Page:The Red Man and the White Man in North America.djvu/567

Rh imposing ceremony, and scarcely a breath was drawn by any one present during its passage. Thus ended the scene, — one of the most impressive of the kind I ever looked upon. And with it terminated the duty which had led General Gaines to visit Fort Armstrong” (pp. 241, 242).

There has always been a variance and strife about the rights conceded to the Indians of hunting and roaming on unceded territory outside of their reservations. Though this right has been in terms stipulated, and Congress has even made provision of partial payment to Indians roaming, some military officers and agents have insisted that being found outside of the reservations is an indication of hostile intentions on the part of the roamers, and cuts them off from their claim in the distribution of the supplies. Nor are the perplexity and bitterness arising from this source relieved by the well-known fact, that, while the large body of a tribe may remain seemingly content on their reservations, parties of restless young warriors may mischievously break bounds, to raid and steal, furnished with the very guns, ammunition, blankets, and food just distributed from the agencies.

But the swiftly circulated reports of the treasures in the Black Hills — which lay within the limits solemnly pledged to the Indians, and which it seems they regarded with a superstitious reverence — stirred the passion and greed of adventurers. Of course the fabled wealth in them was destined to the uses of civilization, whatever claims the barbarian might set up. In utter contempt of all our Government covenants, the Indians saw a steady stream of adventurers and gold-hunters rushing through to Utah, Oregon, and California. The placers of the miners and the cultivated grounds needed for their supplies, with the groggeries, saloons, and gambling-halls of incipient cities and rows of dwellings, were occupied and crowded as by magic by those who regarded the Indians as but vermin.