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" `I See Before Me My Great Father's Two Sons.
You See Me And The Rest Of Our Chiefs And Warriors.
We are very poor; we have neither powder, nor ball, nor knives;
and our women and children at the village
Have no clothes.
I wish that, as my brothers have given me a flag and a medal,
they would give something to those poor people, or let them
stop and trade with the first boat which comes up the river.
I will bring the chiefs of the Pawnees and Mahas together, and make
peace between them; but it is better that I should do it than my
great father's sons, for they will listen to me more readily.
I will also take some chiefs to your country in the spring;
but before that time I cannot leave home. I went formerly
to the English, and they gave me a medal and some clothes:
when I went to the Spaniards they gave me a medal, but nothing
to keep it from my skin: but now you give me a medal and clothes.
But still we are poor; and I wish, brothers, you would give us
something for our squaws.'
When he sat down, Mahtoree, or White Crane, rose:
" `I have listened,' said he, `to what our father's words were yesterday;
and I am to-day glad to see how you have dressed our old chief.
I am a young man, and do not wish to take much; my fathers have made me
a chief; I had much sense before, but now I think I have more than ever.
What the old chief has declared I will confirm, and do whatever
he and you please; but I wish that you would take pity on us, for we
are very poor.'
"Another chief, called Pawnawneahpahbe, then said:
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