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Letter from Joseph Sinclear to William Medill, June 1 1846: Sheet #3

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start at an earlier day, that if they rush off starting so long it would be late before they reach their new homes, and they would hardly have time to prepare for winter, that no payment would be made either to those who remain, those who are to remove untill the emigration is accomplished.

The contractor stated that he was on the Ground with his hands [? his name?] & provisions and having notified the Indians to meet he would be obliged to feed those who come to the camp untill they get ready to start, and that this delay would very much increase his expenses with me in urging them to start at an earlier day.

After consulting with each other, their chief answered that they were aware that they would get no more money untill they removed, that they did not expect it, that they were sorry to put off their removal so long contrary to our wishes, but that his people thought they would be unable to collect & sell their property sooner, and besides some of his people were afraid to start so as to reach their new homes in the hottest and most unhealthy season of the year. He replied to the contractor that he wishes him to collect each of their people as were ready, or as were ready now to go to the camp, and to feed them untill they started, and that the tribe would pay him one half the expense, and the Chief again assured us that at the time set they would remove, that he would himself get on his horse and ride amongst his people and see that they [illegible] on the ground, and that he would accompany the emigration west and see his people at their new homes.

Finding that it could do me better, and having no doubt of the good faith of the Indians, in that the emigration time would start at that time, I replied that I would write to their Great Father as they requested,