The Pacific tourist:

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whisky-there comes out, in their trade for it,
all the possible shrewdness and cunning of the
races.
At one time, as a military officer relates the
story, there was a Kiowa village, beautifully
located for the winter near a grove of old cottonwood trees. The fact that the village was rich
in buffalo robes and other skins became known
to a b an d of the Cheyenne tribe. Stealing would
not answer, as there were too many Kiowas and
too few Cheyennes. But the shrewdness of the
Cheyennes appeared soon in the shape of a bottle
of whisky; how they obtained it was a mystery
not explained.
's With their whisky, the Cheyennes proceeded
to the Kiowa village, exhibited their bottles, and
distributed around a few judicious smells of the
refreshing corn juice; every now and then giving
the bottle a shake, so that the aroma should be
thoroughly appreciated by their friends the Kiowas.
The smells we re freely accep ted, and there
was an uncommon desire'manifested to know more
(i. e., get better a cquain ted) of the Cheye nnes.
Pipes were produce n d and duly smoked; after
which the visitors announced their willingness to
trade, as they said.
"They had not brought much whisky, as they
did not know that their brothers, the Kiowas
would like to see it. The little that they had
with them was good and very strong," (with
water) " when the Kiowas had tasted of it they
would see." The Cheyenne was liberal, "he
would give so much," (holding up the bottle and
marking with the thumb soleth ng like half an
inch of the whisky). "But —-iseeing that the
Kiowas were not in hasteto trade, the Cheyennes
would smoke with them." Meanwhile a kindly
disposed bottle-holder was dispensing smells of
the whisky to a few Kiowas, who were loud in
their announcements of the number of fine robes
which they possessed. This second smoke was
quickly finished, and the Cheyenne again exhibited thefire. sater, marking it as before by the
location of the thumb on the bottle.
A general exclamation followed, for to the
Kiowa's eye the position of the thumb en the
bottle was so very much higher (i. e., so much
less whisky than before). To this Cheyenne had
no consideration; the trouble he said, was with
the eyes of the Kiowas, which could not be expected to see big like those of a Cheyenne. Another
smelling time ensued, which was followed by an
instantaneous exhibition by the Kiowas of tin
cups and robes, and the Cheyennes began to pour
out the whisky.
While pouring out the promised grog, the position of the thumb on the bottle was regarded by
each Kiowa with the most exact scrutiny, which
effectually prevented all attempts to shove up the
gauge. And it was noticeable by the care of
the bottle-holders, that when the bottle was held
up after each pass, no Indian could detect the
little park on its north-western slope, and about
twelve miles distant from the summit. This
park is about four miles wide, and six miles long,
is w ell sh eltered, easy of access, and beautifully
covered with pine and spruc e trees, scattered
easily about over the grassy surface, which gives
to it a tru e park-like loveliness. It is partially
occupied by a few familie s who have taken mupe
permanen t h om estead s, and has been for a long
tim e an excellent pasture for large herds of cattle
which live here the entire year. It is also becoming quite a pleasure r es ort, and has many attractive features to interest the health seeker and
tourist. Excel lent fis h ing' in lovely little trout
streams, can be found all over the vicinity. From
th is valley is the only p racticabl e route.for
as cending the peak. Long's Peak is 14,271 feet
in eleva tion, and ab out 6,300 feet ab ove -the park.
It s c onstruction -is of the boldes t and most decided character, with great walls, deep canons;
and on its side s ther ae are go rge s and caverns
amo ng t he gr andest on t he-continent. Its summit is divided into two sharp crests, t he w ester n
one being t hehiehe ast and inost difficult of ascent.
It is a fam eousgland eardk for a stretch of countrvy
of mor e th an a hund red miles from north to
south.
Buffaloes. Buffalo hunting is a pastime
t ourists can now have little hope to indulge in.
Few or no buffaloes ever appear within sight of
the car window s of t he overland trains, and the
vast herds whic h once roamed for thousands of
miles and continuall a nd o tan( t down the great
plain, are passing away, or disappearing from their
old haunts to fin d s ome nook or corner i more
q uiet and secure. Thousands of them have been
killed during the past two or three winters for
commercial purposes. T he hides are stripped
off and sold for' as low prices as $1.50, while the
bones are gathered in he aps near the railroad
station and freighted eastward to be used for
comm ercial fertilizers. In o n e winter it is estimated that on the l ines of the Union and Kansas
Pacific Railroad there were killed over 100,000
head.
A Sinart Inditan Trade. The Indians
which in olden times used to visit the military
posts, were noticeable for their great anxieties to
trade, and for their great shrewdness, which had
often the spice of humor.
At one of the posts a Kiowa chief endeavored
to consummate a bargain for an officer's wife, by
offering- as an equivalent a large number of fat
dogs; the number was so large that the Indians
present thinking it was impossible for the officer
to withstand so tempting an offer, made haste to
express their willingness to help eat the dogs, if
there were more than the white man could manage for himself.
But it is among the Indians- themselves that
the sharpest species of trading is seen. In the
great p?assion of the Indian for "fire-water"-'
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