History and stories of Nebraska . dians attended the missionary meet-ings and those who came begged for corn, potatoes andwhisky. Mr. Merrill began to study the Otoe language inorder that he might talk to the Indians without an interpre-ter and translate the Bible and hymns into their tongue. Inthis way he spent the first winter. The next spring Mr. Merrill rode on horseback, fordingtwo rivers, to the Otoe village on the south bank of thePlatte near Ashland. He was received by Itan, the greatchief of the Otoes, in one of his lodges which was made bysetting large trunks of trees in the ground,
History and stories of Nebraska . dians attended the missionary meet-ings and those who came begged for corn, potatoes andwhisky. Mr. Merrill began to study the Otoe language inorder that he might talk to the Indians without an interpre-ter and translate the Bible and hymns into their tongue. Inthis way he spent the first winter. The next spring Mr. Merrill rode on horseback, fordingtwo rivers, to the Otoe village on the south bank of thePlatte near Ashland. He was received by Itan, the greatchief of the Otoes, in one of his lodges which was made bysetting large trunks of trees in the ground, laying poles onthem and covering the whole with grass and dirt. Thislodge of Itan was circular in form and measured a hundredand twenty feet in circumference. Itan gave Mr. Merrill a feast of boiled buffalo meat servedin a wooden bowl. It was to be eaten with the fingers, theguest eating first. All the rest waited until he had was a great chief. He had five wives and four houses 70 THE FIRST NEBRASKA MISSIONARIES 71.
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