G. S. L. City Novr. 6th 1854.
To Wash-e-kik
I send this my letter to you by your good friends Mr. Ryan & Mr. Hickman.
I was sorry to learn that your people are so disposed to break up and scatter about.
I love the Shoshones, and therefore wish to tell you and your people some of my ideas which I think will be for your good. I think it is a poor plan for the Shoshones to scatter so much, and roam about in such small parties This plan exposes your men to the attacks of your enemies I also think it unwise for you to depend entirely upon hunting and fishing for your living, for game is often scarce, and often hard to be caught, and in such cases you suffer from hunger, and sometimes starve. Now I would like to see your people collect into large bands, and begin to cultivate the earth that you may not starve, when you are unfortunate in hunting. You have many good places that you can settle upon to raise grain & vegetables. Mr. Ryan tells me that a place in Green River, called "Brown's hole is a good spot for raising wheat, Corn, potatoes, pump kins, and many other things which are good to eat in the long winters, <If you wish to begin to farm so that you may have plenty to eat> without being obliged to hunt in the cold, I will send good men of my people to help you make farms, and help and show you how to raise grain. I hope you will see that this is for your good, and conclude to begin to till the earth next spring and I will help you to seed, tools, and such aid you may wish, to give you a start. During the coming winter I think it would be a good plan for you to go to some good hunting grounds, not in too small parties, and lay up plenty of meat, and dress Skins, and robes and next spring I will send men with blankets, powder, lead, beads, and such trade as you may wish, which you can purchase with your robes, skins, and such other articles as you may have to exchange.
I hope you will understand that I am your friend, and brother, and that I desire to do you all the good I can. I also wish you to understand that Mr. Ryan, Mr. Hickman, and Mr. Brown, and such of my friends and brothers as I may send you, are your friends and brothers and wish you to do you good, and presume your hearts will be good towards them, and that you will use them well, and open your ears to their good counsel.
Now Wash-e-kik and the Shoshones I want you to remember these my words to you, and open your ears well to understand them, and do not forget that I am
Your friend & Brother
Brigham Young