in a touch of common human nature.. A long line of teams had followed these two as they drove up, but dispersed and disappeared after Bird Horse had unloaded. Investigation showed that these later comers did not |