Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/119

 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 85 signs this treaty you will kill. Now I am willing to be first, but I am not afraid you will kill me. If you do, it will be all right. A man has to die sometime, and he ean die but once. It matters little to me when my time comes, nor do I care much how it comes, though I would rather die fighting our enemies. I believe this treaty will be best for the Dakotas, and I will sign it, even if a dog kills me before I lay down the goose quill." Then turning to the commissioners, he said: "Fathers, I hope you will be willing to let our new reservation come down to the Traverse des Sioux, so that our people can be comfortable and not crowded, and have plenty of good hunting and fishing grounds. The Swan lake and other lakes have plenty of fish and wild rice and there is plenty of wood. Rock creek is not far enough down for us. I am glad that we can hunt in the big woods as heretofore, but I hope you will bring our new home down to Traverse des Sioux.*' If Little Crow's request had been granted, the eastern boundary of the new reservation would have extended about forty miles below Rock creek, or two miles east of St. Peter, and Would have included the present sites of that city, New Ulm and Mankato. The commissioners declined the request. Colonel Lea said: "The reservation is all right as if is." Governor Ramsey said: "We have marked out a large piece of land for your home ; the soldiers asked us for more and we gave it. It is all that we can do." Colonel Lea added : "No man puts any food in his mouth by much talk, but often gets hungry if he talks too long. Let the Little Crow and the other chief's step forward and sign." Finding the commissioners firm, Little Crow now stepped to the table and, being handed a chair, sat down and signed each of the duplicate copies of the treaty. It has been said that Little Crow was taught to write by the Rev. Briggs at Lac cpii Parle, and another account declares with equal assurance that his teacher was the Rev. Dr. AVilliamson, at Kaposia. To the treaty Little Crow signed his original name, Tah O-ya-te Duta, meaning His Red Nation. Wabasha was the next to sign, making his mark. Then the other chiefs, head soldiers and principal warriors crowded around to affix their marks. In all there were sixty-five Indian signatures. Of Wa- coota 's band, the following affixed their signatures : Chief Wah- koo-tay, the Shooter; his head, soldier, Iron Cloud; and his principal warriors. Good Iron Voice, Stands on the Ground, Stands Above, Sacred Fire, Red Stones, Sacred Blaze and Iron Cane. At Mendota, as at Traverse des Sioux, when the treaty was concluded, each Indian signer stepped to another table where lay another paper which he signed. This was called the traders' paper, and was an agreement to pay the "just debts," so called,