CHAPTER III.

INDIANS AND MINERS.

Two Letters——Why they are Introduced——Lee’s Encampment——Gold Fields of Idaho and Eastern Oregon, in 1863——Tides of Adventurers——Means of Transportation——Umatilla City——The Saddle Train——The “Kitchen Mule”——Walker’s Line——Novel Method of Securing Ponies——Indians Hunting Lost Horses——Sublime Mountain Scenery——Punch and Judy——A Stalwart Son of Erin——He Buys an Indian Pony——His Rich Experience Therewith——A Scene Worthy of the Pencil of a Bierstadt——“Riding a Bottle”——The Indian’s Friends Denounced——Indian Integrity——Striking Examples——Tin-tin-mit-si, the Rich Old Indian Chief——“Why White Men are Fools” 32