CHAPTER XV.

THE COUNCIL WITH THE SNAKE INDIANS——O-CHE-O.

A Camp Scene——Peace Council with the Snake Indians——Announcing the Presence of Ka-ko-na——Their Representations——Colonel Otis—— Old Winnemucca Sent For——A Bloodthirsty Chief——His Wives—— Their Savage Mode of Life——Indian Women Socially——Result of the Council——Both Parties Came Armed——The Medicine Man——A White and Red Doctor Disagree——A Warning——Incantation of a Medicine Man——Strange and Cruel Treatment of the Sick——“Big Foot”——A Beautiful Custom——The Fire Telegraph——Spiritualism—— O-Che-Oh and Allen David——A Peaceful Talk in Seven Tongues—— The Old Squaw and Her Heartless Sons——A Gloomy Picture of Savage Life——The Snakes’ Home——Their Future a Problem——Climate of this Region——Enemies to——Novel Method of Capturing them—— Crickets for Food——A Cricket Press——Warriors who Eat their Foes——An Embryo Indian War——How it Can be Avoided——Tah-home and Ka-ko-na in Tribulation——Power of Medicine Men——Stronger than love——Wild Men Shrewd in Such Matters——Heart-Broken Squaw——Proposition to Elope——Fear of Pursuit——No Compromise 224