History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

NEGOTIATIONS WITH INDIANS. 237
beside them. At Cutler Park there were friendly
negotiations made with Bio- Elk, chief of the Omahas,
who said: "I am willing you should stop in my country,
but I am afraid of my great father at Washington."
2
As the United States pretended to hold the title
to the land, it was thought that the Pottawattamies
had no right to convey their timber to others; so
Brigham enjoined that there should be no waste of
timber within these limits, but that as much as was
necessary might be used. A permit for passing
through their territory, and for remaining while
About the Missouri.
necessary, was obtained from Colonel Allen, who
was acting for the United States. 3
Although it was late in the season when the first
bands of emigrants crossed the Missouri, some of them
still moved westward as far as the Pawnee villages on
Grand Island, intending to select a new home before
winter. But the evil tidings from Nauvoo, and the
destitute condition in which other parties of the
1 ' The Omahas caused them some trouble, as they would steal with one
hand while we fed them with the other.' Hist. B. Young, MS., 46, Oct. 18th.
5 Hist. B. Young, MS., 1846, 98-9. Maj. Harvey brought the Mormons
at Winter Quarters letters from Washington, expecting them to leave the
Pottawattamie lands in the spring. See cor., Hist. B. Young, MS., 441-52.