Koon-Kah-Za-Chy, an eminent Apache chief, stood
before Chief Plenty Coups compelling the attention of the entire council:
"As I stand before you to-day my mind runs over the many fierce battles
that my own tribe, the Apaches, have had with the Kiowas, Cheyennes,
Sioux, and other tribes. Many of the chiefs present to-day I have met
before on the battlefield, but my heart is glad as I shake hands with all
the chiefs to know that now we are all at peace. We smoke the pipe of
peace. We meet as friends and brothers. I am glad to meet all these
chiefs before I die, in peace, as I have before met them in war. It is a
great day for me, for I have come far across the plains of the south, and
I shall go back home carrying with me the memory of this council, and of
these chiefs whom I shall never see again. I say farewell!"

Curly, Custer scout, advanced with great readiness and ease, and took the
hand of Chief Plenty Coups. According to the custom of the Crows he did
not lay down his coup stick, but gestured with one hand. He said:

"Dear Brother Plenty Coups, I am here to-day to greet you, and to greet
all these other chiefs, chiefs who were once my enemies. My heart goes
out to that great battlefield and that great monument erected to my dear
Custer, with whom, and for whom, I fought. He fell on yonder hilltop
almost within reach of our arms from this council lodge. And my heart is
glad that I can shake hands with these chiefs, some of whom I fought
against with Custer on that great battlefield. I have pledged myself
never to lay aside this coup stick so long as the blood runs through my
fingers, but I have resolved this day, as I look into the faces of these
great chiefs who were once my enemies, that I will never lift the coup
stick again, that I will live as a brother to all the tribes, and at peace
with all men. I say farewell to the chiefs, a last, sad farewell."

After these and other eminent chiefs had made reply to the address of
welcome given by Chief Plenty Coups, according to Indian custom they were
all seated in rows on the ground in semicircles, the more eminent chiefs
in the first row, the lines falling back until they reached the wall line
of the lodge. Every chief wore his full war regalia and carried with him
all of his ceremonial and sacred insignia. The small army of coup sticks,
always held aloft, presented a suggestive picture, for these coup sticks
of the many chiefs from many lands each tol