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'L"i>^''-'" ILLUSTRATIONS OP THE k'l ^ TV MANNERS, CUSTOMS, AND CONDITION OP TUB NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS WITH LETTERS AND NOTES WRITTEN DURING EIGHT YEARS OE TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE AMONG THE WILDEST AND MOST REMARKABLE TRIBES NOW EXISTING WITH THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY ENGRAVINOS, FROU THE autljor'is ©n'fltiiat »amt«nflj«. BY GEO. C ATI IN. /'^ , ^, IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. TENTH EDtTION. LONDON: HENRY G. BOHN. YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN. 1866. K > 1 c ♦ ,» s/ FaoNTttpi: Maf of li Wyoming, Travels the Far 1 visited, f of the In tliem, an CERTinCATl Mouth of " Missouri- Indian £ Cliaracter of turesque c and curiou at the mou tribes in tl rEINTED BY J. E. ADLABD, BAITBOLOHEVr CLOU. Upper Missoi Pis. 7, 8 Wounded t from the cb CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. Ma- of W, Loc,„„,. „„,^^^^^ ^.^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ J letter—No. i. Wyoming, birth-place of the Author n 9 h- r Travels to the Indian Country-De Wattrff'r ^''™" ^'•°'«"''"'-^'"« "«« of hi, the Far WestJn 1832, p.3.-Des;Iofr;r" PWladelphia-First start to visited, and number o Paintinran/IIeT' T"' ^^''-^-Numbers of Tribe, of thelndians. p. S.-Former "nd o !r . ?' '"'"''■ P' ^-^-bable extinction them, and estim'atin, thenral::;:"^,^" °^ "^"^ P^P^ -"-^ aPP-chin, letter-No. 2. fll(mth of Yellovr Stone, p. 14 pi 3 n; , r Missouri-PoHteness of Mr. Ch tt^ m' T '' ^""'^-^'ffi-''- of the Indian Epicures-New and true sZo f T\ '''''''"'~^^^ Company's Fort- true School for the Arts-Beautiful Models, p. 14-16 letter-No. 3, Mout„ of Yellow stoxe Character of Missouri River n 18 .1 ^ » turesque clay bluffs, p. 19 ', g Ij ! ^ ''^"' ^'^'^ ^^•''««' P' l^' P'- S-Pic and curious conjectures of the Indians 7'"™"'' °' " "'""'^^ "' "^« ^^^^ ^tone. at the mouth 0/ Yel.ow BtZ-uZn u' '' '"•~^" "^""^"^'^ Establishmen; tribes in this vicinity, p. 22. ''^"^'^-H" table and politeness, p. 81._L,dian Un M- ^^^''^^-N^- 4' Mouth ot Yei.i.ow Stonk. Upper Missouri Indians-General character p 23 -Buff ' n Pis- r,8.-Modes of killing them-Buffaloh f --f "ff'»'°««-Description of, p. 24, Wounded bull, p. 26 p,. 10 -E J"? "" ' '" ''-^''"<'-'« ^-P. P- 26, pi 9.- from the chase, p. ,,, ' -^-traord.naor feat of Mr. M' Blackfoot chiefs, and their costumes, p. 30. — Blackfoot woman and child, p. 30. pis. it, 13.— Scalps, and objects for which taken — red pipes, and pipe-stone quarry, p. 91. —Blackfoot bows, shields, arrows and lances, p. 32, 33, pi. 18, — Several distinguished Blackfeet, p. 34, pis. 14, 15, 16, 17. LETTER— No. 6, Mouth of Yellow Stone. Medicines or mysteries— medicine-bag— origin of the word medicine, p. 35. — Mode of forming the medicine-bag, p. 36. — Value of the medicine-bog to the Indian, and mate- riols for their construction, p. 37, pi. 18.— Blackfoot doctor or medicine-man— his mode of curing the sick, p. 39, pi. 19.— Different ofiSces and importance of medicine-men, p. 41. LETTER — No. 7, Mouth of Yellow Stone. Crows and Blackfeet— General character and appearance, p. 42.— Killing and drying meat, p. 43, pi. 22.— Crow lodge or wigwam, p. 43, pi. 20.— Striking their tents and encampment moving, p. 44, pi. 21.— Mode of dressing and smoking skins, p. 45. — Crows— Beauty of their dresses — Horse-stealing or capturing — Reasons why they are called rogues and robbers of the first order, &c. p. 46. J LETTER — No. 8, Mouth of Yellow Stone. Further remarks on the Crows— Extraordinary length of hair, p. 49.— Peculiarities of the Crow head, ond several portraits, p. 50, pis. 24, 25, 26, 27.— Crow and Blackfeet women Their modes of dressing and painting, p. 51. — Differences between the Crow and Blackfoot languages, p. 51. — Differer.t bands— Different languages, and numbers of the Blackfeet, p. 52. — Knisteneaux — Assinneboins, and Ojibbeways, p. 53. — Assinneboins a part of the Sioux — Their mode of boiling meat, p. 54.— Pipe-dance, p." 65, pi. 32. — Wi-jun-jon (a chief) and wife, pis. 28, 29.— Ilis visit to Washington, p. 56.— Dresses of women and children of the Assinneboins, p. 57, pi. 34.— Knisteneaux (or Crees')— choracter and numbers, and several portraits, p. 57, pis. 30. 31.— Ojibbeways— Cttief and wife, p. 58, pis. 35, 36. LETTER— No. 9, Mouth of Yellow Stone, Contemplolions of the Great Far West and its customs, p. 59. — Old acquaintance, p. 60.— March and effects of civilization, p. 60.— The " Far West"— The Author iu search of it, p. 62.— Meeting with " Ba'tiste," a free trapper, p. 63, 64. LETTER— No. 10, Mand.\n Village, Upper Missouri. A strange place— Voyage from Mouth of Yellow Stone down the river to Mandans — Commencement— Leave M'Kenzie's Fort, p. 66.— Assinneboins encamped on the river - Wijun-jon lecturing on the customs of white people— Mountain-sheep, p. 67.— ih ! ';f -'^°°''-*'-"->P«' LETTER— No. 18. Mandan Village. Indian doncing— '• Buffalo dance," p. 127, pi. 56— Discovery of buffaloes-Preparations for the chase— Start— A decoy— A retreat— Death and scalping, p. 129. letter-No. 19, Mandan Village. Sham fight and sham scalp dance of the Mandan boys, p. 131 , pi, 5r.-Game of Tchung-kee p. 132, pi. 59.-Fea8Ung-Fasting and sacrificing-White buffalo robe-Its value' p. 133, pi. 47.-Ilain makers and rain stoppers, p. 13l.-Rain making, p. 135, pi. 58^ " The thunder boat"— The big double medicine, p. 140. letter-No. 20, Mandan Village. Mandan archery-" Game of the arrow," p. 141. pi. 60._Wild horses-Horse-racing p. 142, pi. 61.— Foot war-party in council, p. 143, pi. 63. letter— No. 21, Mandan Village, Upper Missouri. Mah-to-toh-pa, Cthe Four Bears)- His costume and his portrait, p. 145, pi. 64.— The robe of Mah-to-toh-pa, with all the battles of his life painted on it, p. 148, pi. 65. letter-No. 22, Mandan Village. Mandan religious ceremonies-Mandan religious creed, p. 156.-Three objects of the ceremony, p. 157.-PIace of holding the ceremony-Big canoe-Season of commoner, -and manner, p. 158.-Opening the medicine lodge-Sacrifices to the water, p. lav J. Fastmg scene for four days and nights, p. 161, pi. 66.-Bel.lohck-nah.pick, (the bull dance), p. 164. pi. 67.-Pohk.hong (the cutting or torturing scene), p. 169 pi. 68 - fll l.-k«.iiri..k.-nrii.pick. (the lut race) p. 173, pi. 69._Extniordin.ry in.eancei of eiMlty in .elf-torture, p. 175.-Sacrificing to the water, p. 176.-tertifioau. of the Mandan oeremonie.— Inferenoes drawn from these horrible orueltie., with tr.dition. IV l77.-.Tradition of O-kee-hee-de (the Evil Spirit), p. 179.-Mand«n. can be oivi-' llMUf p. 183. LETTER— No. 23, Minatauee Village. Looation and numbera-Origin, p. 185.-Prinoipal village, pi. 70._ Vapour bath., pi. 7i - Old chief. Black Mocoaain. p. ISO. pi. 7«._Two portrait., man and woman, pU. 73. 74. Oreen corn dance, p. 189, pi. 75. LETTER— No. 24, Minataree Village. Crow., in the Minataree village, p. 191. —Crow chief on horseback, in full dre.g, p. I9f, pi. 76— Peculiarities of the Crows— Long hair— Semi-lunar face., p. 193, pU. 77, 78.-! Rats in the Minataree village, p. 195.-Cro3sing Knife River in " bull boaf-Swimmiuf of Minataree girls, p. 196— Horse-racing— A banter— Riding a " naked horse." p. IP?.— Grand buffalo surround, p. 199. pl.79.— CutUng up and carrying in meat, p.'«01. LETTER— No. 25, Little Mandan Village, Upper Missouri. An Indian offering himself for a pillow, p. «03.— Portrait, of Riccareea. p. 204, p!*, 83, 84, 82.81.— Riccaree village, p. 204, pi. 80.— Origin of the Mandan.— Welsh colony —Expedition of Madoc.p, 206-7. LETTER— No. 26, Mouth of Teton River. Sioux or (Dah-co-ta;, p. 208.-Fort Pierre, pi. 85.-Missis8ippi and Missouri Sioux p. 209.-Ha-wan.je-tah (chief) p. 211. pi. 86.-Puncahs, Shoo-de-ga-cha (chief; and wife, p. 812, pls.87,88.— Four wives taken at once, p. 213. pi. 90. —Portiait of one of the wives, p. 214, pi. 89— Early marriages— Cauaes of, p. 215. LETTER— No. 27, Mouth op Teton River. Custom of exposing the aged. p.216.-A tedious march on foot, p.8l8.-Level prairiea- " Out of sight of land"_Mirage-Looming of the prairies, p. 218._Turning the toes in -Bijou h,lla-Salt meadows, p. 2I9_Arrive at Fort Pierre-Great assemblage of Sioux -Paint the portrait of the chief-SupersUtious objections-Opposed by the doctors p. 220._Difficulty settled-Death of Ha-wan-je-tah (the chief)-Mode of. p. 221 -Por! traits of other Sioux chiefs-Wampum, p. 222-3, pis. 91, 92— Beautiful Sioux women- Daughter of Black Rook-Chardon, his Indian wife, p. 224-5, pis. 94, 95. LETTER— -No. 28, Mouth of Teton River. Difficulty of painting Indian women, p. 226— Indian vanity-Watching their portnuta- Amjti of the first .teamer amongst the Sioux, p. 227— Dog-feast p. 828, pi. 96. V111 LETTER— No. 29, Mouth of Tetom Rivrh, VolonUry torture, " looking at the iun," p. 232, pi. 97.— Religioui ceremony, p. J33.— Smoking " k'niok-k'neok"— I'ipeii, p. 234. pi. 98.— Calumeti or pipe* of pence, p. 23S — Tomihawki and icalping knives, p. 935-6, pi. 99.— Dance of the chiefi, p. 237, pi. 100. — SoaIp»— Mode of taking, and object, p. 238-9.— Modea of carrying and uaing the ■oalpi, p. 240, pi. 101. LETTER — No. 30, Mouth or Teton River. Indian weapons and inatruments of rausio, p. 241, pi. lOlJ.— Quiver and shield— Smoking the ahield p. 241 .—Tobacco pouches— Drums— Rattles — Whistles— Lutes, p. 242, pi 101|.— Dear dance, p. 244, pi. 102.— Beggars' dance— Scalp dance, p. 24.^, pl8.103,lCi LETTER — No. 31, Mourn or Teton Riveu. Bisons (or buffaloes) description of, p. 247.— Habits of, p. 248 — Bulls' fighting— Buffalo wallows — Fairy circles, p. 2*9, pla. 105, t06. — Running the buffaloes, and throwing the arrow, p. 251, pi. 107.— Buffalo chase — Use of the laso, p. 253, pi. 108, 109. — Hunting under masque of white wolfskins, p. 254, pi. 110. — Horses destroyed in buffalo hunting, p. 255, pi. 111.— Buffalo calf— Mode of catching and bringing in, p. 255, pi. 11*. — Immense and wanton destruction of buffaloes — 1,400 killed, p. 256. — White wolves attacking buffaloes, p. 257-8, pis. 113, 114. —Contemplations on the probable eztinodon of oaffaloes and Indiana, p. 258, 264. in , p. 133.— B, p.SSft — 37, pi. 100. using tbe I — Smoking , p. ^43, pi I|.103,1C4 ig— Buffalo irowiiig the . — Hunting ilo hunting, pi. in.— iiita wolre* I extinodon Sc't LETTERS AND NOTES ON THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. letter-No. i As ti.e following pages have been hastily comcileH nt ♦!,« of a number of mv friends fmm « ^^'!'"'y/°'"P"ed. at the urgent request myself during sevm years' -M V^ ^'"'^^ '"'^ ^^^^^ ^"«en by w/idest andi:;t.^o::ir:rr'N:::;;^r"^" a n b_, j thought it best to make thi, n,o ! u ■ ^""^"c^n Indians, I have with Preface, and Ten w S D dt " ^T'"^ '' "^ '^^^'^ ^ ^'^P-^g" -akeofit,wthannrhrat to thn r'^n' ''"" ^'"^ "'"^^ ^ '^^^l'' If it be necessary to renS I ^ ' r*" ^'" ^''^^ *'^« P^'"« *« ^^^^^ it. ' -y reader, XnCand tS l''hl7 " ''^'""'"^ *'"^ unceremoniously to throw away • nor Lh t! . ".° '^^'^ '" ''^^^^' "^ fi--^* 'olumel, 4^fTfero7:atgllt"^of^thf"^^1'/-'"- *° -^^ "P- spoken ; although I J^^.^ .^ ^ ^^^ ° ^^^^«- of which I have beguining of my book • hv wLi. T ?. ' ^"'^ P'^*='"^' '* at the duce myself to L T.. I \ u ™''"' ^ '"'" ^^ ^"'^'^'^'l briefly to intro- customs desc ibed in t em a Ti nl^v f ' "f "^' "^^'^"^''""^ °^ ^I- floot l^tr'ltel!,:^^^ ^'^'I -'' '^^''^ -^'^^-d age, making a book at all I„H ^ 1 ^' "' '""'y '' P°^^'"^'^' ^^ "^^^ P^^don to much inte eTted in my narr t- ""' ^" "^ "^'"^ ^'^^"''^ '^^-^ so work) to tak som coL'ea rcrrdtr^'^K "^ ""' ^'^ "^^^^'^^ °^ '^^ upon their time and pSee "^''^ ^"^^^ ^--^ t-spassed too long wy^in^in Nor J. A^ri^ ::^ ;bi;:7^i.;:f;^;r ,--— B who entered that beautiful and famed valley soon ofter the close of the revolutionary war, and the disastrous event of the ♦♦ Indian massacre." The early part of my life was whiled away, apparently, somewhat in vain, with Looks reluctantly held in one hand, and a rifle or fishing-pole firmly and affectionately grasped in the other. At llie uro-ent request of my father, who was a practising lawyer, I was prevailed upon to abandon these favourite themes, and also my occasional di.bblings with the brush, which had secured already a corner in my ailbctions ; and I commenced reading the law for a profession, under the direction of Kceve and Gould, of Connecticut. I attended the lectures o. these learned judges for two years— was admitted to the bar— and practised the law as a sort of Nimrodical lawyer, in my native land, for the term of C^o or 'three years ; when 1 very deliberately sold my law library and all (save my rifle and fishing-tackle), and converting their proceeds into brushes and paint pots ; I commenced the art of painting in Philadelphia, wrthout .eacher or adviser. I there closely applied my hand to the labours of the art for several years; during which time my mind was continually reaching for some branch or enterprise of the art, on which to devote a whole life-time of enthusiasm ; when a delegation of some ten or fifteen noble and dignified-looking Indians, from the wilds of the " Far West," suddenly arrived in the city, arrayed and equipped in ail their classic beauty,— with shield and helmet,— with tunic and manteau— tinted and tassclled off, exactly for the painter's palette ! In silent and stoic dignity, these lords of the forest strutted about the city for a few days, wrapped in their pictured robes, with their brows plumed with the quills of the war-eagle, attracting the gaze and admiration of all who beheld them. After this, they took their leave for Washington City, and I was left fo reflect and regret, which I did long and deeply, until I came to the following deductions and conclusions. Black and blue cloth and civilization are destined, not only to veil, but to obliterate the grace and beauty of Nature. Man, in the simplicity and loftiness of his nature, unrestrained and unfettered by the disguises of art, IS surely the most beautiful model for the painter,— and the country from which he hails is un piestionably the best study or school of the arts in the world : such I am sure, from the models I have seen, is the wilderness of North America. And the history and customs of such a people, preserved by pictorial illustrations, are themes worthy the life-time of one man, and nothing short of the loss of my life, shall prevent me from visiting their country, and of becoming their historian. There was something inexpressibly delightful in the above resolve, which was to bring me amidst such living models for my brush : and at the same time to place in my hands again, for my living and protection, the objects of my heart above-named ; which had long been laid by to rust and decav imulatf """"' "" "'"''"' P"^P^^^ '' ^^^- -"^"bating to n,y I had fully resolved-l opened my view, to mv friends and relations but got not one advocate or abettor. 1 tried fairly and faithfullv. but it wl in va.n to reason w.th those whose anxieties were ready to fabricate eve J difficulty and danger timt could be imagined, without being able to under- stand or appreciate the extent or importance of my designs, and I broke from them all.-from my wife and my aged parents,_°myself my only adviser and protector. ' j 'V ""ly With these views firmly fixed-armed, equipped, and supplied [ started out in the year 1832, and penetrated the vLt and pathless'w Ids'w nS re A.miharly denommated the great "Far West" of the North Ame ican Continent, with a light heart, inspired with an enthusiastic hope and re re" hat 1 could meet and overcome all the hazards and privaLs o a life devoted to the production of a literal and graphic deli.eation o( the h v 1 n.anner3 customs, and character of an interesting race of people who are rapidly passing away from the face of the earth-lending a hLd To a Sh'fi" r;. ° "' "? historians or biographers of theirow^n to pour tray .h fiaehty their native looks and history; thus snatching from^a hasty bhvion what could be saved for the benefit of posterity, and perpotuaSg .t,^as a fair and just monument, to the memory of a truly lofty and noblf I have spent about eight years already in the pursuit above-named, having b.cn for the most of that time immersed in the Indian country, min.linf with red men, and identifying myself with them as much as possibi! in their games and amusements ; in order the better to familiarize myself with tieir superstitions and mysteries, which are the keys to Indian life and cliaracter. It was during the several years of my life just mentioned, and whilst I was in familiar participation with them in their sports and amusements, that 1 penned the following series of epistles; describing only such glowii,. o cunous scenes and events as passed under my immediate observation ; leafing their early history, and many of their traditions, language, &c. for a subse quent and riiuch more elaborate work, for which I have procured the materials, and which I may eventually publish. I set out on my arduous and perilous undertaking with the determination of reaching u timately, every tribe of Indians on the Continent of North J nienea, and of bringing home faithful portraits of their principal persona^^es both n.en and women, from each tribe ; views of their villages, games, &c and full notes on their character and history. I designed, als^^to procure tl.eir costmnes. and a complete collection of their manufactures and weapon, and 10 perpetuate them in a Gallery unique, for the use and instruction oi lUiure ages. I claim whatever merit there may have been in the originality of such a b2 ,1. li design, as I was undoubtedly the first artist who ever set out upon such a work, designing to carry his canvass to the Rocky Mountains ; and a con- siderable part of the following Letters were written and published in the New York Papers, as early as the years 1832 and 1833 ; long before the Tours of Washington Irving, and several others, whose interesting narratives are before the world. 1 have, as yet, by no means visited all the tribes ; but I have progressed a very great way with the enterprise, and with far greater and more complete success than I expected. . , » r I have visited forty-eight different tribes, the greater part of which I found speaking different languages, and containing in all 400,000 souls. I have brought home safe, and in good order, 310 portraits in oil, all painted m their native dress, and in their own wigwams ; and also 200 other pamtmgs in oil, containing views of their villages— their wigwams— their games and religious ceremonies— their dances— t^cir ball plays— their buffalo hunting, and other amusements (containing in all, over 3000 full-length figures); and the landscapes of the country they live in, as well as a very extensive and curious collection of their costumes, and all their other manufactures, from the size of a wigwam down to the size of a quill or a rattle. A considerable part of the above-named paintings, and Indian manufac- tures, will be found amongst the very numerous illustrations in the following pages; having been, in every instance, faithfully copied and reduced by my own hand, for the engraver, from my original paintings ; and the reader of this book who will take the pains to step in to '*Catlin's North Ameuican Indian Gallery," will find nearly every scene and custom which is described in this work, as well as many others, carefully and correctly delineated, and displayed upon the walls, and every weapon (and every " Sachem" and every " Sagamore" who has wielded them) according to the tenor of the tales herein recited. So much of myself and of my tiorks, which is all that I wish to say at present. Of the Indians, I have much more to say, and to the following de- lineations of them, and their character and customs, I shall make no furtlier ' apology for requesting the attention of my readers. The Indians (as I shall call them), the savages or red men of the forests . and prairies of North America, are at this time a subject of great interest and some importance to the civilized world ; rendered more particularly so in this age, from their relative position to, and their rapid declension from, the civilized nations of the earth. A numerous nation of human beings, whose origin is beyond the reach of human investigation, — whose early history is lost — whose term of national existence is nearly expired — three-fourths of whose country has l»llen into the possession of civilized man within the short space of 250 years — twelve millions of whose bodies have fattened the soil in the mean time ; who have fallei< victims to whiskey, the small-pox. and the bayonet; eavmg at tins time but a meagre proportion to live . short time longer, in the certain apprehension of soon sharing a similar fate The wnter who would undertake to embody the whole history of such a people, with all the.r misfortunes and calamities, must needs have much more space than I have allotted to this epitome ; and he must needs Trin also as I am domg) wuh those who are lining, or he would be very apt to dwell upon the preamble of his work, until the present living rem/anT of he race should have passed away ; and their existence and customs ike those of ages gone bye, become subjects of doubt and incredu Ity to L world for whom h.s book was preparing. Such an historian also, to do til just.ce, must needs correct many theories and opinions which have e U^e" .gnorantly or maliciously, gone forth to the world' in indelible charge" s and gather and arrange a vast deal which has been butgmperfectlv recorded' or p aced to the credit of a people who have not hadlKea„T record n<: •t th mse ves ; but have entrusted it, from necessity, to the honesty and punctuality of their enemies. «= uonebiy ana In such an history should be embodied, also, a correct account of their treatment and the causes which have led to their rapid destruction ; and a plam and systematical prophecy as to the time and manner of the r final Snsion. ' "''" "'' '""''' '"'* "'' ''''° "^ '^'''' ^''""'^ ^"d present So Herculean a task may fall to my lot at a future period, or it may not : but I send forth these volumes at this time, fresh and full of their Ving deeds and customs as a familiar and unstudied introduction (at least) to them and their native character; which I confidently hope wil repay the The world know generally, that the Indians of North America are copper^ coloured ; that their eyes and their hair are black, &c. ; that they are mostly u^c■vll■^ed, and consequently unchristianized ; that they are LverZ s human beings with features, thoughts, reason, and sympathies like our own- but few yet know how they live, how they dre.s., how they v^orsl^ whai ■e their actions, their customs, their religion, their amusement ,&c a whKirthe " '", '" "rr"'"'^ ^^^'^"^ '' ^'-'^ uninvaded'c^u -tr wh h It IS the mam object of this work, clearly and distinctly to set forth ' ex Lr^ / '1""P°^^"^'^ ^\ ^h^ -™« '--^' in a book of these dimensions, to na 1 ed hi '"","■' '"f '"''°"' "^ '^''' P^^?'^ ' '^"^ ^« ^^^ ^« they Le se n i' Z'"! "T 'r-7'''' 'y ™y P^"' "P°" ^'- ^P°t' - I have that D don^!u^ T'T ' ^ ''"'' '^' ^"^•'^ ^'" •^^ ''"-"^y *° ^^tend to me X St hh -1 " !•' r'*°'"''"y '° y'^''^ ^« '^H -*'^t^ ^'ho^e main faults P r"s birt'" *'-';.-'--g, rather than in tV drawing <.f their P rdonfo,. r ? "°''""^ '^'' '" *'^^'"' ' ^'»»'^' ■ ' I «h°uld ask pardon toi, even though some of them should stagger credulity, and incur for me the censure of those critics, who sometimes, unthinkingly or un- mercifully, sit at home at their desks, enjoying the luxury of wine and a good cigar, over the simple narration of the honest and weather-worn traveller (who shortens his half-starved life in catering for the world), to condemn him and his work to oblivion, and his wife and his little children to poverty and starvation ; merely because he describes scenes which they have not beheld, and which, consequently, they are unable to believe. The Indians of North America, as I have before said, are copper-coloured, with long black hair, black eyes, tall, straight, and elastic forms— are less than two millions in number— were originally the undisputed owners of the soil, and got their title to their lands from the Great Spirit who created them on it,— were once a happy and flourishing people, enjoying all the comforts and luxuries of life which they knew of, and consequently cared for -.—were sixteen niillions in number--, and sent that number of dady prayers to the Almighty, and thanks for his goodness and protection. Their country was entered by white men, b i! a few hundred years since : and thirty millions of these are now scuffling for the goods and luxuries of life, over the bones and ashes of twelve millions of red men ; six millions of whom have fallen victims to the small-pox, and the remainder to the sword, the bayonet, and whiskey ; all of which means of their death and destruction have been introduced and visited upon them by acquisitive white men ; and by while men, also, whose forefathers were welcomed and embraced in the land where the poor Indian met and fed them with " ears of green corn and with pemican " Of the two millions remaining alive at this time, about 1,400,000, are already the miserable living victims and dupes of white man's cupidity, degraded, discouraged and lost in the bewildering maze that is produced by the use of whiskey and its concomitant vices; and the remaining number are yet unroused and unenticed from their wild haunts or their primitive modes, by the dread or love of white man and his allurements. It has been with these, mostly, that I have spent my time, and of these, chiefly, and their customs, that the following Letters treat. Tiieir habits (and their's alone) as we can see them transacted, are native, and such as I have wished to fix and preserve for future ages. Of the dead, and of those who are dying, of those who ha^^ suffered death, and of those who are now trodden and kicked througii it, I may speak more fully in some deductions at the close of this book ; or at some future time, when I may find more leisure, and may he able to speak of these scenes without giving offence to the world, or to any body in it. Such a portrait then as I have set forth in the following pages (taken by myself from the free and vivid realities of life, instead of the vague and uncer- tain imagery of recollection, or from the haggard deformities and distortions of disease and death), I ofler to the world for their amusement, as well as for their information ; and I trust they will pardon mc, if it should be thought that I have over-estimated the Indian ch too much into the details and minutia of TnHi!' °' ""^ *'*.'"' *''""' descended The reader. then, to understand n.e ri^.t v 1 "l 'T'T' '"'^ 'absurdities, information which they are intended to g / 'ittr "" '^''' ^'"'''^ '^^^ the c,v.hzed world ; he must needs wend Ws'^ J T """ " ^^'^ ^"y '"'•o"' over the Alleghany, and far beyond the mi^r ">^ ^'^^ °f New York, base and summit of the Rocky Mounf.ln " ^ ^Imoun, and even to the nnles from the Atlantic coast. HeshoulTf T' ^"'^ ^^ *'^''^^ ''>°"«=»nfl in the books of Indian barbarities, of wanto?^ .T"^ "''°^'"^^ ''^ ^^' r^^'' divest himself, as far as possible of thrdLl "',""'' """"'^^^ ' '^"'' carried from his childhood, against this Jr^ '"''•' "''"'' ''^'''^' ''« ^^^ part of the race of his fellow-man ""^rtunate and most abused He should consider, that if he has seen th. = out making such a tour, he has fixed hi ''^'' °'^^'°''"^ ^""''"'^ ^it''- sions (in all probability) only from those who 11^ 'f ^'^""^ '"' '°"'='"- have been changed-whose pride has beerc f H °"^'"" = ^'^°''= '^'^'^'t^ ransacked— whose wives and daucjupr, uSir'^^'°^'' *'°""*''y ''^^ been land, have bee., wrested from them-w'rr f ? '""'^"''y ^'^"^^d-whosa naked by the excessre use of whiskev-wl! "f T ''''°'"' """"^^^^ and prematurely thrown into their craves T ''"'^ '*''"''°"* ^^^^ been last given way to the unnatural vices^ iercivT^'.^"^' '""^ ^'"^^"'^y ''^^-^ ^* "pon them, to be silently nurturedLd n «'!,'u '"^^^''^ ''^^ ^"g^^^ted jury and injustice, and r'eady ^Lt cruel S'' '' ^'""'"-^ ""^^ "^ '"- the hand that is palsied by refin d 11" ^""""" "'"''' '^'''' ''^"^ *'^°'" ous influences of refined and moral culSZ ''tI "I^ ^'r' 1^^ *'" ^'°"- he considers well-founded knowlprl T i , ~"^''''* '^ ''^ ^^« ^^'d "P what read, and from newspapers ^f/^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^J- '°°'^ ^^^"'^^ ''^ '- sentence before he pass s it unon ZT ^ '^ ^' '""'*' ""^^ ^'^hhold his the hands of their iaen ies vvithout , "''''" "' ' P^'^P'^' ^^''^^ ^^^ dying at -struggling in their nakedne 'v Lrsill "^"''"^ ''''' °^" ^"-'^ gunpowder-against whiskey and s el and Z "^^P?"^' ^?^'"»«t ^""^ and are continually trampling them to ^,7. ! f ' ^"'^ '""''''' ^^"^O" ^'^o ting from the%ery Ll"! ^ "he ^^^^^^^^^ h.story of his cruelties and barbarities wSk u" '^" ^''' ^^^"^^' '""^ under the very furrows which the r ^ I attrn" "" "' '^""''^ "^'"° So great and unfortunate aro fl.o turnmg. , numbers-in weapons and deSce'-I^P;:;'^^ ^^^^^ -vage and civil, in : that the former is almost un.veS7 h T'"' ■'" "'^'' '^"^ '" ^d"^^''^". i and not less so after his pipe a!^d I ' tol^ T,' '"'"'' *" P^^^^ «' '» -- h™, and his character KfUot ??''''"'" '^'^''^^^^^^he grave wi.h 8 terns of justice whenever it is meted to the poor Indian, it comes invariably too late, or is administered at an ineffectual distance ; and that too when his enemies are continually about him, and effectually applying the means of his destruction. Some writers, 1 have been grieved to see, have written down the character of the North American Indian, as dark, relentless, cruel and murderous in the last degree ; with scarce a quality to stamp their existence of a higher order than that of the brutes :— whilst others have given them a higli rank, as I feel myself authorized to do, as honourable and highly-intellectual bemgs; and others, both friends and foes to the red men. have spoken of them as an " anomaly in nature ! " In this place I have no time or inclination to reply to so unaccountable an assertion as this ; contenting myself with the belief, that the term would be far more correctly applied to that part of the human famdy who have strayed farthest from nature, than it could be to those who are simply moving m, and filling the sphere for which they were designed by the Great Spirit who made them. From what I have seen of these people I feel authorized to say, that there is nothing very strange or unaccountable in their character; but tiiat it is a simple one, and easv to be learned and understood, if the right means be taken to familiarize ourselves with it. Although it has its dark spots, yet there is much in it to be applauded, and much to recommend it to the admiration of the enlightened world. And I trust that the reader, who looks through these volumes with care, will be disposed to join me in the conclusion that the North American Indian in his native state, is an honest, hospitable, faithful, brave, warlike, cruel, revengeful, relentless,— yet honourable, contemplative and religious being. If such be the case, I am sure there is enough in it to recommend it to the fair perusal of the world, and charity enough in all civilized countries, in this enlightened age, to extend a helping hand to a dying race ; provided that prejudice and fear can be removed, which have heretofore constantly held the civilized portions in dread of the savage— and away from that familiar and friendly embrace, in which alone his true native character can be justly appreciated. I am fully convinced, from a long familiarity with these people, that the Indian's misfortune has consisted chiefly in our ignorance of their true native character and disposition, which has always held us at a distrustful distance from them ; inducing us to look upon them in no other light than that ot a hostile foe, and worthy only of that system of continued warfare and abuse that has been for ever waged against them. There is no difficulty in approaching the Indian and getting acquainted with him in his wild and unsophisticated state, and finding him an honest and honourable man ; with feelings to meet feelings, if the above prejudice and dread can be laid aside, and any one will take the pains, as I have done, to mes invariably t too when his e means of his 1 the character irderous in tiie I higher order ranlc, as I feel 1 beings ; and of them as an unaccountable term would be have strayed fioving in, and jirit who made say, that there but tiiat it is a neans be taken 9, yet tliere is admiration of i through these sion that the table, faitiiful, contemplative nmend it to the untries, in this provided tiiat lonstantly held u that familiar r can be justly eople, that the leir true native ustful distance than that ot a fare and abuse ing acquainted him an honest e prejudice and [ have done, to 9 go and see him in the simplicity of his native «♦„♦ his own humble roof, with his Lk Z7ZeTLZt"' ''! ^'^ ""^" dogs and horses hanging about his hospitab e eVe Zf ^ "^^f '^'f"' see him and smoke h s friendlv Dii» whioK "*'"^^^'—^o the world man them; and share, w.th a I Jt7>^dcom t k ^T^^^^^'y "tended t^ for the appetite, whid. is a way! et out to "J ''''' ''^ ^'^^'"^ ^^^^''^ after he enters. ^ '' °"^ *° ^ '^'^"S^' the next moment But so the mass of the wnrM m«.» ■• they are too far olf. JaZ^SZ Xs^JnT''' T "^ ''''' '^'^'^ ^ ^- alone lead them to those remote region. 7 { ''''°'' ^'"''^^'^^ ^^^P'^ity from publishing to the world vTe Vhict i^r'^T ^"^^"'^ '''"' trampled under foot. '' "'''y ^^^^ thrown down and The very use of the word savaee as i> U o^ r i • • am inclined to believe is an abuse'of'the word a'^'^'t. '" "' P""'' ''"^^' ^ applied. The word, in its true defi. i b„ ml' P'°P'' '"^ ^f^^'" '^ ''» -««; and a wild man may have b en e'r H T T' "*'" "^''^' «'' ^^'^'^ humane and noble traits that I,L • th'eTeart^ ''1 T'' ^'' ^" ''' Ignorance and dread or fear of th... '"^ "^*ft of a tame man. Our definition to the adject veani nea77''u*''r'"''^' ^^"^ S'^«" * "^vv -rd savage, as exC 4 of t ^It L^^^^^^ character that can be described °"'' """'' ^"'^ murderous an^uSrl'ryih:^^^:^^^!;^ •* blood-th.rsty, ravenous feared and dreaded (from h'e^Utln^' . ^l^' ""^^ •"^"' ^^ve been Lave kept us from the:? offrot ^eL" Tbt^^^ '."orance and prejudice when we have come in close ^0^^? .u . ''^"'' "' ^""'^ P''«'=tised shewed the world, that even reseTro ^''\ ''^^'")' »»*» Van Amburgh exc« of pa»io,„, „„tt.S rL":,!" T"' """..t'-"^""^ Christianity. ^ salutary mfluences of laws and i people, under an almoItT f^^ te TaS " f i °" '""'"' ^'""'^"'^ '*'' ^^-« I'nany and decided volunta^lrn?^ 7"'"''"^'' and from the very i bound to pronounce them bv n»? V . ''"'P"^'"y ""'^ ^•"'»"^«^' ^ , , BODOE. Col. of Drag. D. PERKINS. Copt, of Drag. U. H. MASON. Major of Ditto. M. DUNCAN. Ditto. D. HUNTER, Copt. Ditto. T. D. WIIEELOCK, Lieut. Drag." '• The Landscapes. Buffalo-Hunting scenes. &o. above-mentioned, I have seen and although It has been thirty years since I travelled over th.it country ; yet a oonside'rable number of them I recognized as faithful representations, and the remainder of them are BO much in the peculiar character of that country as to seem entirely familiar to me. WM. CLARK, Suptrintendtnt of Indian Affairt." •• The Landscape Views on the Missouri. Buffalo Hunts, and other scenes, taken by -ny friend Mr. Catun, are correct delineaUons of the scenes they profess to represent as I »ni perfectly well acquainted with the country, having passed through it more than a dozen times. And further, I know, thnt they were taken on the spot, from nature as I wus present whra Mr. Catlin visited that country. ' " JOHN F. A. SANFORD, V. SS. Indian Agent." "It gives me great pleasure to be able to pronounce the Landscape Views, Views of Huntmg, and other scenes, taken on the Upper Missouri by Mr. Catlin, to be correct ilelineauons of the scenery they profess to represent; and although I was not present when they were taken in the field, I was able to idenUfy almost ewry one between St. Louis and the grand bend of the Missouri. " J. L. BEAN, S. Agtnt of Indian Affairs." " I have examined a series of paintings by Mr. Catlin, representing Indian Buffalo lunts. Landtcape,, gfc, and from an acquaintance of twenty-seven years with such scenes as are represented. I feel qualified to judge them, and do unhesitatingly pronounce them good and unriaggerateil roinesentations. JNO. DOUGHERTY, /ndian Agtnt for Pawntet, Omahawt, and Ou;"■^r,-.iv^i'iK&<:.t'<'V'•''i'*'*•'^-'J«?^ ■''& "ii-^ i -•■~;^: ■ ■■ ■ , ... c ■'; ". jIi-i...T\.i.('i,-.,.- . , , .;-. ^- Ji ■^■.<: Ell li :i 15 those conditiong, on which alone I was m^„ i fession: and in anticipation of which alone m„ "? ^"""' '^"^ ^^ as a pro- ever have been kindled into a purrflate ' T """L'""" ^«' ^^e art could und.sg„ised models, with the pSge of "electr? ''' '" "^^ °^ -tuTe's los.ng the benefit of the fleeting fashions of J a' "'^''^^- ^^ ^ ^^ ''«re elegant polish, which the worid'say aTa tist shouW J' '"' "^^'^^»'"^ ^^^^ ".tercourse w.th the polite world ; yet hat I thi 'V™'" * •^""'■■""«' country, I am entirely divested of tL i ^^"solation, that in th^ which beset an artist i^; fash ab e li e Lc??"'^r r^' ^"^ ^"-e.ents away from the contemplation of t . b;aulr'' 'T' '' ''''' "^y thoughts If, also, I have not here the benefit of fhf^ T'^"'' '^'' ^'' ^^out me. tl>e life and spur to the arts, Xer arti t arl" '"^ •'' '""'''"'-' -'^-^ - I surrounded by living „,ode Is of ucr t/an/'^^Tf ' '''''^''' ' ^'^ ^»' uncea^smg excitement of a much higL ofd" T ""'^' ''''' ' '''' «" drawmg knowledge from the true source Mu''''''"'^ '^^' ^ ^™ man ,n the honest and elegant simplictv'nfr '"'''" ^^'miration of warmestfeelingsofmybosol.andshu h Ifth?''"'^'' has always fed the the specious refinements of the accomoliiH 'u ""'' *" "^^ ^^^^^ «g«'"nst wuh the desire to study my arK rd:;^'; 7:;' . ^^^^ ^-'i"^. together the nd,culous fashions of civilized socilhL//^ ^'"barrassments which -eto the wilderness for a while, as t^eT 'e Lh JuJX'"'^ "'^' '^^ '^^ 1 nave for a lone- timp h«o« «<• • • »i-"ooi ot the arts. afforded models e.^^ '^1^^^^ G^ ^"'^^'"^^^ «* ^^ ^-'y to the marble such inimitable gmce and k ?'"" ''"'P'°" transferred confirmed in this opinion, since I have im^ T^' '"^ ^ ^"^ »°^ '"ore sands and tens oMhouIands of t^e "^ S' 7\''' r "^^ "''^^^ "^ ^'^-- I'ves are lives of chf .airy, and whose dai v f. ? "J""''''' ''^^'' ^^ole -ght vie with those of tl. Grecia^. youth ' in u!: T"' vt "^'^'^ "'"^^' Olympian games. ^ ^ '" "'^ beautiful rivalry of the No man's imagination, with all the -lirU nf i • • to It, can 3ver picture the beauty ai d w Idnel 'j"'?^'"" ''^^^ -» be given Witnessed m this romantic country of h"nT J /"'' '^^' ""^y ^e daily w-thout a care to wrinkle, or a feaT ;o distu b th M. " ^""'"' y^"^''^' and enjoyment that beams upon the r fac " ,f f "'^'''''''' ^^ P'^^^"'-^ With tiieir horses' tails, floating h^^ the 1^7 .'• ?^ ^''"'^ '^^'^ "'"»''"^ carpeted prairie, and d;aling de'at wit .ref; "''" ^^^^^ ^^ %-& over" thf . infuriated buffaloes; or thefr sple lid '„ ^ "^^ ^"^ "--^o a band of •n all their gorgeous colours and t app nT'"" •" ' "'"P^^^^^' ^"^y^d grace and manly beauty, added to that Sdr""^ T'"' ""'"' ^^'l"'^'"'^ h.s front, who acknowledges no sunerinr . u *"" ^'^''^'^ '"'"» carries on laws except the laws of o'od and iCu, '"''' '"' "'^'^ '^ ^^-^^le to no in addition to the knowlede-e nf 1.. ' , hope to ac,uire by this toi ofne d exZsi"'""/"' "'' "^ ^«' ""-•'» ^ •n view, which, if it nhould not be of eauti ""^"''»''"^' ' ''-e another 1 Of equal service to me, will be of no less ¥ ■ 16 interest and value to posterity. I have, for many years past, contemplated the noble races of red men who are now spread over these trackless forests and boundless prairies, melting away at the approach of civilization. Their rights invaded, their morals corrupted, their lands wrested from them, their customs changed, and therefore lost to the world ; and they at last sunk into the earth, and the ploughshare turning the sod over their graves, and I have flown to their rescue— not of their lives or of their race (for they are " doomed" and must perish), but to the rescue of their looks and their modes, at which the acquisitive world may hurl their poison and every besom of destruction, and trample them down and crush them to deatli ; yet, phoenix-like, they may rise from the "stain on a painter's palette," and live again upon canvass, and stand forth for centuiies yet to come, the living monuments of a noble race. For this purpose, I have designed to visit every tribe of Indians on the Continent, if my life should be spared ; for the purpose of procuring portraits of distinguished Indians, of both sexes in each tribe, painted in their native costume ; accompanied with pictures of their villages, domestic habits, games, mysteries, religious ceremonies, &c. with anecdotes, traditions, and history of their reipective nations. If I should live to accomplish my design, the result of my labours will doubtless be interesting to future ages ; who will have little else left from which to judge of the original inhabitants of this simple race of beings, who require but a few years more of the march of civilization and death, to de- prive them of all their native customs and character. I have been kindly supplied by the Commander-in-Chief of the Army and the Secretary of War, with letters to the commander of every military post, and every Indian agent on the Western Frontier, with instructions to render me all the facilities in their power, which will be of great service to me in so arduous an under- taking. The opportunity afforded me by familiarity with so many trUies of human beings in the simplicity of nature, devoid of the deformities of art ; of drawing fair conclusions in the interesting sciences of physiognomy and phrenology ; of manners and customs, rites, ceremonies, &c. ; and the op- portunity of examining the geology and mineralogy of this western, and yet unexplored country, will enable me occasionally to entertain you with much new and interesting information, which I shall take equal pleasure in com- municating by an occasional Letter in my clumsy way. i ! i 17 IJ:TTE11— iNo. 3. MOUTH OF YELLOW STONE. UPPER MISSOURI. SivcE the date of my former Letter, I have been so much engaged in the amusements of the country, and the use of my brush, that I have sca^e v been able to drop you a line until the present moment. '"^ Before Met you into the amusements and customs of this defehtfnl country however (and wh.ch. as yet. are secrets to most of the wtSd must hasfly travel with you over the tedious journey of 2000 mires from St. Lou,s to th.s place ; over which distance one is obliged to p^Lefor" he can reach this wild and lovely spot. ^ ' The Missouri is, perhaps, different in appearance and character from all ln.nT IT'''''' muddy waters from the Mississippi. From the mouth of the Yellow Stone River, which is the place from whence I aTno w -.t.ng. to .ts junction with the Mississippi, a distance of 2000 m les I rent, and m the whole distance there is scarcely an eddy or restinornhce for a canoe. Owing to the continual falling in of its rich alluvial bailks i water ,s always turbid and opaque ; having, at all seasons of the ^r t colour of a cup of chocolate or coffee, with sugar and cream stirred Tnto To give a better definition of its density and opacity. I have tried a numbe; esuts of which I was exceedingly surprised. By placing a piece of silver nd afterwards a piece of shell, which is a much whiter' substance) a t mbler of its water, and looking through the side of the glass, I asce u ned s how "'^'""^ r"" "'' '' ''''' ^•»-S'> tl- -=^hU, part of an i ci Ter ZT'' '!,'" ''^' 'P™'° '^ ^'"^ y^^--'^^''- t''^° '•r^^-t is upon r ; ver rendering the water undoubtedly, much more turbid than it m'o uld b event t 1 "" ''"'^ ""^"n't""" colour, a stranger would think even ,„ ts lowest state, that there was a freshet upon it. ' (and in ''1'' °' .'''' '""^^ ''''''' ^'- 1'°"'^' ^''^ «''ores of this river aft f;^^ ""T /""""' "'" ''^'^' ^^^ '^'^' ^t^^^-") ^^^ filled with sna's nd raft fornied of trees of the largest size, which hav been undermined by te !i! W falling banks and cast into the stream ; their roots becoming fastened in the bottom of the river, with their tops floating on the surface of the water, and pointing down the stream, forming the most frightful and discouraging pro- spect for the adventurous voyageur. (See plate 4.) Almost every island and sand-bar is covered with huge piles of these floating trees, and when the river is flooded, its surface is almost literally covered with floating raft and drift wood which bid positive defiance to keel-boats and steamers, on their way up the river. With what propriety this " Hell of waters" might be denominated the " River Styx," I will not undertake to decide ; but nothing could be more appropriate or innocent than to call it the River of Sticks. The scene is not, however, all so dreary ; there is a redeeming beauty in the green and carpeted shores, which hem in this huge and terrible deformity of waters. There is much of the way though, where the mighty forests of stately cotton wood stand, and frown in horrid dark and coolness over the filthy abyss below ; into which they are ready to plunge headlong, when the mud and soil in which they were germed and reared hare been washed out from underneath them, and with the rolling current are mixed, and on their way to the ocean. The greater part of the shores of this river, however, are without timber, where the eye is delightfully relieved by wandering over the beautiful prairies ; most of the way gracefully sloping down to the water's edge, carpeted with the deepest green, and, in distance, softening into velvet of the richest hues, entirely beyond the reach of the artist's pencil. Such is the character of the upper part of the river especially ; and as one advances towards its source, and through its upper half, it becomes more pleasing to the eye, for snags and raft are no longer to be seen ; yet the current holds its stiff and onwi\rd turbid character. It has been, heretofore, very erroneously represented to the world, that the scenery on this river was monotonous, and wanting in picturesque beauty. This intelligence is surely incorrect, and that because it has been brought perhaps, by men who are not the best judges in the world, of Nature's beautiful works ; and if they were, they always pass them by, in pain or desperate distress, in toil and trembling fear for the safety of their furs and peltries, or for their lives, which are at the mercy of the^elling savages who inhabit this delightful country. One thousand miles or more of the upper part of the river, was, to my eye, like fairy-land ; and during our transit through that part of our voyage, I was most of the time rivetted to the deck of the boat, indulging my eyes in the boundless and tireless pleasure of roaming over the thousand hills, and bluffs, and dales, and ravines ; where the astonished herds of buffaloes, of elks, and antelopes, and sneaking wolves, and mountain-goats, were to be seen bounding up and down and over the green fields ; e?ch one and each tribe, band, and gang, taking their own way, and using their own means to tened in the B water, and uraging pro- les of these lost literally defiance to minated the uld be more tig beauty in le deformity ty forests of Bss over the g, when the washed out led, and on hout timber, ifiil prairies ; arpeted with richest hues, racter of the s its source, ^e, for snags and onwi\rd irld, that the que beauty, sen brought of Nature's , in pain or leir furs and savages who , was, to my our voyage, ng my eyes usand hills, Df buffaloes, , were to be ne and each vn means to 19 the greatest advantage possible, to leave th. • u of our boat ; which was fnr tu ^ ^"* "8'>' a»d sound nf .u one continued prairie ; with ,1,, . ™'»ouri, a distance of 26l)n »i . along the bank of the ri", a„d .heT°" °' " '^ "' ^^'V^Lf' "< .red feet abovelS lov^fTn^rirrV' '--»■»"- h™ Picturesque and beautiful shapes alcoTur' '° "' ^'°"^^« «» the mo" green Sides gracefully slope down in the 1,? TT"''^'-''^^ -''h theL edge (PLATE 5) ; whilst others, divested oHh'''^ ^""""P^ '^ '^^ vvater^ in immense masses of clav nf ' ""^^^^ed of their verdure, present tl,. 7 carrying them into the river. ^'"'' ^^ ^^^^'"g down their sides a^d Amongst these groups mav h. appearance, before C'^ZtJ^:} t'^' ^'^"^' '^^ '-: ', t^^J •uins-ramparts, terraces, domes towirT/?'''"* ^"^ ''^"ndless c yb cupolas, and magnificent porticoes Tndlr '1' f^ ^^^^^les may be set'^ crumblmg pedestal, and even sp Ss 'f ^ ^•V'^'^^ " ^^''tary column a'nd 'ng m distance, as the sHn',, '^ ^^^ "^^'^^ stand alone-a„H i . «)• Over and thwjfc these '''°tV *"'' ""' "« «>'"-o. •/ 4^:"^^ I^C^ ^>»X) 'mi 'r:. "l„ -.■■>^7Nv:^:. '•^■■■.■■■;/^.-.:: Vv .' .''- ^s:-:S,^>^::t :ps^: I'rl V V " ( iV ._<_- ^£>- they it; (tnysi said I tiled Til and V I ma; ciirioi many TIk occup the r Fur { liand I concei a I'resh Tbe near tl mates Mr. to havi tills to inside and hi about He I Pierre ' welcom buffalo sans br and go( set In a At tl forms i poilshec I arrive( The g Hamilto seems tc and wh( country bring th( and the 21 they Baw the lightning flash from \u Bides, and heard the thunder come from It; others called it the " big medicine canoe with eyes :" it was «,.d.vZ (mystery) because they could not understand it ; and it must have eves for t'hl cSer' '''* ''' °*" '''^' ''"^ ''''"' "'" '^''P ***" '" '^^ '"''•'"'« «<" They had no idea of the boat being steered by the man at the wheel and we 1 they might have been astonished at its taking the deepest water' I may (if I do not forget it) hereafter give you an account of some other curious incidents of this kind, which we met with in this voyage ; for we met many, and some of them were really laughable. The Fort in which I am residing was built by Mr. M'Kenzie, who now occupies It. It IS the largest and best-built establishment of the kind on the river, being the great or principal head-quarters and dep6t of the Fur Company's business in this region. A vast stock of goods is kept on hand at this place ; and at certain times of the year the numerous out-posts concentrate here with the returns of their season's trade, and refit out with a iresh supply of goods to trade with the Indians. The site for the Fort is well selected, being a beautiful prairie on the bank near the junction of the Missouri with the Yellow Stone rivers; and its in- mates and its stores well protected from Indian assaults. Mr. M'Kenzie is a kind-hearted and high-minded Scotchman ; and seems to have charge of all the Fur Companies' business in this region, and from this to the Rocky Mountains. He lives in good and comfortable style, inside of the Fort, which contains some eight or ten log-houses and stores and has generally forty or fifty men, and one hundred and fifty horses about him. •' He has, with the same spirit of liberality and politeness with which Mons Pierre Chouteau treated me on my passage up the river, pronounced me wekome at his table, which groans under the luxuries of the country • with buffalo meat and tongues, with beavers' tails and marrow-fat ; but sans coffee sans bread and butter. Good cheer and good living we get at it however' and good wine also ; for a bottle of Madeira and one of excellent Port are set in a pail of ice every day, and exhausted at dinner. At the hospitable board of this gentleman I found also another, who forms a happy companion for mine host; and whose intellectual and polished society has added not a little to my pleasure and amusement since 1 arrived here. The gentleman of whom I am speaking is an Englishman, by the name of Hamilton of the most pleasing and entertaining conversation, whose mind seems to be a complete store-house of ancient and modern literature and art- and whose free and familiar acquaintance with the manners and men of his country gives him the stamp of a gentleman, who has hud the curiosity to bring the embellishments of the enlightened world, to contrast with the rude and the wild of these remote regions. 92 We three bons vivants form the group ubout the dinner-table, of whicli I have before spoken, and crack our jokes and fun over the bottles of Port and Madeira, which I have named : and a considerable part of which, this gentleman has brought with great and precious care from his own country. This post is the general rendezvous of a great number of Indian uibes iii these regions, who are continually concentrating hero for the purpose of trade ; sometimes coming, the whole tribe together, in a mass. There are now here, and encamped about the Fort, a great many, and I am continually ut work with my brush ; we have around us at this time the Knisteneaux, Crows, Assinneboins and Blackfeet, and in a few days are to have large accessions. The finest specimens of Indians on the Continent are in these regions ; and bi^fore I leave these parts, I shall make excursions into their respective coun- tries, to their own native fire-sides ; and there study their looks and peculiar customs; enabling me to drop you now and then an interesting Letter. The tribes which I shall be enabled to see and study by my visit to this region, are the Ojibbeways, the Assinneboins, Knisteneaux, Blackfett, Crows, Siiiennes, Grosventres, Mandans, and others ; of whom and their customs, their history, traditions, costumes, &c., 1 shall in due season, give you further and minute accouats. i 23 letter-No. 4. MOUTH OF YELLOW STONE. lookin,. best equipped, and n.ost V if^ ^ le"; f"'''"'^ *'^ '^"^^^ tment. They live in a country well-stocked wi^h. ^1 ""^ °" '^^ ^°"- which furnish then, an exceliLt nreasHi'^^'f '^'"f ""''-"'1 Worses, which produces good health and lonr^ ' „,' »K t''^""' '■" ^'"'' pendent and the happiest .aces of Indians' IhavnL'itli t^"^ '"'^; entirely in a state of primitive wildness and rl 7 ' ^''''^ '"'^ »" and handsome, almost' beyond desc i^S^n n: Lrr^^ rr'^''' kmd. can possibly surpass in beauty S„d erace ?'l r u""'^"^' °'" "' ^ments-their gambols aud pa Jdes. of^^irHl^ tZnTp^ found most entirely in a state of na ure wih. ^ /"''""' ^''^ ^""''^ ^e society, would be found tt be th" mos't cIo. " 'I '"°"''''^^ "^ ^'^"'^^^ their dress and manners, and nio^.W ife t'^h" ^^ P"""^' ^'^»«"^ '" s..ch tribes, perhaps the 6rows ani B ck^et and' IT'' S"'"''""- ^^ be able to appreciate the richness and p p!1 ? f' and no one would whichsome of these people dreTswrhoulfi'"'' •'''" '^''' '«°)' -'''' 1 will do all I can. however to 1^*. fT *''"" '" '^''" °^^" <=°"»try. to the world: I wilS^th 1 >"'.''! ''^'''^' ^"^^°™« ''"«wn bring their plimes I'pluLg d7sse;"weao"o 'T'' f' "^^ P^"' -^^ - Indian himseMoU^^^^dZ-^^;:^^^^^^^ kn&i!!^: ::;r r iiiTs^r ^rn °^?^ p-'^'^) ^ « deems worthy of his exertions ar. 11 .t ' ""'^ ^'^'"^^ ^^''^ ^^ and quiver slung, his Irrow shiel 1 . r " '""'""^ ''''^' ^'^»^ '>'"^ bow in Ihl war-parad;or dieted ofrrn T' '"'^ ''"^ '°"^ '^"'^^ ^"^'^-S a simple bow and iui ;r ^0 lit , ". 'h "" "'' *"PP'"^^' ^^^^ with buffuL. and with' rs'nrwytfw^^^^^^^^^^^ !l^^ «^'"= '^^''^ "'• deep to life's fountain the Z ing a^r f '' "'''''" '^^"'^^ '" -'»' ^° ^rive h 'V I 24 Tlie buffalo herds, which graze in almost countless numbers on these beautiful prairies, afford them an abundance of meat ; and so much is it preferred to all other, that the deer, the elk, and the antelope sport upon the prairies in herds in the greatest security ; as the Indians seldom kill them, unless they want their skins for a dress. The buffalo (or more correctly speaking bison) is a noble animal, that roams over *he vast praines, from the borders of Mexico on the south, to Hudson's Bay on the north. Tlie.r size is somewhat above that of our common bullock, and their flesh of a delicious flavour, resembling and equalling that of fat beef. Their flesh which is easily procured, furnishes the savages of these vast regions tlie means of a wholesome and good subsistence, and they live almost exclusively upon it— converting the skins, horns, hoofs and bones, to the construction of dresses, shields, bows, &c. The buffalo bull is one of the most formidable and fri<^htful looking animals in the world when excited to resistance ; his Ion- sh°ag<^y mane hangs in great profusion over his neck and shoulders, and" often extends quite down to the ground (i'Late 7). The cow is less in stature, and less ferocious ; though not much less wild and frightful in her appearance (plate 8). . ■ j i i i The mode in which these Indians kill this noble animal is spirited and tliril- ling in the extreme ; and I must in a future epistle, give you a minute account of it. I have almost daily accompanied parties of Indians to see the fun, and have often shared in it myself; but much oftener ran my horse by their sides, to see how the thing was done— to study the modes and expressions of these splendid scenes, which I am industriously putting upon the canvass. They are all (or nearly so) killed with arrows and the lance, while at full speed ; and the reader may easily imagine, that these scenes afford the most spirited and picturesque views of the sporting kind that can possibly be S6Gn* At present, I will give a little sketch of a bit of fun I joined in yesterday, with Mr. M'Kenzie and a number of his men, without the company or aid of Indians. I mentioned the other day, that M'Kenzie's table from day to day groans under the weight of buffalo tongues and beavers' tails, and other luxuries of this western land. He has within his Fort a spacious ice-house, in which he preserves his meat fresh for any length of time required ; and sometimes, when his larder runs low, he starts out, rallying some five or six of his best hunters (not to hunt, but to " go for meat"). He leads the party, mounted on his favourite buffalo horse (t. e. the horse amongst his whole group which is best trained to run the buffalo), trailing a light and short gun in his hand, such an one as he can most easily reload whilst his horse is at full speed. Such was the condition of the ice-house yesterday morning, which caused these self-catering ge^itlemen to cast their eyes with a wishful look over the prairies; and such was the plight in which our host took the lead, and 1, :rs on tiiesc 3 much is it 5 sport upon seldom kill ore correctly rairies, from orth. Their ir flesh of a Their flesh regions the t exclusively construction (t formidable iistance ; his d shoulders^ e cow is less md frightful ted and tliril- nute account (the fun, and ly their sides, sions of these vass. while at full ibrd tiie most possibly be P ^ in yesterday, npauy or aid ;o day groans er luxuries of I, in which he d sometimes, or six of his ds the party, igst his whole jht and short lilst his horse which causfiil look over the } lead, and 1, 8 \ ■ i i M^ 25 or five of his ^en, and tZtCt ZlTL T'f ""^'^ "P -">« f°- many o„e-hor«e carts, which Cwa^^ou'r^^ our trail, with as meat ; « ferry them across the river iaie scow " " M T^' '° ''"""^ ^^"'"^ ^^e tra>l through the bottom you wiU ZT ' u ? ^''' " ^"'^ <'°"o^i"& our Yellow Stone and the Mi'sLu, Lr wilh^m at' ''^'" f"'^^' ''^*--» ^'^^ My watch on yonder bluff' has iu t toldl h . '"°T'' '° '°^^ y°" •^^'"e. a plenty on that spot, and we are It " , ^ ' T'^"' '^'' '^''' ^'' ^^"'^ crossed the river.\nd ^67 awTv^ ' T ''? '' P^^^"''^'" ^e all mounted the bluff"; and fo Ke If '°"f''.'^ '"''^^ °^ ««' ^^en we a fine herd of some four Z fi e huldred'buff f' '"" T^ '" '"" ^'^ ^^ - t eir own estimation (probably ;:Slye^te"' 's"^^^ ^^^^' ^"^ '" others were lying down and sleepinr 1 Id ! '. """^ ^^"^'"«' ^"^ them in full view, and came to a ft'' Mons crS "!"" ' ""'^ '' '' '' (acustomalwaysobseryed.totry r oul ofS ; ^T^ '^'^ ^^^*'^^^" "stripping" as it is termed (i. /"'"-! "J^' - ""^ commenced every extraneous and unnec ssa y anln . ?? '^'"^'"''^ ^"'^ '''^ ^^^^^^ of incumbrance in running) : hat' IreTudo;'' ',''"''' **^- ^'"^ '"''^^^ ^ean sleeves are rolled up, a hanLTl, "f . '. '"^'°'*'-""'^ bullet pouches; another around the wlist-cS^^^^ "''' ^'^^^ --"«d the head, and coat pocket, or a half doze" bdlets^tr^T' '"^ P'^^^'' '" »''« ^-^t' all of which takes up some te„ o! fif ""^ '"'° ''^^ •"°"''^'" &<=•' &e.. or in eff-ect, unlike abound of war OurL"?'' ." ' '^ '"^' '" ^PP^^^"- chase, and preliminaries all fixe! gun^ aS a 7 " "'' ''''' °'^'^^ we mount and start for the onset tZ i , ™'"™''' '" «"•• ^^nds, ness. and seem to enter nto i " hh asm T'" ,'"■'" '^""^^ *'<''■ '^'^' ^'^^- a spirit as the riders themsX s WhTl ! ?""".'"' ^"^ "'"> ^^ ^^^'-^ exhibit the mostrestlessl "nee a d il T' '"? '"°""^'"°^' '''^^ all of us abreast, upon a slow walk .'h '^PP-'oaching "-(which is, until they discover'us an ru„7 h'evall ' '''""'' ""' '"""^'^ ^''^ '-«>• spintofthechase,forth a Itt^^^ '^^^^ ^^^''^ entirely the city in his step-champinVh b t r "^'' "'"" P'"^"'^^^ ^'"^ ^» ^'^sti. his head, andLd upoTL ™~^^^^^ ^^^ ^^--^ 0"t of saddle of his rider. ^„ .'t';' If'^'T; "^''f ''^ ^^-'''- under the within some forty or fifty roUwhl t "f i' T^ "'"^^'^ ""^'^^'^' ""^'' laid their course in a ma^ At' tit " ''"' '^"*'^°^«""^^ "«> wheeled ar.d for no one could che k he fur ^^^t ."^^ T ''"^ ' ^"^'^ ^" '"'"^ ^^-^' ment.) and away all sailed .,7n '"'' ^^ *'"'^ '"^'"e"' of excite- wasrisedbytlLfL::^^^^^^^^ on,i„ — J., . .„ I. «"oors. M Kenzie was foremost in the throno- i7"f-~v^^--w=S fattest and VOL. I. the fastest I h,d ^ ' "'"'"'^^ ^'^^ ^ft^"- the •istest. I had -scovered a huge bull whose shoulder. 26 i; [l-» towered above the whole band, and I picked my way through the crowd to get alongside of him. I went not for " meat," but for a trophy ; I wanted his head and horns. I dashed along through the tlmndeiing mass, as they swept away over the plain, scarcely able to tell whether I was on a buffalo's back or my horse — liit, and hooked, and jostled about, till at length I found myself alongside of my game, when I gave him a shot, as I passed him. I saw guns flash in several directions about me, but i heard them not. Amidst the trampling throng, Mons. Chardon had wounded a stately bull, and at this moment was passing him again with his piece levelled for another shot ; they were both at full speed and I also, within the reach of the muzzle of my gun, when the bull instantly turned and receiving the horse upon his horns, and the ground received poor Chardon, who made a frog's leap of some twenty feet or more over the bull's back (plate 9), and almost under my horse's heels. I wheeled my horse as soon as possible and rode back, where lay poor Chardon, gasping to start his breath again ; and within a few paces of him his huge victim, with his heels high in the air, and tlie horse lying across him. I dismounted instantly, but Chardon was raising himself on his hands, with his eyes and mouth full of dirt, and feeling for his gun, which lay about thirty feet in advance of him. " Heaven spare you ! are you hurt, Chardon ?" •' hi — hie hie hie hie hie no, - - -hie no no, I believe not. Oh ! this is not much, Mons. Cataline — this is nothing new — but this is a d .d hard piece of ground here— hie— oh ! hie ! " At this the poor fellow fainted, but in a few moments arose, picked up his gun, took his horse by the bit; which then opened its eyes, and with a hie and a ugh — uoiik ! sprang upon its feet — shook off the dirt — and here we were, all upon our legs again, save the bull, whose fate had been more sad than that of either. I turned my eyes in the direction where the herd had gone, and our com- panions ill pursuit, and nothing could be seen of them, nor indication, except the cloud of dust which thoy left behind them. At a little distance on the right, however, I beheld my huge victim endeavouring to make as much head-way as he possiljly could, from this dangerous ground, upon three legs, I galloped off to him, and at my approach he wheeled around — and bristled up for battle ; he seemed to know perfectly well that he could not escape from me, and resolved to meet his enemy and death as bravely as possible. I found that my shot had entered him a little too far forward, breaking one of his shoulders, and lodging in his breast, and from his very great weight it was impossible for him to make much advance upon me. As I rode up within a few paces of him, he would bristle up with fury enough in hjs looks alone, almost to annihilate mc (platk 10) ; and making one lunge at me, would fall upon his neck and nose, so that I found the sagacity of my horse alone enough to keep me out of reach of danger : and I drew from my pocket my sketch-book, laid my gun across my lap, and commenced taking bis likeness. He stood stiffened up, and swelling with awful m V 'rJ^^^ It 10 27 vengeance, which was sublime for a picture, but which he could not veut upon me. I rode around him and sketched him in numerous attitudes sometimes he would lie down, and I would then sketch him ; then throw mv cap at him, and rousing him on his legs, rally a new expression, and sketch him again. In tiiis way I added to my sketch-book some invaluable sketclies of this grim-visaged monster, who knew not that he was standing for his likeness No man on earth can imagine what is the look and expression of such a subject before him as this was. I defy the world to produce another animal than can look so frightful as a huge buffalo bull, when wounded as he was, turned around for battle, and swelling with rage;-his eyes bloodshot, and his long sliaggy mane hanging to the ground.-his mouth open, and his horrid rage hissing in streams of smoke and blood from his mouth and through his nostrils, as he is bending forward to spring upon his assailant After I had had the requisite time and opportunity for using my pencil, M'Kenzieand his companions came walking their exhausted hurses back from the chase, and in our rear came four or five carts to carry home the meat. The party met from all quarters around me and my buffalo bull, whom I then shot in the head and finished. And being seated together for a few minutes, each one took a smoke of the pipe, and recited his exploits, and his 'coups or deaths ; when all parties had a hearty laugh at me, as a novice, for having aimed at an old bull, whose flesh was not suitable for food, and the carts were escorted on the trail, to bring away the meat. I rode back With Mr. M'Kenzie, who pointed out five cows which he had killed, and all of them selected as the fattest and slickest of the herd. This astonishing feat was all performed within the distance of one mile-all were ki led at full speed and every one shot through the heart. In the short space of time required for a horse under " full whip," to run the distance of one mile, he had discharged his gun five, and loaded it four times-selected Im animals, and killed at every shot ! There were six or eight others killed at the same time, which altogether furnished, as will be seen, abundance of freigh for the carts : which returned, as well as several packhorses, loaded w. 1 the choicest parts which were cut from the animals, 'and the remainder of the carcasses left a prey for the wolves. Such is the mode by which white men live in this country-such the way -a the hazard of every bone m one's body, to feel the fine and thrilling xhilaration of the chase for a moment, and then as often to upbraid and blame himself for his fdly and imprudence ^ From this scene we commenced leisurely wending our way back • and isiuounting at the place where we had stripped, each' man drJss^ himself again, or slung his extra articles of dress, &c. across his saddle, astride o whic he sat ; and we rode back to the Fort, reciting as we rode ad for twenty-four hours afterwards, deeds of chivalry and ch'ase, and h rib eadS^ J 28 escapes which each and either had fought and run on former occasions M'Kenzic, with all the true character and dignity of a leader, was silent on these subjects ; but smiled, while those in his train were reciting for him the astonishing and almost incredible deeds of his sinewy arms, which they had witnessed in similar scenes ; from which I learned (as well as from my own observations), that he was reputed (and actually wa5) the most distinguished of all the white men who have flourished in these regions, in the pursuit and death of the buffalo. On our return to the Fort, a bottle or two of wine were set forth upon the table, and around them a half dozen parched throats were soon moistened, and good cheer ensued. Ba'tiste D^fonde, Chardon, &c., retired to their ' quarters, enlarging smoothly upon the events of our morning's work ; which they were reciting to their wives and sweethearts ; when about this time the e;ate of the Fort was thrown open, and the procession of carts and pack- horses laden with buffalo meat made its entree ; gladdening the hearts of a hundred women and children, and tickling the noses of as many hungry dogs and puppies, who were stealing in and smelling at the tail of the pro- cession. The door of the ice-house was thrown open, the meat was dis> cliarged into it, and I being fatigued, went to sleep. occasions, as silent on for him the ;h they had )m my own stinguished pursuit and h upon the moistened, !d to their >rk; which lis time the and pack- bearts of a my hungry jf the pro- t was dia- •itiin. h **i i: 1. 'J» letter-No. 5. mouth of yellow stone, upper missouri. In my former epistle I told you there were encamped about the Fort a host of wid, ■ncor.gruous spirits-chiefs and sachems-warrir b Ives a„d women and ch.klren of different tribes-of Crows and Birkfeet-O Jbhe oTtll'; "'"r'";'^""' "^"^^ "' K"'«teneaux. Among t and the mid i s-« before me/an^l'het^; L^hTf ^ 1^;^^.^^::^ comfortab e seat whilst her muzzle is looking out at one of he po -ho e, IVI'Z - ""^ ''■"^*^ ''' '"^"^"- "f '^^ '"ghest order to tie red ons of the prame and my room the earliest and latest place of concentmt on of these wdd and jealous spirits, who all meet here to be amused and paj me signal honours; but gaze upon each other, sending then sidelong looks of deep-rooted hatred and revenge around the group Howeve whi st in he Fort. the,r weapons are placed within the arsLaUnd nTugh 'but lo " and thoughts can be breathed here; but death and grim destrucUon wU loot H f T ^'^P^" ''"'' °^^^^' «'-" '"^'^ -"d spirits Sn a loose and free to breathe and act upon the plains I have thw day been painting a portrait of the head chief of the Black- foot nation ; he .s a good-looking and dignified Indian, about fifty years of age, and superbly dressed (plate U); whilst sitting for his picture he has been surrounded by his own braves and warriors, and also gazed at by h enem.es, the Crows and the Knisteneaux, Assinneboins and Ojibbeways ; a number of d.stmguished personages of each of which tribes, have laid all day around the sides of my room; reciting to each other the battles they have fought, and pomtmg to the scalp-locks, worn as proofs of their victories, and attached to the seams of their shirts and leggings. This is a curious scene to witness, when one sits in the midst of such inflammable and com- bustible materials, brought together, unarmed, for the first time in their lives ; peaceably and calmly recounting over the deeds of their lives, and smoking their pipes upon it, when a few weeks or days will bring them on the plains again, where the war-cry will be raised, and their deadly bows will again be drawn on each other. ^ The name of this dignitary, of whom I have just spoken, is Stu-mick-o- sucks (the buffalo's back fat), i. e. the '< hump" or •' fleece," the most delicious part of the buffalo's flesh. I have also painted, of the Blackfeet, ^j 30 Pe-toli-pee-kUs (the eaple ribs), and Mix-ke-motP-skin-na (the iron horn), nritl Wun-nes-tou (the white buffalo), and Tcha-aes-sa-ko-nmh-pee (the bear's cliild), and In-ne-o-cose (the buffalo's child), and half-a-dozen others, :iiul all ill rich and costly dresses. There is no tribe, perhaps, on the Continent, who dress more comfortably, and more gaudily, than the Blackfeet, unless it be the tribe of Crows, There is no great difference, however, in the costliness or elegance of their costumes; nor in the materials of which they are formed; though there is a distinctive mode in each tribe, of stitching or ornamenting with the porcupine quills, which constitute one of the principal ornaments to all their fine dresses ; and which can be easily recognized, by any one a little familiar with their modes, as belonging to such or such a tribe. The dress, for instance of the cliief whom I have just mentioned, and whose portrait I have just painted, consists of a shirt or tunic, mode of two deer skins finely dressed, and so placed together with the necks of the skins downwards, and the skins of the hind legs stitched together, the seams running down on each arm, from the neck to the knuckles of the hand ; this seam is covered with a band of two inches in width, of very beautiful embroidery of porcupine quills, and suspended from the under edge of this, from the shoulders to the hands, is a fringe of the locks of black hair, which he has taken from the heads of victims slain by his own hand in battle. The leggings are made also of the same material ; and down the outer side of the leg, from the hip to the feet, extends also a similar band or belt of the same width ; and wrought in the same manner, with porcupine quills, and fringed with scalp locks. These locks of hair are procured from scalps, and worn as trophies. The wife (or squaw) of this dignitary Eeh-nis-kin (the crystal stone), 1 have also placed upon my canvass (plate 13); her countenance is rather pleasing, which is an uncommon thing amongst the Blackfeet — her dress is made of skins, and being the youngest of a bevy of six or eight, and the last one taken under his guardianship, was smiled upon with great satisfac- tion, whilst he exempted her from the drudgeries of the camp ; and keeping her continually in the halo of his own person, watched and guarded her as the apple of his eye. The grandson also of this sachem, a boy of six years of age, and too young as yet to have acquired a name, has stood forth like a tried warrior; and I have painted him at full length (plate 12), with his bow and quiver slung, and his robe made of a racoon skin. The history of this child is somewhat curious and interesting ; his father is dead, and in case of the death of the chief, of whom I have spoken, he becomes hereditary chief of the tribe. This boy has been twice stolen away by the Crows by ingenious stratagems, and twice re-captured by the Blackfeet, at consider- able sacrifice of life, and at present he is lodged with Mr. M'Kenzie, for safe keeping and protection, until he shall arrive at the proper age to take the office to which he is to succeed, and able to protect himself. 31 The scalp of which I spoke above, is procured by cutting out a piece of the skm of the head, the size of the palm of the hand or iess. cor.- tainmg the very centre or crown of the head, the place where the hair radiates from a point, and exactly over what the phrenologists call self- esteem. Th>s patch then is kept and dried with great care, as proof positive of the death of an enemy, and evidence of a man's claims as a war- rior : and after having been formally " danced," as the saying is, (i. e after it has beeii stuck up upon a pole or held up by an " old woman," and the war- riors have danced around it for two or three weeks at intervals ) it is fastened to the handle of a lance, or the end of a war-club, or divided into a great many small locks and used to fringe and ornament the victor's dress When these dresses are seen bearing such trophies, it is of course a difficult matter to purchase them of the Indian, for they often hold them above all price. I shall hereafter take occasion to speak of the scalp-dance ; describing It m all its parts, and giving a long Letter, at the same time on scalps and scalping, an interesting and general custom amongst all the North Ameri- can Indians. In the chiefs dress, which I am describing, there are his moccasins, made also of buckskin, and ornamented in a corresponding manner. And over all his robe, made of the skin of a young buffalo bull, with the hair remaining on :' and on the inner or flesh side, beautifully garnished with porcupine quills, and the battles of h.s life very ingeniously, though rudely, pourtrayed in picto- rial representations. In his hand he holds a very beautiful pipe, the stem 0. which ,s four or five feet long, and two inches wide, curiously wound with braids of the porcupine quills of various colours ; and the bowl of the pipe ingeniously carved by himself from a piece of red steatite of an interest- ing character, and which they all tell me is procured somewhere between this place and the Falls of St. Anthony, on the head waters of the Mississippi. Ihis curious stone has many peculiar qualities, and has, undoubtedly but one origin in this country, and perhaps in the world. It is found but in the hands of the savage, and every tribe, and nearly every individual in the tribe has his pipe naade of it. I consider this stone a subject of great interest, and curiosity to the world ; and I shall most assuredly make it a point, during- my Indian rambles, to visit the place from whence it is brought. I have already got a number of most remarkable traditions and stories relating to the sacred quarry ;" of pilgrimages performed there to procure the stone, and of curious transactions that have taken place on that ground. It seems from all I can learn, that all the tribes in these regions, and also of the Mississippi and the Lakes, have been in the habit of going to that place, and meeting their enemies there, whom they are obliged to treat as friends under an injunction of the Great Spirit. So then is this sachem (the buffalo's back fat) dressed; and in a very similar manner, and almost the same, is each of the others above named ; and all are armed with bow and quiver, lance and shield. These north 32 western tribes are all armed with the bow and lance, and protected with tlie shield or arrow fender, which is carried outside of the left arm, exactly as the Roman and Grecian shield was carried, and for the same purpose. There is an appearance purely classic in the plight and equipment of these warriors and " knights of the lance." They are almost literally always on their horses' backs, and they wield these weapons with desperate effect upon the open plains; where they kill their game while at full speed, and contend in like manner in battles with their enemy. There is one prevailing custom in these respects, amongst all the tribes who inhabit the great plains or prairies of these western regions. These plains afford them an abundance of wild and fleet horses, which are easily procured ; and on their backs at full speed, they can come alongside of any animai, which they easily destroy. The bow with which they are armed is small, and apparently an insigni- ficant weapon, though one of great and almost incredible power in the hands of its owner, whose sinews have been from childhood habituated to its use and service. The lengtii of these bows is generally about three feet, and sometimes not more than two and a half (plate 18 a). They have, no doubt, studied to get the requisite power in the smallest compass possible, as it is more easily and handily used on horseback than one of greater length. The greater number of these bows are made of ash, or of "bois d'arc" (as the French call it), and lined on the back with layers of buffalo or deer's sinews, which are inseparably attached to them, and give them great elasticity. There are very many also (amongst the Blackfeet and the Crows) which are made of bone, and others of the horn of the mountain-sheep. Tliose made of bone are decidedly the most valuable, and cannot in this country be procured of a good quality short of the price of one or two horses. About these there is a mystery yet to be solved, and I advance my opinion against all theories that I have heard in the country where they are used and made. I have procured several very fine specimens, and when pur- chasing them have inquired of the Indians, what bone they were made of? and in every instance, the answer was, " That's medicine," meaning that it was a mystery to them, or that they did not wish to be questioned about them. The bone of which they are made is certainly not the bone of any animal now grazing on the prairies, or in the mountains between this place and the Pacific Ocean ; for some of these bows are three feet in length, of a solid piece of bone, and that as close-grained — as hard — as white, and as highly polished as any ivory ; it cannot, therefore be made from the elks' horn (as some have supposed), which is of a dark colour and porous : nor can it come from the buffalo. It is my opinion, therefore, that the Indians on the Pacific coast procure the bone from the jaw of the sperm whale, which is often stranded on that coast, and bringing the bone into the moun- tains, trade it to the Blackfeet and Crows, who manufacture it into these bows without knowing any n.ore than we do, from what source it has been procured. II )| ^ i ^. C'-.lUiiK ( trai po\ whi woi bu£ arm gusi 1 flint as t Moi and deat upoi are < whic the I easil Si deatj the a left ; loose anim heart throu An bow i arrow and ( fourte aii of fendei hardei are ar turnec Thi and u or smi tliose ( of bu was K Trojan VOL 33 powerful weapon in L open plains ZZl . \ " ' "'"'' ''^'''''' ^^^ which these missiles are tlfrown and thfLn.u rrv'S'r^''?'^ '""^^ -'»' wonnds, until he has rode by th^ side of a na.l' f ^ ' ^'"^"'^^^ ^y '^eir buffaloes, and witnessed the app Int easf^^^^^^ ar.s have drawn the bow, anr^^sri ;trL\: ^I^'^ ""r^'^^ gus ,ng out their hearts' blood fro. their mou'ths a d „o^rt'"^ ''^"" "''" •« they are now chiefly furnished bv ,h. P., r j ' *' " ""'' "«'• Monnt.i„,(pi„,i8 d) The „!1., i , "■' '>"'""' 'he Rocky and „ade o^f .he V^i^ 0^7^:^:: -f«™ly car™d on ,he back! deadly weapons, and generally conuins' ^vH " ^hrofeTb ,"'"° upon an enemy ffenprallv nnio,.^ i i '"y"'^^' J ne one to be drawn a., designed .0 tannifhladeTn !h;° ", , '""''' ""'"' °' '""■'»• ">''">• which .hey are bu. slilh.J, 1 '? !h f "' ""' '^"'^ '» ""rawn, in .he blade i.>yt:'^T/z;:ti:!7r:Tr''' "-"Y" ''••"■ ""' easily be draw/fron, .b, "onnltdl'lf f! t:::* ■ '"«' '• ""y .r„d 2-=- :Lp,:".r etr ^h:t:":= -• - - i^^nrrr:;eiir^^^^^^ l».e npon i., necHr ^ t , * "Sn^ 1^ "";""'"" '' ""^'"'^ animal, when the arrow i. fhr """ "'""n three or four pace, of the heartland instnerioltroer w^e r aTro ^^^^'"'^ ^/^^ through the animal's body °"' P^''^' ""'"^'^'y bowi';ttntrnrhisT::^r ^ 'n-^r t"-^^^--^ ''°-' ^^^^^ '^'^ arrows, of which he can thZ if "^ "" " ' ''"'""'"^" '" '""''^^'J and dangerous enem? M.nv lf7 '' '7"'^'" ' '"'""^^' '^ ' ^°™'dabie fourteen feet in length (p^r/ 18 r",' " u V''^ ' ''^"^^ °^ *^^*^'- -• all of them (as a pro ecUo„ for I •^' "^ , ' ^''^' '' P°"^'^^^ ^'^^' ' "-' fendermadeoftLskTno ll.«^^^^^ ' ''^'''^ "' '"""''- ..araened with tttri:::: S:':,:et ^c LVnr c^^^^ are arrow-proof, and will p-ianrn nff o a '>*'^'*ie 18). These shields .anted obh^uei;, whict'ti^;: l^^Z. ""' ''*" '*" ^^ ^-^• J::ed':r.,:::r":;;rLirr' ™'' -' ""''- "'"*'"■ er snrall shield in the Uoman „d G ia Ta/arrr Th' ""' ''" 'Y" wasK'ao':ti;H:s7„::f:r.r:t'"- 't- "" "^'"«'- «"'■'• Trojan wars 1„ .h,,.; I "°"'"" ''""" "l^ ">« G'eek and VOL. r '' "'"° """ """^ »' J»"li»» ami lances; .he 34 same were also used by the Ancient Britons ; and such exactly are now in use amongst the Arabs and the North American Indians. In this wise then, are all of these wild red knights of the prairie, armed and equipped,— and while nothing can possibly be more picturesque and thrilling than a troop or war-party of these fellows, galloping over these green and endless prairies ; there can be no set of mounted men of equal numbers, so effective and so invincible in this country as they would be, could they be inspired with confidence of their own powers and their own superiority ; yet this never can be done ;— for the Indian, as far as the name of white man has travelled, and long before he has to try his strength with him, is trembling with fright and fear of his approach ; he hears of white man's arts and artifice— his tricks and cunning, and his hundred instruments of death and destruction— he dreads his approach, shrinks from him with fear and trembling— his heart sickens, and his pride and courage wither, at the thoughts of contending with an enemy, whom he thinks may war and destroy with weapons of medicine or mystery. Of the Blackfeet, whom I mentioned in the beginning of this Letter, and whose portraits are now standing in my room, there is another of whom I must say a few words; Pe-toh-pee-kiss, the eagle ribs (plate 14). This man is one of the extraordinary men of the Blackfoot tribe ; though not a chief, he stands here in the Fort, and deliberately boasts of eight scalps, which he says he has taken from the heads of trappers and traders with his own hand. His dress is really superb, almost literally covered with scalp-locks, of savage and civil. I have painted him at full length, with a head-dress made entirely of ermine skins and horns of the buffalo. This custom of wearing horns beautifully polished and surmounting the head-dress, is a very curious one, being worn only by the bravest of the brave ; by the most extraordinary men in the nation. Of their importance and meaning, I shall say more in a future epistle. When he stood for his picture, he also held a lance and two "medicine-bags" in his hand; of lances i have spoken, —but " medicine- bags" and " medicine" will be the text for my next Letter. Besides the chiefs and warriors above-named, 1 have also transferred to my canvass the "looks and very resemblance" of an aged chief, who combines with his high office, the envied title of mystery or medicine-man, I. c. doctor— magician— prophet— soothsayer— jongleur— and high priest, all combined in one person, who necessarily is looked upon as " Sir Oracle" of the nation. The name of this distinguished functionary is Wun-nes-tou, the white buffalo (plate 15) ; and on his left arm he presents his mystery- drum or tarnbour, in which are concealed the hidden and sacred mysteries of his healing art. And tl-.ere is also In-ne-o-cose, the iron-horn (plate 16), at full length, ip a splendid dress, with his "medicine-bag" in his hand ; and Ah-kay-ee- •pix-en, the woman who strikes many (plate 17), in a beautiful dress of the mountain-goals' skin, and lier roby of the young buffalo's hide. Pi 4 la w : t.'- Cttlli./, 1,5 ;■ ! i t 8A I.I£TT£U-No. 6. MOUTH OF YELLOW STONE. UPPER MISSOURI. N,,-. for medicines or mysteries -for doctors, high-priests, for hocus pocus, witchcraft, and animal magnetism ! In the last Letter I spoke of Pe-toh-pee-kiss (the eagle ribs), a Blackfoot brave, whose portra.t I had just painted at full length, in a splendid dresn. I mentioned also, that he held two medicine-bags in his hand ; as they are represented m the picture; both of them made of the skins of otters, and curiously ornamented with ermine, and other strange things. I must needs stop here_my painting and every thing else, until I can explam the word -merficine," and " medicine- bag ;•' and also some medi- cine operations, which I have seen transacted at this place within a few days pas . Med.cme ' is a great word in this country ; and it is very necessary hat one should know the meaning of it. whilst he is scanning and estimating lupersSns '''*''' ^^^'^' '' '"'''' "^' '" ^ ^'''' ^'^'''' °^ ""'^''^'"'^ ^"^ The word medicine, in its common acceptation here, means mystenj, and nothmg elsev, and in that sense I shall use it very frequently in my Notes on Indian Manners and Customs. ■> -^ j } The Fur Traders in this country, are nearly all French; and in their language a doctor or physician, is called " Medecinr The Indian coun- try ,s full of doctors; and as they are all magicians, and skilled, or profess o be skilled in many mysteries, the word '« medecin" has become habi- tualy applied to every thing mysterious or unaccountable; and the English and Americans, who are also trading and passing through this country, have easily and familiarly adopted the same word, with a slight alteration conveying the same meaning; and to be a little more explicit, they have denominated these personages "medicine-men," which means something more than merely a doctor or physician. These physicians, however, are all ,„edicine-men, as they are all supposed to deal more or less in mysteries and charms, which are aids and handmaids in their practice. Yet il was necessary to give the word or phrase a still more comprehensive meaning— as there were many personages amongst them, and also amongst the white men who visit the country, who could deal in mysteries, though not skilled in the application of drugs and medicines; and they all range now, under the comprehensive and accommodating phrase of " medicine- men. For instance, J am a " medicine-man" of the highest order amongst I i 36 tliese superstitious people, on account of the art wliich I practice ; which is a strange an«l iinaccoimtahle thing to them, and of course, called the greatest of " medicine." My gun and pistols, which have percussion -locks, are great medicine ; and no Indian can be prevailed on to fire them olF, for they say they have nothing to do with white man's medicine. The Indians do not use the word medicine, however ; but in each tribe they have a word of their own construction, synonimous with mystery or mystery-man. The " medicine-bag" then, is a mystery-bag ; and its meaning and impor- tance necessary to be understood, as it may be said to be the key to Indian life and Indian character. These bags are constructed of the skins of animals, of birds, or of reptiles, and ornamented and preserved in a thousand different ways, as suits the taste or freak of the person who constructs them. These skins are generally attached to some part of the clothing of the Indian, or carried in his hand — they are oftentimes decorated in such a manner as to be exceedingly ornamental to his person, and always are stuffed with grass, or moss, or something of the kind ; and generally without drugs or medicines within them, as they are religiously closed and sealed, and seldom, if ever, to be opened. 1 find that every Indian in his primitive state, carries his medicine-bii^ in some form or other, to which he pays the greatest homage, and to which he looks for safety and protection through life — and in fact, it might almost be called a species of idolatry ; for it would seem in some instances, as if he actually worshipped it. Feasts are often made, and dogs and horses sacrificed, to a man's medicine ; and days, and even weeks, of fasting and penance of various kinds are often sufTered, to appease his medicine, which he imagines he has in some way offended. This curious custom has principally been done away with along the frontier, where white men laugh at the Indian for the observance of so ridiculous and useless a form : but in this country it is in full force, and every male in the tribe carries this, his supernatural charm or guardian, to which he looks for the preservation of his life, in battle or in other danger ; at which times it would be considered ominous of bad luck and an ill fate to be without it. The manner in which this curious and important article is instituted is this : a boy, at the age of fourteen or fifteen years, is said to be making or « forming his medicine," when he wanders away from his father's lodge, and absents himself for the space of two or three, and sometimes even four or five, days ; lying on the ground in some remote or secluded spot, crying to the Great Spirit, and fasting the whole time. During this period of peril and abstinence, when he falls asleep, the first animal, bird, or reptile, of which he dreams (or pretends to have dreamed, perhaps), he considers the Great Spii it has designated for his mysterious protector through life. He then returns home to his father's lodge, and relates his success; and after allaying his thirst, and satiating his appetite, he sallies forth with weapons 37 or traps, until lie c;,,, procure llu unimal or l.ir.l, the skin of which he prewrves entire, and ornament* it uccordinir to hi. own fancy, ami curries .t w,th him through life. fo. •• ...o.! luck" (an he culls it) ; .i hin strength .1. huttU— and III death his Kuardiun Spirit, that is buried with him and which IS to conduct him safe to the lieautiful hunting grounds which ha contemplates in the world to come. ' The value of the medicine-buKr lu the Indian is beyond all price; for to sell .f. or give It away, would subject him to such signal disgrace in his tribe, that he could never rise above it ; and again, his superstition would stand in the way of any such disposition of it, for he considers it the gift of the Great Spirit. An Indian carries his medicine-bar, into battle, and trusts to it for his protection ; and if he loses it thus, when fighting ever so bravely for his country, he sutlers a disgrace scarcely less than that which oc(;uis in case he sells or gives it away ; his enemy carries it off and displays it to his own people as a trophy ; whilst the loser is cut short of the respect that is due to other young men of his tribe, and for ever subjected to the degrading epithet of " a man without medicine," or " he who has lost his medicine " until he can replace it again ; which can only be done, by rushing into battle and plundering one from an enemy whom he slays with his own hand. This done, his medicine is restored, and he is reinstated again in the esti- mation of his tribe; and even higher than before, for such is called the begt of medicine, or " medicine honourable." It is a singular fact, tliat a man can institute his mystery or medicine, but once in his life ; and equally singular that he can reinstate himself by the adoption of the medicine of his enemy ; both of which regulations are strong and violent inducements for him to fight bravely in battle : the first, that he may protect and preserve his medicine ; and the second, in case he has been so unlucky as to lose it, that he may restore it, and his reputation also, while he IS desperately contending for the protection of his community. r .ring my travels thus far, I have been unable to buy a medicine-bag of an Indian, although I have otlered them extravagant prices for them ; and even on the frontier, where they have been induced to abandon the practice, though a white man may induce an Indian to relinquish his medicine, yet lit- cannot buy it of him— the Indian in such case will bury it, to please a white man, and save it from his sacrilegious touch ; and he will linger around the spot and at regular times visit it and pay it his devotions, as long as he lives. These curious appendages to the persons or wardrobe of an Indian (plate 18, g), are sometimes made of the skin of an otter, a beaver, a musk-rat, a weazel, a racoon, a polecat, a snake, a frog, a toad, a bat,' a mouse, a mole, a hawk, an eagle, a magpie, or a sparrow :— sometimes of the skin of an animal so large as a wolf; and at others, of the skins of the lesser animals, so small that they are hidden under the dress, and very difficult to be found, even if searched for. 28 Such then is the medicine-bag- — such its meaning and importance ; and when its owner dies, it is placed in his grave and decays with his body. In the case of the portrait of which I spoke in the beginning of this Letter, tliere are seen two medicine-bags in the hand of Pe-toh-pee-kiss ; the one was of his own instituting, and the other was taken from his enemy, whom he had slain in battle ; both of these he has a right tc display and boast ot on such an occasion. This is but the beginning or incipient stage of '* me- dicines," however, in this strange and superstitious country ; and if you have patience, I will carry you a few degrees further into the mysteries of conju- ration, before 1 close this Letter. Sit still then and read, until I relate a scene of a tragic, and yet of the most grotesque character, which took place in this Fort a few days since, and to all of which 1 was an eye-witness. The scene I will relate as it transpired precisely ; and call it the story ot the " doctor," or the " Blackioot medicine-man." Not many weeks since, a party of Knisteneaux came here from the north, for the purpose of making their summer's trade with the Fur Company; and, whilst here, a party of Blackfeet, their natural enemies (the same who are here now), came from the west, also to trade. These two belligerent tribes encamped on different sides of the Fort, and had spent some weeks here in the Fort and about it, in apparently good feeling and fellowship ; unable in fact to act otherwise, for, according to a regulation of the Fort their arras and weapons were all locked up by M'Kenzie in his " arsenal,' for the purpose of preserving the peace amongst these fighting-cocks. The Knisteneaux had completed their trade, and loitered about the pre- mises, until ail, both Indians and white men, were getting tired of their company, wishing them quietly off. When they were ready to start, with their goods packed upon their backs, their arms were given them, and they started ; bidding everybody, both friends and foes, a hearty farewell. They went out of the Fort, and though the party gradually moved off, one of them undiscovered, loitered about the Fort, until he got an opportunity to poke the muzzle of his gun through between the piquets ; when he fired it at one of the chiefs of the Blackfeet, who stood within a few paces, talking with Mr. M'Kenzie, and shot him with two musket bullets through the centre of his body ! The Blackfoot fell, and rolled about upon the ground in the agonies of death, The Blackfaet who were in the Fort seized their weapons and ran in a mass out of the Fort, in pursuit of the Knisteneaux, who were rapidly retreating to the bluffs. The Frenchmen in the Fort, also, at so flagrant and cowardly an insult, seized their guns and ran out, joining the Blackfeet in the pursuit. I, at that moment, ran to my painting-room in one of the bastions overlooking the plain, where I had a fair view of the affair; many shots were exchanged back and forward, and a skirmish ensued which lasted half an hour ; the parties, however, were so far apart that little effect was produced ; the Knisteneaux were driven off over the bluffs, having lost one man and had several others wounded. The Blackfeet and Frenchmen Hit', 39 retu^edinto the Fort, .r.l ,hen, 1 saw what I never before saw in my life medicmal world, and gam much celebrity in their nation. Their first nre- scr,pt ons are roots and herbs, of which they have a great variety of species • and t:\^:': '^^^^ ^" ^^ ^^' ^^- ^-^ reL is to^. ...ane'Cr Jy j Iss oiild r'.' 7' "^r °' fr »>- ^ «*-"B« and unaccou'ntab des conjured up and constructed during a life-time of practice in the y.Mt to his dymg pat.ent,-danang over him, shaking his frightful rattles and smgmg songs of incantation, in hopes to cure him by a cLrm There are son.e ms ances, of course, where the exhausted patient unacrountablv ccoyers, under the application of these absurd forms; and in such cies th,s mgen,ous son of Indian Esculapius will be seen for several days aft ' on the top of a w.gwam. with his right arm extended and waving over the gapmg muiftude. to whom he is vaunting forth, without modesty, tie surpH s^ngskU) he has acqui..d in his art, and the undoubted effiLy ofTL medTme or mystery. But if. on the contrary, the patient dies. \e soon changes h,s dress, and joins in doleful lamentations with the mourners • and easdy wuh h.s craft, and the ignorance and superstition of his peop e pro tects h.s reputation and maintains his influence over them ; by assuring them, that U was the will of the Great Spirit that his patient should d e Ld when sent for, his feeble efforts must cease inst"nt7' ''" '"'? '"'^ '"''^ "" ^"'^^"'dinary means resorted to in the nstance I am now relating Several hundred spectators, including Indians and raders, were assembled around the dying man, when it was announced hat the medicineman was con.ing ; we were required to " form a ring ■' kavmg a space of some thirty or forty feet in diameter around the dymg r"l" ; ''' d^^^"-- .-""'J perform his wonderful operations; and a ^P e was also opened to allow him free room to pass thigh the crowd w t hout touching any one. This being done, in a few moments his arrival wa announced by the death-hke " hush sh " through the crowd; and nothing was to be heard, save the light and casual tinkling of uL rattles upon h.s dress, which was scarcely perceptible to the ear, as he ^' If.. '4 (i : V'i 40 cautiously and slowly moved through the avenue left for htm ; which at leno-tli brought him into the lin^, in view of the pitiable object over whom his mysteries were to be performed. Readers ! you may have seen or read of tlie witch of Endor — or you may imagine all the ghosts, and spirits, and furies, that ever ranked amongst the " rank and file" of demonology ; and yet you must see my painting of this strange scene before you can form a just conception of real frightful ugliness and Indian conjuration — yes, and even more : you must see the magic dress of this Indian " big bug" (which I have this day procured m all its parts), placed upon the back of some person who can imitate the strides, and swells, the grunts, and spring the rattles of an Indian magician. His entree and his garb were somewhat thus : — lie approached the ring with his body in a crouching position (plate 19), with a slow and tilting step — his body and head wore entirely covered with the skin of a yellow bear, the head of which (his own head being inside of it) served as a mask ; the huge claws of which also, were dangling on his wrists and ancles ; in one hand he shook a frightful rattle, and in the other brandished his medicine-spear or magic wand ; to the rattling din and discord of all of which, he added the wild and startling jumps and yelps of the Indian, and the horrid and ap- palling grunts, and snarls, and growls of the grizzly bear, iti ejaculatory and guttural incantations to th . Good and Bad Spirits, in behalf of his patient ; who was rolling and groaning in the agonies of death, whilst he was dancing around him, jumping over him, and pawing him about, and rolling him in every direction In this wise, this strange operation proceeded for half an hour, to the sur- prise of a numerous and death-like silent audience, until the man died ; and the medicine-man danced oft" to his quarters, and packed up, and tied and secured from the sight of the world, his mystery dress and equipments. This dress, in all its pijrts, is one of the greatest curiosities in the whole collection of Indian manufactures which I hav^ yet obtained in the Indian country. It is the strangest medley and mixture, perhaps of the mysteries of the animal and vegetable kingdoms that ever was seen. Besides the skin of the yellow bear (which being almost an anomaly in that country, is out of the regular order of nature, and, of course, great medicine, and converted (o .- medicine use), there are attached to it the skins of many animals, wliicli are also anomalies or deformities, which render them, in their estimation, medicine ; and there are also the skins of snakes, and frogs, and bats, — beaks and toes and tails of birds,— lioofs of deer, goats, and antelopes ; and, in fact, the " odds and ends," and fag ends, and tails, and tips of almost everything that swims, flies, or runs, in this part of the wide world. Such is a medicine-man or a physician, and such is one of his wild and ridiculous manceuvres, which I have just witnessed in this strange country. These men, as I before remarked, are \id\uc(i as dignitaries in the tribe. and the greatest respect is paid to them by tlie whole community ; not only fori in n have and in al and cond oraci with the« 41 for their skill in their •« materia m«li,,= ." i * in magic and mysteries, in S Thecal deal toT ""^"""^ '" **'^'' *«« have much more to sav of th. ! u ? V ^ ""^""y ^""^^^ ^^t^"*- I shall and barely oZrve i'Ve presen 'r^ ?' ''^^ '""^^ '" ^"*"- ^P'«^'-. in all tribes their L orsTe 2^^^^^^^^^^ "" "" "' "'''°"' ^'""^ '-^'^^^ and I had like to have safd t^r "' 7 "' "^g«='«"«-are sooth-sayers, conduct all the^rel It' £T "' '''T'''^ ^^ '^'^ superintend and oracles of the natot T ', r^^'^f'-Jl'^y <«« looked upon by all as with the chLft-atregu larW^^^^^^^^^ ""^^ Pff-' ^'^^y ^^ a seat the greatest deference l^li;::^!";!,^^ '^ ^^^^ ^^ ijil 42 LETTER— No. 7. i' l!i MOUTH OF YELLOW STONK, UPPKR MISSOURI. The Letter which 1 gave you yesterday, on the subject of " medicines" and " medicine-men," has somewhat broken the " thread of my discourse ;" and left my painting-room (in the bastion), and all the Indians in it, and portraits, and buffalo hunts, and landscapes of these beautiful regions, to be taken up and discussed ; which I will now endeavour to do, beginning just where I left (or digressed) off. I was seated on the cool breech of a twelve-pounder, and had my easel before me, and Crows and Blackfeet, and Assinneboins, whom I was tracing upon the canvass. And so I have been doing to-day, and shall be for seve- ral days to come. My painting-room has become so great a lounge, and I so great a " medicine-man," that all otiier amusements are left, and all other topics of conversation and gossip are postponed for future considera- tion. The chiefs have had to place " soldiers" (as tliey are called) at my door, with spears in hand to protect me from the throng, who otherwise would press upon me ; and none but the worthies are allowed to come into my medicine apartments, and none to be painted, except such as are decided by the chiefs to be worthy of so high an honour. The Crows and Blackfeet who are here together, are enemies of the most deadly kind while out on the plains ; but here they sit and smoke quietly together, yet with a studied and dignified reserve. The Blackfeet are, perhaps, one of the most (if not entirely the most) numerous and warlike tribes on the Continent. They occupy the whole of the country about the sources of the Missouri, from this place to the Rocky Mountains ; and their numbers, from the best computations, are something like forty or fifty thousand — they are (like all other tribes whose numbers are sufficiently large to give them boldness) warlike and ferocious, i. e. they are predatory, are roaming fearlessly about the country, even into and through every part of the Rocky Mountains, and carrying war amongst their enemies, who are, of course, every tribe who inhabit the country about them. The Crows who live on the head waters of Yellow Stone, and extend from this neighbourhood also to the base of the Rocky Mountains, are similar in the above respects to the Blackfeet; roaming about a great part of the year — and seeking their enemies wherever they can find them. They are a much smaller tribe than the Blackfeet, with whom they are i o al bi Oi m to Wf otl th( (|U wh ex< the inn fori twe wlii lire tliei wis! com rang obje wliic for V buff; their inarr heav; the s tedio skin . but n cabin UijAau cabin most the Si dress be;^ li in sue agreea 1 43 The Crows have not. perhaps. uJZ:'Z^,^Z^^'^y ''^""V oahly not more than e.^ht hundrcl warriors or fi h L ?'' "'"^ »''■"■ more powerful tribes, like the Sioux » , H I ""'J^^^'J '"'»• Amongst the to preserve their warriors t Tfai L f . ' "'" '"^^'^ ''"^^" ^-^^^'-i warriors; but an.on, the Crow \dM,"''"'°" ^.^^"""^ «"« '"" Ave., other small but warlike trib h Ifrt """' "' ^"'""'"' ""' ^-^^'^l these I havefo.nd two or threworn "''""'■' '^^ ' '' '" ^""^ «^ 'l-.ence of the continual losseVs'Lir ' '""". '" "" "'''°"= *" ^•°-- whilst pursuing the buffa oelon 1. r ""■ '"'" '" ""^' ^"^ »»- exceedingly exposed. ^'""" '"' '^°°'^' ^'^"« '''«ir lives are The Blackfeet and the Crows liko H,o c , . . the same n.ode of oonstrucZ 'thli "'"^ Assinneboins, have nearly ".nde of buffalo skirewertLrTT "' '°^^'^ = in which tribes it il form of a tent p, ^ J S'^r """ '""^'^'^'"^ '"^"^ '"^» '^^'^ twenty-five feet n St^T" 7 '"'"' '"'"'^ '' ''''''^ ?'"« 1'°'- ^^ which the smoke cscapstdL.!.?'' T "^T'' "' '''^ top, through are taken down in a Z n hn tes bt ," "'"''' . '""" '''^''' '' '-'^^• their location, and easirv t rnl . ^, '''"'"'' ^^''^" '^'y ^^'«'> ^^ ^''^nge wish to encamp ad the^'^ 1. '" "'• ''"' "'" "'^ ^"""^^y -^ere thty course of the .;„: er S ^m? [ "'"^'^ ^""^^''' "^ '^'^'>' '"- '" tli range over these vast Jlui„ I ' """""'" ''^''^^ "^ »^"«''»'«««. as they objects for whicluhcT^l^rr,;'^^'^'^'--'^ ""'' ^^ ^""^'>- '^"« which are brought i„ i.^ i, '^^-'^'^'-^^ Procure and dress their skins. for white u.uV: l^l^y. td , f 'T'' "' "'' '"^ "" ^"^"^ ^-"P-y buffalo meat (pr.,vrK 20') w i 1 k ' ^'"'P"^'^ "^ '''"'"g ^"^ ^'y^S their horses' bick s, in ^lijt:,^'. '""f" '"'"• '"'^ ''""^^' P^^^^ «» ...arrow-fat for the r wh ter L! ' >"•'. '^ P""'^'""' «"'' P'-'^««^^i"S- the • heavy-timbered bo om o, Zt] '' " '"'' ''" ^•^"^^'^''^ '^^^ "P '» -">« .he surround,„g bl ft^ w c .' k^:/,^"" 'f '"' '^^^ '"^'^'''^'' -''>'" tedious winter ilerable a d s p^'^^ ,;'^;;'''^«' ^'^ '-^e the, long and skin lodges amongst the timbj a^d dw li • ^ "" '"'"'''""'^ '^^^'^^ ^''^'^ but more frequently cul lo s and „ '" • '"' ^"'"'^ ^''^ ''"^''^ '"""^hs ; cabin, in whi h the^y au, h " H f " '"^ """''"'^ ^"'^ ' '^ ^^^ °f 'og assaults of their enen s . e .r™" "'.''-^"" P'^^^^'^^^'^ ^^^ ^h^ ca^u isa tolerable ..ri^U^d '^l^^r^^^^ ^ ^" ^^^^'* -- ^ 'og ^ e Crows, of all the tribes i>, tl ^ , T' °"s- most beautiful lod^e A I I " ;'^'°"' °.'' °" "'« Continent, make the the Sioux .0, and take them of 'tt'' "'"""'''' ""^ ^°"^^^"^^ ^^^^^ - 'i.e- the skins of which they are ■"""'. T'"''' = ''' ^^^^ °"^"^""- f>e: .iully garnish thomtS ;:::.pi::'S 7 " "''^ "^ ""^"' ^"'^ in such a variety of ways as renX T ^T' '"'^ °'-"''»'"^"^ ^»'«"» ag.eeable to the eye. I I a;e pro " "^ . "". "''^^:!'^'"'^'^ P'^turesque and y have procu,cd a very beautiful „„, ,{ this desc, iptiou r-' j I M' :r f i 44 (plate 20), highly-ornamented, and fringed with icalp-locks, and »u(B- ciently large for forty m^n to dine under. The poles which support it are about tliirty in number, of pino, and all cut in the Rocky Mountaini, having been some hundred years, p'-rhaps, in use. This tent, when erected, is »bout twenty-five feet high, and has a very pleasing effect; with the Great or Good Spirit painted on one side, and the Evil Spirit on the other. If I can ever succeed in transporting it to New York and other eastern cities, it will be looked upon as a beautiful and exceedingly interesting specimen. The manner in which an encampment of Indians strike their tents and transport theii is curious, und to the traveller in this country a very novel and unexpected sight, when he first beholds it. Whilst ascending the river to this place, I saw an encampment of Sioux, consisting of six hundred of these lodge?, struck, and all things packed and on the move in a very few minutes. The chief sends his runners or criers (for such all chiefs keep in their employment) through the village, a few hours before they are to start ; announcing his determination to move, and the hour fixed upon, and the necessary preparations are in the meantime making ; and at the time an- nounced, the lodge of the chief is seen flapping in the wind, a part of the poles having been taken out from under it ; this is the signal, and in one minute, six hundred of them (on a level and beautiful prairie), which before had been strained tight and fixed, were seen waving and flapping in the wind, and in one minute more all v. (ire flat upon the ground. Their horses and dogs, of which they had a vast nunilicr, had all been secured upon the spot, in readiness ;' and each one was speedily loaded with the burthen allotted to it, and ready to fall into the grand procession. For this strange cavalcade, preparation is made in the following manner : the poles of a lodge are divided into two bunches, and the little ends of each bunch fastened upon the shoulders or withers of a horse, leaving the butt ends to drag behind on the ground on either side. Just behind the horse, a brace or pole is tied across, which keeps the poles in their respective places; and then upon that and the poles behind the horse, is placed the lodge or tent, which is rolled up, and also numerous other articles of household and domestic furniture, and on the top of all, two, three, and even (sometimes) four women and children ! Each one of these horses has a conductress, who sometimes walks before and leads it, with a tremendous pack upon her own back ; and at otlurs she sits astride of its back, with a child, per- haps, at her breast, and another astride of the horse's back behind her, clinging to her waist with one arm, while it affectionately embraces a sneak- ing dog-pup in the other. In this way five or six hundred wigwams, with all their furniture (plate 21), may be seen drawn out for miles, creeping over the grass-covered plains of this country ; and three times that number of men, on good horses, strolling along in front or on the flank ; and, in some tribes, in the rear of this heterogeneous caravan, at least five times that number of dogs, which ;-t. i f.>Ar l^y' 2 2 45 is encumbered wi h a ca o fledTortC !"° '"""'"^ '° ''^ ^-'«^«d, which he patiently ^Z^loi^J^^Z^.n '^ '.^"" '=^"^'^>' ^ furniture of the lodge to which he hi} ^ V" '''"''''°''* ^°°^« «°d long, are placed upo'n t e dol' sltulderfn'the " '°'"' ^'""^ '''^^" ^^^ poles are attached to the horses T.l I ''"' '"""""'" «« ^'^^ 'o^ge ground beiund hi,n ; on .v^ ^ ^ Z d a L' n'" "1? '° '^^^ "P°" ^^« to him to carrv. and with wl crh.rn? "^""^'^'^ ^^"^^ ^^ich is allotted squaws; faithf^ll/arrcr fuUv raJ 'i^ ■ ^^ ""°'' "' ^''' ^"' way loitering and'occasionally ^ '^'"^ ^'^ '^'^ ^'" "'^ht, and by the "Catching at little bits of fun and glee l"at s played on dogs enslaved by dog that's free." mental and tlful cu o ' wh t' "' ''" ('"^^ hundreds of other orna- suvage; withou 1' el I " "' '^''^^''^"'S)' borrowed from the by whom invented '"'^'"^ '" ^"^"'" ^^^ -»^-- ^'-y come, or therrr^trdtys'Lf;:;:? "; '"^t- ^-^ ^^'-^^ ^'''"^' -^ ^y '---g removed ;\^l n L 1 ' [' ^"^ ' /"' "''"' ""^" ''' '"'^ ^^" '^^ sta.es orVinsXilt^Io: ;:e'edri:r::rtr°"h'^ T""'''^'^^ for several days, with the brains nf th . 1 1 . ' ""^^'^ ^^'^ ''='"^'" them ; and at last k ed by "gr^l " " «" "^ •^' ^^'f ^^^^ ^"' °^^^ who use a sharpened bone, th shouk ltd "m ""f'' '^ "'^ ^^""^^ = animal, sharpened at tl.P . . '"""'^''^'^.-^'^'^e or other large bone of the which 'the irp'e "hf «e: t'sinr'l'tL^" b'^" ^'' ''' ''^'' ^' weight of tiieir bodies tho.-.lL • , ' ^^""^^ °" '^ ^''"^ the it for use. ' ^ ''''y'"^ '""^ softeningthe skin, and fitting tionl!;::!^:^:!!::^^ °^^"^^'^° ^"^^-^^^ ^^"^ another opera. J i«t,cincr at the edges to secure the smoke within it ; 46 within this the skins to be smoked are placed, and in this condition the tent will stand a day or so, enclosing the heated smoke ; and by some cliemical process or other, which I do not understand, the skins thus acquire a quality which enables them, after being ever so many times wet, to dry soft and pliant as they were before, which secret I have never yet seen prac- ticed in my own country ; and for the lack of which, all of our dressed skins when once wet, are, I think, chiefly ruined. An Indian's dress of deer skins, which is wet a hundred times upon his back, dries soft; and his lodge also, which stands in the rains, and even through the severity of winter, is taken down as soft and as clean as when it was first put up. A Crow is known wherever he is met by his beautiful white dress, and his tall and elegant figure ; the greater part of the men being six feet high. The Blackfeet on the other hand, are more of the Herculean make— about middling stature, with broad shoulders, and great expansion of chest ; and the skins of which their dresses are made, are chiefly dressed black, or of a dark brown colour; from which circumstance, in all probability, they having black leggings or moccasins, have got the name of Blackfeet. The Crows are very handsome and gentlemanly Indians in their personal appearance: and have been always reputed, since the first acquaintance made with tbeiti, "i;>y civil and friendly. These people to be sure, have in some instances plundered and robbed trappers and Tro«;Ilers in their country ; and for that I have sometimes heard them calked vascals and thieves, and rogues of the first order, &c.; yettliey do not consider themselves such ; for thieving in their estimation is a high crime, avi con»lde:ed the most disgraceful act that a man can possibly do They call this capturing, where they sometimes run ofl" a Trader's horses, and make their boast of it; considering it a kind of retaliation or summary justice, which they think it right and honourable that they should administer. And why not ? for the unlicensed trespass committed through their country from one end to the other, by mercenary white men, who are destroying the game, and catching all the beaver and other rich and valuable furs out of their country, without paying them an equivalent, or, in fact, anything at all, for it ; and this too, when they have been warned time and again of the danger they would be in, if they longer persisted in the practice. Reader, 1 look upon the Indian as the most honest and honourable race of people that I ever lived amongst in mv life ; and in their native state, I pledge you my honour they are the last of all the human family to pilfer or to steal, if you trust to their honour; and for this never-ending and boundless system of theft and plunder, and debauchery, that is practiced off" upon these right- ful owners o*' the soil, by acquisitive wLlte men, I consider the infliction, or retuliation, by driving oft' and appropriating a few horses, but a lenient punishment, which those persons at least should expect ; and which, in fact, none but a very honourable and high-nii'iJed people coult inflict, instead 47 conversation relative to the CrZ. Z\ T ^"'" '^'^ ''^^''^' ^'^''e '« in their dealing with he whks and th^!: ""'' '"^""^ ^"^ ''^^-able Indian, of hi, acquaintance '' '^^ '^""^"^"^^ ^^^^ ^^e finest highway robbers Ic &c Jd I h^ b ' ^f .^''-'^g -^ ^f vagabonds, tion has become current in thp n . 'f"^ """"' '^^' '^''' '"^^""^ depredations upon th cLo of M ' r"". ''" '^^^ ^'^^^ '^'^ ^^^^ -"- pany: and drove off a Zmh ^T"' .^T'^^ ^"^ Hunt of the Fur Corn- through the Crow countrvT . "" ^"''''' "''^" ^'^^^ ^^^« P'^-ing they had . gLa Ld":;^ t:::^: ^:'"^"^ ^^" "^' '-- ^'^ ^-' ^- heads, &c . and s/o^n./ f ' ""?"'""'t'°n. ^^ knives, and spears, arrow- Crow wintry IndTi^ '"T Tl '"s' ^"^^"P^'^ '" ^'^^ ™ids; of the &c. (according to these in ll! "' ^™' ^"'^ ammunition, wan!, and forlhich herbr " t a ^ "r"""''^f "''^' ^''^^ "^^^ '" ^^^^ repeatedlv in trade which h/ r T ""'"^ ''°"''' ""^^ ^'^^^^'^ them nation of^arry „g the." o ods o tf "". '" '"^'' ^'"'^'"^ '" ^'^'^ ^«^-'»'- tl'ereby disappSn^hes I„H [ f "'•'' ^'^''' ^"°^^ *'^^ ">°"'^t-i««: hausting tl g m and fZ of Tl ■'' '''' ""^ '""^ "P°" ^''^-' -d-" told the Crows ^hat the el '°""''"^- ""' ^'^"''*' ^'^^^^ g-"^'^'"^" knew nothing nn,. I ^ ""'^ ^°'"^ '" ^'t°"^' «*' ^hich place thev Blackfeet, their princioa tl ' K ^ "^7 '^ '' °"" *"PP"^^ ^^« '« the Crows; where thrsTpi Tth T' "' '' " T" "'"'°^^ ^° °"^ "^ ^he theirweapons and amT? " ' '""! '^"''^ ^'' ^ ^^^^'^^ P""^^ ^r to turn u'pon the Crow ;7;rrr "'' •' "^'^ '' "°"'^ ^^''^ ^hem these circ'umstancetthe' C ow o e" r!! ^^^'^^^^^^y- Under drove off some of the Compan's horse!' fbr w l-h ^ T '""»""'^'°"' been denominated a ba.d of'thieves dhig wl^ obber7 T "" T"" and a part of the svstnm «f ; • j "'i,"way roDbers,. It is a custom, ;po« .£ PC Jt";r„;i xroZonnk!'' «""-.•»-».« let that punishment fall nnn„ »k1 7 -f Tu ' ^ '^^^ = '^"^ '^ "^t, to surprised, therefore ^^ r cr«t r^uu i / , ^"" ^ ^ouid not be II.' i m 48 I have conversed often and much with Messrs. Sublette and Campbell, two gentlemen of the highest respectability, who have traded with the Crows for several years, and they tell me they are one of the most honourable, honest, and high-minded races of people on earth ; and with Mr. TuUock, also, a man of the strictest veracity, who is now here with a party of them ; and, he says, they never steal, — have a high sense of honour, — and being fearless and proud, are quick to punish or retaliate. So much for the character of the Crows for the present, a subject which I shall assuredly take up again, when I shall have seen more of them mynelf. 49 letter-No. s. MOUTH OF VELLOW STONE. UPPER MISSOURI. making notes on the character ndcusTo'^^'^l m" ^''T^ ""^ P°^'^^''« «"d - I have just been pal^Iin'a n I^oV^^^^^^^ noble gentlemen. They are reallv i ZT . ""'' ^''^ '°°'''"fr ^ncl as can be seen in any part of he Ini tP' '"' "'"■'''™*^'' ''' ^^ "-> added to their dignit^of mann ^r^ eh g^ eTtC 7 "' T" ^"' ^^^'^^ cnce. I observed the other day ha mos nf , " """ °^ S«"t>««"en at and very many of these have cuUi d Tor L^^"". T" ""'"'^ ''^^^ '''^''' "'credible length, that itsweeos tZll 7 f ^^' ^""' ''^ ^'"^'^ ^" ^'-^ost ■•nstances ofthis'kind ongs^^ t e^^^^^^^^^^^^ ''^^ - f-quen. it will drag on the grass as thev wlT' '"'"" ""'''' " '""^^ «■• ^^re of their movements. 'They „ ,11 v^ 5"'"l ""'"'"^ ^"^'^ ^"^ ''-"'y ^o grease every morning, whiel l Ifo d U T " "''. ' P"'"^'«" ^- ^e-'s -hich their hair extends ; to ^ ' etnoTl'r . ''' """"^' '^""^^^ '^ other tribes throughout this eouU ueTe bear' ^^-<^ ^^ i^, for the without producing the sameresul Thl M T ^T" '" ''I""' P''^''^^'^" of whom I shall speak in future elisH. f \ ' '''^''"■' ^"'^ ^'^-^ ^ioux. the hair, as many'of th m e seeT^Lr' '"f ' ' ^"^ ^'''' ^'•-^'' "^ This extraordinary length olnir '?''''' "'''" *° ^''^ S™""^. -en alone ; for the 'women llTT^ '" ""'^ '' ^^"«"^'^ *« ^"^^ hair, and a gre^t profusL; of f ' uf"" ^"^' ^'"^^^ '^''^l beautiful length; or elfe they a e o al loL ^ "" '' *^?'^'-t-' to so great a «o ornamental (and'on wllh , eTnln .^ "'? ''"'^ '°^'^ '" ^ ^^•^•^'«" obliged in many cases to cut itl:; off'^ '' ''"' ''^'"^^'^^^^' ^"'^ -« wJsl'trNol'7esLt:Zn "^"' ^r"^ ^^--^-^ ^" ^he t'.e Pawnees of the Pltr^o wi '?""'"\^''' ^"^^ ""^^--^ -d in the habit of shaving nea^te'wTolerad" ^'^" "'^^^ '"'^ °"'y' - -i:jr:i:j:: ::,;': s:-:r-"''^^ '•^-n.-'^air,- and,.. longest hair of any n. „,'.*; 'JT "^^ --"^stance of having the -y. ere I leave'this pan of h: Unt' " "^^^ Known to several gentlemen with wJ,n^ r '" extraordmary man is to Messrs. Sublette and f ' M ^ .'"" acquainted, and paraoularly and Can,pbell. of whom I have before spoken, who I' t fiO told me they had lived in his hospitable lodge for months together; and assured me that they had measured his hair by a correct means, and found it to be ten fe>^t and seven inches in length ; closely inspecting every part of it at the same time, and satisfying themselves that it was the natural growth. On ordinary occnsrons n rs wound with a broad leather strap, from his head to its extreme end, and then folded up into a budget or block, of some ten or twelve inches in length, and of some pounds weight ; which when he walks is carried under his arm, or placed in his bosom, within the folds of his robe ; but on any greiit parade or similar occasion, his pride is to unfold It, oil it with bear's grease and let it drag behind him, some three or four feet of it spread out upon the grass, and black and shining like a raven's wing. It is a common custom amongst most of these upper tribes, to splice or add on several lengths of hair, by fastening them with glue ; probably for the purpose of imitating the Crows, upon whom alone Nature has bestowed this conspicuous and signal ornament. Amongst the Crows of distinction now at this place, I have painted the portraits of several, who cxhil)it some striking peculiarities. Amongst whom is Chah-ee-chopes, the four wolves (plate 24) ; a fine lookmg fellow, six feet in stature, and whose natural hair sweeps the grass as he walks ; he is beautifully clad, and carries liimself with the most graceful and manly mien — he is in mourning for a brother; and according to their custom, has cut off a number of locks of his long hair, which is as mucli as a man can well spare of so valued an ornament, which he has been for the greater part of his life cultivating ; whilst a woman who mourns for a husband or child, is obliged to crop her hair short to her head, and so remain till it grows out again ; ceasing gradually to mourn as her hair approaches to itt former length. Duhk-pits-a-ho-shee, the red bear (plate 26), a distinguished warrior ^ and Oo-je-en-a-he-ha, the woman who lives in the bear's den (plate 25). I have also painted Pa-riska-roo-pa (two crows) the younger (plate 27), one of the most extraordinary men in the Crow nation ; not only for his looks, from the form of his head, which seems to be distortion itself— and curtailed of all its fair proportions ; but from his extraordinary sagacity as a counsellor and orator, even at an early stage of his life. There is something very uncommon in this outline, and sets forth the striking peculiarity of the Crow tribe, though rather in an exaggerated form, liie semi-lunar outline of the Crow head, with an exceedingly low and retreating forehead, .is ccrtiiinly a very peculiar and striking charac- teristic; and though not so strongly marked in most of the tribe as in the present instance, is sufficient for their detection whenever they are met; and will be subject for further comment in another place. The Crow women (and Blackfeet also) are not handsome, and I shall ac gi' Pi 51 present say but little of them. Thev sue iiko ..II «.i , .- slaves of their husbands: bein, obi' J;o periL ,7 h" f" "'""'"' "'^ and drudgeries of the tribe and nn , '" ''"^ ''oniestic duties or ,«. ii„,, exZ L/Xl 2 "',"' '"'° ^ ";™ "'-- "" «" of, lee; » observed, , neve.t'je .1 tl .^C ""» ''"''' ""' "»"=-'. ™-» pi^r r,;r™:l':ts:t' "t -, '"'"°" -"-"^ --''- »" n..n in the tribe ; tl, , ,ta, , ! T" "' '° '" '""'"'"' '» I-' ""'J and entird^diZii:^'!.™ ''"T ^^ r""^^''^"^' ^^^^"^ ^^ ^-^'"^^ and radical^ I^^Ztra";^^^^^^^^^ '^"^""^'^ ''^ ''''' '^ ^^i^-^'t. are always at wa 1 1 "''''' ^^""' '''^"'- ^« these people in thee triDrd 1,1 . ^"^^^^''^'T of their words and sentences ^r f,. I T^i • ^ '^*^^'*"''^'' '^ pel niaiient and profitable svstPm -„. .p ...eir ^.^>sz! -1:":^:^^.^:::^^— .1 l' i; I! I '«1 A3 dwell' in them. The Blackfeet have repeatedly informed the Traders of the Company, that if their men persiated in trapping beavers m their country, they should kill them whenever they met them. They have executed theif threats in many instances, and the Company lose some fifteen or twenty men annually, who fall by the hands of these people, in defence of what they deem their property and their rights. Trinkets and whiskey, however, will soon spread their charms amongst these, as they have amongst other tribes; nnd white man's voracity will sweep the prairies and the streams of their wealth, to the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean ; leaving the Indians to inhabit, and at last to starve upon, a dreary and solitary waste. The Blackfeet, therefore, having been less traded with, and less seen by white people than most of the other tribes, are more imperfectly understood; and it yet remains a question to be solved— whether there are twenty, or forty or fifty thousand of them ? for no one, as yet, can correctly estimate their real strtyigth. From all I can learn, however, which is the best in- formation that can be got from the Traders, there are not far from 40,000 Ihdians (altogether), who range under the general denomination of Blackfeet. From our slight and imperfect knowledge of them, and other tribes occupying the country about the sources of the Missouri, there is no doubt m my mind, that we are in the habit of bringing more Iidiaxis into the computation. Uian are entitled justly to the appellation of " Blackfeet." Such, for instance, are the " Grosvenfres de Prairie" and Cotonnes, neither of which speak the Blackfeet language ; but hunt, and eat, and fight, and intermarry with the Blackfeet ; living therefore in a state of confederacy and friendship with them, but speaking tlieir own language, and practicing their own customs. The Blackfeet proper are divided into four bands or families, as follow:— the " Pe-a-gans," of 500 lodges; the " Blackfoot" band, of 450 Sdges ; the " Blood" band, of 450 lodges ; and the '< Small Robes," of 250 iodges. These four bands constituting about 1650 lodges, averaging ten to the lodge, amount to about 16,500 souls. There are then of the other tribes above-mentioned (and whom we, per- haps, incorrectly denominate Blackfeet), Grosventres des Prairies, 430 iodges, with language entirely distinct ; Circees. of 220 lodges, and Cotonnes. ot 250 lodges, with language also distinct from either.* There is in this region a rich and interesting field for the linguist or the antiquarian ; and stubborn facts, I think, if they could be well procured, that would do away the idea which many learned gentlemen entertain, that the • Sever«l jeara since wriUng the above. I held a conversation with Major Pilcher Ca •tricUy correct and honourable man. who was then the agent for these people, who has uvea amongst them, and is at this time superintendent of Indian affairs at St. Louis), who iniomed me. much to my surprise, that the Blackfeet were not far from 60.000 in numbers, including all the confederacy of which I have just spoken. 63 Indian liinjruages of North America can all h„ ♦,, i . Tl.e language of the DohcCan is ntirelv IdZu , '""' "' ''"^*" ''^'' tl.e Mandans, and theirs equally srfo.ul" HI n^'^^ 'TT ^'''"' '''"' *' from the lips of Mr. Bra/eau l Tellll ff '"'^ "" ^™^«- ^nd tion. who lias lived sev 'a s w t the Btlf"?'"". ""' ^'™' °"«"- .peaks the language of tril ' ". lij^:,'*^^^ ''"' ^»^'-'- ^ -d wh. J-guage, are radically distinct „d d s Ir /'TT' ""':" """ *'^^ ''"" also, that I hourl. he h»« hnnn «'«8'n"lar, as I have above stat. ; and been able • , trac t e lid to "'''J"" T''^'' '^''' ^^'^-' »- »'- - ■ and Bla..foot, a^n^d' S^i^^ a ""^^ ManTn" tt "'^^^"' ?r""^' great deal of corrobontin.r inf., . ^na iviandan tongues ; and from a acquainted wi h it J ^^ "'"'' ' ^^ ^°^ ^-"' «'»- P--ns statements. ' ""^ '""^ '°"^'"^^*^ ^^ ^^^^ correctness of his Place"'at ll 7:k''\ "'" '^^°"^' ^'^'''" ^ '"'^ y- -- assembled at this V r^rettv L 1 ^"■''•^"^,^"^ (°'- Crees. as they are commonly called a ■ins- exlcnJirlT " ""'"f '""""y. ■» a north-easton direction from wLepcl Z ,7- ' ° ' ""'"'' P°"'^"""» " '"eh .10-11. a, lake friends ;„,h"::A X?' Tl-'f r "tT"'":"' '"" "'" °"° "" '"""''f ^loTST f«'»'''»5 -4uain.cd, and who inhabit thTs" u'h.r , whenlt K ' ' '["'•"""' '^'^ '•^^ -"^""^^ in «hich, or of the time wlien, they became severed from each other thel personal ttr '" ' ^"'' "u '^' '''^'''''' «^ ^'°-' ""doubtedly; for peisonal appearance as well as their language is very similar. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) A 1.0 !f:i- ni^ II i -^ IJjg 1.25 1.4 II— .4 6" — ► V] <^ /i 7 >:5 ^'^^ Photogr^hic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 873-4503 4^ V.A h' »M 64 At what time, or in what manner, these two parts of a nation got strayed away from each other is a mystery ; yet such cases have often occurred, of which I shall say more in future. Large parties who are, straying off in pursuit of game, or in the occupation of war, are oftentimes intercepted by their enemy ; and being prevented from returning, are run off to a distant region, where they take up their residence and establish themselves as a nation. There is a very curious custom amongst the Assinneboins, from which they have taken their name ; a name given them by their neighbours, from a singular mode they have of boiling their meat, which is done in the fol- lowing manner : — when they kill meat, a hole is dug in the ground about the size of a common pot, and a piece of the raw hide of the animal, as taken from the back, is put over the hole, and then pressed down with tlie hands close around the sides, and filled with water. The meat to be boiled is then put in this hole or pot of water ; and in a fire, which is built near by, several large stones are heated to a red heat, which are successively dipped and held in the water until the meat is boiled ; from which singular and peculiar custom, the Ojibbeways have given them the appellation of Assinneboins or stone boilers. This custom is a very awkward and tedious one, and used only as an ingenious means of boiling their meat, by a tribe who was too rude and ignorant to construct a kettle or pot. The Traders have recently supplied these people with pots ; and even long before that, the Mandans had instructed them iu the secret of manu- facturing very good and serviceable earthen pots ; which together have entirely done away the custom, excepting at public festivals ; where they seem, like all others of the human family, to take pleasure in cherishing and perpetuating their ancient customs. Of these three tribes, I have also lired my painting-room with a number of very interesting portraits of the distinguished and brave men ; and also representations of their games and ceremonies, which will be found in my Indian Galleiiy, if I live, and they can be preserved until I get home. The Assinneboins, or stone boilers, are a fine and noble looking race of Indians ; bearing, both in their looks and customs, a striking resemblance to the Dohcotas or Sioux, from whom they have undoubtedly sprung. The men are tall, and graceful in their movements; and wear their pictured robes of the buffalo hide with great skill and pleasing effect. They are good hunters, and tolerably supplied with horses ; and living in a country abounding with buffaloes, are well supplied with the necessaries of Indian life, and may be said to live well. Their games and amusements are many, of which the most valued one is the ball-play ; and in addition to which, they have the game of the moccasin, horse-racing, and dancing; some one of which, they seem to be almost continually practicing, and of all of which 1 shall hereafter give the reader (as well as of many others of their amuse- ments) a minute account. 65 Their dances, which were freanont <.n.i • i same as those of the Sioux oTS H '"■' ' ""'' ^^""^"y ^''^^•y the Notes on the Sioux, and'wch ^ead !""'"" ' '""''"' ^^-"»' '" '"Y one 0/ these scenes/howeve tha I w tnt ,' V°°". '"^^' "'^h. The.e was to me to be peculiar to tSr b ' nd ex !!h^ ^^ ''^' "'"^ '^^'^^^^ which was described to me a the 1^ ^"^ ^P"'"''^^^"^ '" '*« ^ffe^t ; hard-trodden pavement TnhLlnf7 Z"' '"^ ^^^ «« *°"°^« :-0n a their public meeti:;!: Z' If "^^ ^"'^»^' ^''^^' P'- '« "-d for aS were to compose the dance" had 1 tel T''"?''' '''' ^"""^ '"^"' ^^''» (PtATE 32), and each one sited on Ir^ ^'T^'^' «^0"nd a small fire In the centre and by the fi wl " , , "'.'"^'^ '^''^'^ "P°" ^"'^ ^^0""^. chief (perhaps a doctor or medL t '^'^T'^' ^'^° ^^^'"^'i to be a which he lighted at h fire and 'TT^ "'"' ' '°"^^ P'P^ '" ^'^ '^-d, Bame time, in half-stranlj Tttn '"^^^^/ntly, grunting forth at the translated to my saSctt^rlcV^;' IT'' ^''^^ ' ''' ^ ^- none. While this was eoinj on „!„ f • ^ ^''° susceptible of part of the group, commenced IT ^'T'"'^'^ *'^"°^ *" another panied by his'voic Thro„e of th"' °" ' '"" °^ *^™^-"-' — ' on his feet, and commenced ,^n •^''""^ ""'" ''^'"^' «P'^"& 'nstantlv leaping ab;ut on "rfol J^th" ""'::'' ''^ ^^^^^ «*' ^^^ '^'™' -^ able. In this way he we t s vera t '" "°f ""''"* "^^""^^ '■"^g''"" brandishing his fists in thTf T ,™'' """"""^ ''^^ circle, bosvingLd he graspedVn of th m bvteTa r T-'^r ^^" ^^^^'^'*' ""'" ^* '-^^ feet; who joined in the dan e for ^ ' 'T'"' "" ''""^'^ "P "P^ 1^- him up. to continue Ws st p and his r"' 'r""' '" °"^ "^° '^^'^ P""^^ he danced around in a sir^.^ "1 "V" ''' ''''''' '^ '^' ""?= whilst his companion in he 0^ ^^ ^'' - "'^ '"'"'"■' '""^ ^^'^^ J°"""^^ to drag into the ring each on'. ' ''^'^ '"'' ''^ '""^^''^ ^""^ «» «» at las^ joined in tt l^ f^^^^^ and almost to make the eartrau/j S^^^'^"'^t'°"« and yells that seemed which I did but parti W understrn: °", ^'^ ^'"^ ^^^'^"^^ '"^"'™. hour; to the great am ierenoth " '"" *'^^-'l"-'-« «f an around, and bfoke ITZhit . ^'^'"^ '""'"'"'*^ "'^^ ^^^« '^^^^mbled so many affrighted dTgl P'"""= ^'"^ ^"'^ ^'^'''^ ^'^^^ ^hose of Jf lelSrint'' ""r'^^ ''^^ ^'^^ ^--' -Itivate their hair to a very .^n,ostinl;ror7hi"STfi:Tt^ "^^^'y^« ^'^^ ^-•'■"'^ •'"' or adding on several legtf'Jhlh a- S^ Y'' ''■ P"'""' '' ^P^'^""^ of glue, and the joints ohilT . "^ ^"y '"g^"i°»«'y by means with which the haH at „rr 1 orev": f '"^°' ''' ^^^^" ^"'^ ^'"^' divided into locks and .JT? \_'^'^ ^''^ ""' ^hree inches filled, and down over the back t' tte beds" '"'' " " '" '"^'^'^' ^"^ ^^"'"^ ^'^'^''^ trL.TE28), h.sdress,sa very handsome one. and .n every ! ji I I? -^ M 56 respect answers well to tiie descriptions I have given above. The name of this man is Wi-jun-jon (the pigeon's egg head), and by the side of him (plate 29) will be seen the portrait of his wife, Chin-cha-pee (the fire bug that creeps), a fine looking squaw, in a handsome dress of the mountain- sheep skin, holding in her hand a stick curiously carved, with which every woman in this country is supplied ; for the purpose of digging up the «* Pomme Blanche," or prairie turnip, which is found in great quantities in these northern prairies, and furnishes the Indians with an abundant and nourishing food. The women collect these turnips by striking the end of the stick into the ground, and prying tliem out ; after which they are dried and preserved in their wigwams for use during the season. I have just had the satisfaction of seeing this travelled-gentleman (Wi- jun-jon) meet his tribe, his wife and his little children ; after an absence of a year or more, on his journey of 6000 miles to Washington City, and back again (in company with Major Sanford, the Indian agent) ; where he has been spending the winter amongst the fashionables in the polished circles of civilized society. And I can assure you, readers, that his entree amongst his own people, in the dress and with the airs of a civilized beau, was one of no ordinary occurrence ; and produced no common sensation amongst the red-visaged Assinneboins, or in the minds of those who were travellers, and but spectators to the scene. On liis way home from St. Louis to this place, a distance of 2000 miles, I travelled with this gentleman, on the steamer Yellow-Stone; and saw him step ashore (on a beautiful prairie, where several thousands of his people were encamped), witli a complete suit en milituire, a colonel's uni- form of blue, presented to him by the President of the United States, with a beaver hat and feather, with epaulettes of gold — with sash and belt, and broad sword ; with high-heeled boots — with a keg of whiskey under his arm, and a blue umbrella in his hand. In this plight and metamorphose, he took his position on the bank, amongst his friends — his wife and other relations; not one of whom exiiibited, for an half-hour or more, the least symptoms of recognition, although they knew well who was before them. He also gazed upon them — upon his wife and parents, and little children, who were about, as if they were foreign to him, and he had not a feeling or thought to interchange with them. Thus the mutual gazings upon and from this would-be-stranger, lasted lor full halt an hour ; when a gradual, but cold and exceedingly formal recognition began to take place, and an acquaintance ensued, which ultimately and smoothly resolved itself, without the least apparent emotion, into its former state ; and the mutual kindred intercourse seemed to flow on exactly where it had been broken off, as if it had been but for a moment, and nothing had transpired in the interim to check or change its character or expre;=si()n. Such is one of the stoic instances of a custom which belongs to all tha North American Indians, forming one of the most striking features in their ' ''n ■ i i I i i 1 '.. \ . 1 (*"'' :m Hi! , t _ fi7 kta,whi],l he',-. ,wt4 up 1 hft'TL""' "'I-,"""* «ro.,J •nd which to the,, i, u,,i„ol5ledt"rd ",;"'" '""""r"" ""'" ^ .« . «.d .he, „e .,„.d, se,U„„ hi™ d^^fs tZ. Z'l^ZT ' '" that l!! ; of hese.that tiiey were about 3000 in numbers-bv th.r trading; and who themselves, scarcely know Lylh I o hi it extent of country over wliirh tKio „„. . •'"^'""& ^t the great Their custom, m? , ? n»'»erous and scattered family range ad.e„.u,o„. «be /LLt" vTd L Je TveTth^, Z HefL""' """ «„.,.<, .hei, e„e„,y, „„„„„,. With .h, numerous trTBrackfrS:; jsr=e:Tr==^^^^^^^^^ less successful m mortal combats. ' *"^ "°* J'im(PLATE3n hi r ' ? '\'»nd'^»'"e dress; and by the side of 33?w "be seen th ZN;n.r' . '"' T'^'^ '^'^''"^ ^°'"-- ' ^» — he back, sh wig fS the^^^^ ^ ^'^"^ - vol.. ,. ^ fairly the fashion of cutting and ornamenting the dresse. I 1 i ,--* f>8 of the females in this tribe ; which, without further comment, is all I shall ■ay at this time, of the valorous tribe of Crees or Knisteneaux. The Ojibbcways I have briefly mentioned in a former place, and of tlicm should say more ; which will be done at a proper time, after I shall have Tisited other branches of this great and scattered family. The chief of that part of the Ojibbeway tribe who inhabit these northern regions (plate 35), and whose name is Sha-co-pay (the Six), is a man of huge size ; with dignity of manner, and pride and vanity, just about in proportion to his bulk. He sat for his portrait in a most beautiful dress, fringed with scalp locks in profusion ; which he had snatched, in his early life from his enemies' heads, and now wears as proud trophies and proofs of what his arm has accomplished in battles with his enemies. His shirt of buckskin is beautifully embroidered and painted in curious hieroglyphics, the history of his battles and charts of his life. This, and also each and every article of his varied dress, had been manufactured by his wives, of which he had several ; and one, though not the most agreeable (plate 36), is seen represented by his side. I have much to see of these people yet, and much consequently to write ; ■0 for the present I close my book. I [si 50 LETTER— No. 9. ^.J MOUTH OF YELLOW STONE, UPPER MISSOURI. SiHCE lh« daU. of my oti.er Letters from this place, I have been takinir •ome wild rambles about this beautiful country of green fields; jolted and tossed about, on ho^eback and on foot, where pen, ink, and paper never thought of gomg: and of course the most that I saw and have learned, and would tel to the world, is yet to be written. It is not probable, however, that I shall agam date a letter at this place, as I commence, in a few days my voyage down the river in a canoe ; but yet I may give you many a retro' •pective glance at this fuiry land and its amusements A traveller on his tour through such a country as this, has no time to write, and sca^^ely time enough to moralize. It is as nmch as he can well do to look out for Ins scap' and •• for something to eat." Impressions, how- ever, of the most v.vid kmd, are rapidly and indelibly made by the fleetin.. madents of savage l.fe ; and for the mind that can ruminate upon the« w.th pleasure, there are abundant materials clinging to it for its endless entertammentm driving the quill when he gets back. The mind susceptible of such impressions catches volumes of incidents which are easy to write- . IS but to unfold a web which the fascinations of this shorn country and its allurements have spun over the soul-it is but to paint the splendid pano- rama of a world entirely different from anythingseen or painted before ^vith Its thousands of miles, and ton. of thousands of grassy hills and dales where nought but silence reign,, and where the sotl of a contemplative mould IS seemingly lifted up to its Creator. What man in the wo^rld 1 wou d ask ever ascended to the pinnacle of one of Missouri's green-c r- p ed bluffs a thousand miles severed from his own familiar land, and giddily gazed over the interminable and boundless ocean of grass-covered In Is and valleys which lie beneath him. where the gloom of «W is com- plete-where not even the voice of the sparrow or cricket is heard-without feeling a sweet melancholy come over him. which seemed to drown his sense of everything beneath ^nd on a level with him ? It IS but to paint a vast country of green fields, where the men are all red --where meat .s the staff of life-where no laws, but those of honour, are -rr7d r T^ "' ""' ^'" P"" ^"^ "^y '' ^"^ -"—'« -<1 P-c- Where the buffaloes range, the elk, mountain-sheep, and the fleet-bounding :(' 60 •ntclopc— where the magpie and chatterinjr parroqitettes supply the place of •he ri'd-breatt and the blue-bird — where wolves are white and bears grizzly .^where pheasants are hens of the prairie, and frogs have horns ! — where the rivers are yellow, and white men are turned savages in looks. Through the whole of this strange land the dogs are all wolves — women all slaves — men all lords. The sun and rats alone (of all the list of old acquaintance), could be recognised in this country of strange metamorphose. The former shed everywhere his familiar rays ; and Monsr. Ilatapon was hailed as an old acqiiaintance, which it gave me pleasure to meet ; though he had grown a little more savaye in his look. In traversing the immense regions of the classic West, the mind of a philanthropist is filled to the brim with feelings of admiration ; but to reach this country, one is obliged to descend from the light and glow of civilized atmosphere, through the different grades of civilization, which gradually sink to the most deplorable condition along the extreme frontier ; thence through tiie most pitiable misery and wretchedness of savage degra- dation ; where the genius of natural liberty and independence have been blasted and destroyed by the contaminating vices and dissipations introduced by the immoral part of civilized society. Through this dark and sunken vale of wretchedness one hurries, as through a pestilence, until he gradually rises again into the proud and ciiivalrous pale of savage society, in its state of original nature, beyond the reach of civilized contamination ; here he finds much to fix his enthusiasm upon, and much to admire. Even here, the predominant passions of the savage breast, of ferocity and cruelty, are oflen found ; yet restrained, and frequently subdued, by the noblest traits of honour and magnanimity, — a race of men who live and enjoy life and its luxuries, and practice its virtues, very far beyond the usual estimation of the world , who are apt to judge the savage and his virtues from the poor, degraded, and humbled specimens which alone can be seen along our frontiers. From the first settlements of our Atlantic coast to the present day, the bane of this blasting frontier has regularly crowded upon them, from the northern to the southern extremities of our country ; and, like the fire in a prairie, which destroys everything where it passes, it has blasted and sunk them, and all but their names, into oblivion, wherever it has travelled. It is to this tainted class alone that the epithet of " poor, naked, and drunken savage," can be, with propriety, applied ; for all those nume- rous tribes which I have visited, and are yet uncorruptcd by the vices of civilized acquaintance, are well clad, in many instances cleanly, and in the full enjoyment of life and its luxuries. It is for the character and preservation of these noble fellows that I am an enthusiast; and it is for these uncontami- nated people that I would be willing to devote the energies of my life. It is a sad and melancholy truth to contemplate, that all the numerous tribes who inhabited our vast Atlantic States have not " fled to the West ;"— that tiiey are not to be found here— that they have been blasted by the fire which ■r:v. tg i; : "M 1 II T t 61 have be., f. . 4 1; So :r;„T.::;S r°"'''' *'• ''•' and in most respect., diMinrt and ..nlrt.T " """' "O" po»»e<«: U» Atlantic ooL. .ndl„ (^feoi! ^.T ""'°°' "''° ''"""lyi-l'abi.ed p.-. of the »o,ld); h..e7ed « the wSt '"°°'°"' "■''"'°° "' » =-"« What degree of happiness these sons of Nature mav attain tn ;„ *h intellectual p e sures I do 1 - th f ^""' *""'''' '" P^^P""'''" *« «"' n.:;: f, r/y t 'oi "i itT :i :i "■' tr^"'- ""• """ ""■ ""^ "■-" £Sitr^:s;Sd-2d^rLo£:ir . eade s freedom, w.th a soul unalloyed by mercenary lusts, too greaT^o y Id to laws or power except from God. As these .ndependent felfows a^e ictrref '" ""' t^ ^'^ ^" "^•^' ^"'^ -- «f the stee :;Tf comparative poverty can strangle their just claims to renown. Who (I would ,'-.'> I , .: m m C2 uk) can look without admiring, into a society where peace and harmony prevail — where virtue is cherished — where rights are protected, and wrong* are redressed —with no laws, but the laws of honour, which are the supreme laws of their land. Trust the boasted virtues of civilized society for awhile, with all its intellectual refinements, to such a tribunal, and then write down the degradation of the " lawless savage," and our trancendent virtues. As these people have no laws, the sovereign right of summary redress lies in the breast of the party (or friends of the party) aggrieved ; and infinitely more dreaded is the certainty of cruel revenge from the licensed hands of an offended savage, than the slow and uncertain vengeance of the law. If you think me enthusiast, be it so ; for I deny it not. It has ever been the predominant passion of my soul to seek Nature's wildest haunts, and give my hand to Nature's men. Legends of these, and visits to those, filled the earliest page of my juvenile impressions. The tablet has stood, and I am an enthusiast for God's works as He lefl them. The sad tale of my native "valley,"* has been beautifully sung; and from the flight of " Gertrude's" soul, my young imagination closely traced the savage to his deep retreats, and gazed upon him in dreadful horror, un- ^il pity pleaded, and admiration worked a charm. A journey of 4000 miles from the Atlantic shore, regularly receding from the centre of civilized society to the extreme wilderness of Nature's original work, and back again, opens a l)Ook for many an interesting tale to be sketched ; and the mind which lives, but to relish the works of Nature, reaps a reward on such a tour of a much higher order than can arise from the selfish expectations of pecuniary emolument. Notwithstanding all that has been written and said, there is scarcely any subject on which the knowing people of the East, are yet less informed and instructed than on the charac- ter and amusements of the West : by this I mean the " Far West;" — the country whose fascinations spread a charm over the mind almost dangerous to civilized pursuits. Few people even know the true definition of the term " West ;" and where is its location ?— phantom-like it flies before us as we travel, and on our way is continually gilded, before us, as we approach the setting sun. In the commencement of my Tour, several of my travelling companions from the city of New York, found themselves at a frightful distance to the West, when we arrived at Niagara Falls ; and hastened back to amuse their friends with tales and scenes of the West. At Buffalo a steam-boat was landing with 400 passengers, and twelve days out — " Where from ?" "From the West." In the rich state of Ohio, hundreds were selling their farms and going — to the West. In the beautiful city of Cincinnati, people said to me, ♦' Our town has passed the days of its most rapid growth, it is not far enough West." — In St. louis, 1400 miles west of New York, my landlady aosurMl • Wyiimiog. K l^ctnt^rmfhe^' A?esT'''* ulr^ ?T^'"' ''°' ^'^^y '"'^ «e"ly aU boats, laden with pork, ho', 11 Z'^vr''''^'''''''- come those ste'am- From the West. Whence those ponderous bars of silver «!,; i, .u They come l,om Santa F<», from .fc. Wel, «.Sr*oT "" "^•'»" " -"y '-en .if, .„ ,.^., .^ She goes to Jefferson city. Jeffereon city ?_Where is that? Far to the West. sXtl&t^rt;^^^^^^^ ^^« ^«"o.Stone. I went on the Yellow Stone-. I ' ^^'V' " '"" ^^^^^^^ West." the mouth of* Yellow Stone rivel^at^he We'st"" wT ^- *"' "^ "^^^^^^ ladmg. &c., a wholesale establishml L / . T*"^* ' '"'°''=^«' ^iU^ of -.of which a,rLX'hl;:i"*'';r."'"'"°^ "•' f-™'-* ca,„a„, Sr;f.j%?rhar"it^*'':a.^r-..,.,, . •»" "'"7 " «S«in. I .ill .,, Cotl^a'^' "^ ^" "^^^ °^ ^«"- «'- »>-, my good fellow ? What distance ?-(stop)-quel distance ? Pard6n Monsieur, je ne sais pas. Monsieur. Neparlezvousl'Anglais? ^Noj. Mo„„. , .peak. ^ p„„,^ .^ ^ ^^^.^^_^ ^ ^ __^ ^^ aIII*™' "' ^ ""°"' ' ""' 'f-^ E-SU*. «nd yoo may „eal, Pardon, pard6n, Monsieur. }^ .ill. then we will both speak Americaine. Ame;cat:: '' "'" ''" ""^"*' P°" ^^ ' - ^at you speaks p„«y eoot What may I call your name? i':- I ■ . (^K..'*' I'i. l!',^;' i m 11 !' i 64 BaUiste, Monsieur What Indians are those so splendidly dressed, and with such fine horses, encamped on the plain yonder ? lis sont Corbeaux. Crows, ha ? Yes, sare. Monsieur. We are then in the Crow country ? Non, Monsieur, not putty 6xact ; we are in de coontrae of de dam Pieda noirs. Blackfeet, ha ? Oui. What blue mountain is that which we see in the distance yonder ? Ha, quel Montaigne ? cela est la Montaigne du (pard6n). Du Rochers, I suppose ? Oui, Monsieur, de Rock Montaigne. You live here, I suppose ? Non, Monsieur, I comes fair from de West. What, from the West ! Where under the heavens is that ? Wat, diable ! de West ? well you shall see, Monsieur, he is putty fair off, «{ippose. Monsieur Pierre Chouteau can give you de histoire de ma vie — il bien sait que je prends les castors, very fair in de West. You carry goods, I suppose, to trade with the Snake Indians beyond the mountains, and trap beaver also ? Oui, Monsieur. Do you see anything of the " Flat-heads" in your country ? Non, Monsieur, ils demeurent very, very fair to de West. Well, Ba'tiste, I'll lay my course back again for the present, and at some future period, endeavour to go to the " West." But you say you trade with the Indians and trap beavers ; you are in the employment of the Ame- rican Fur Company, I suppose ? Non, Monsieur, not quite exact ; mais, suppose, I am "free trappare," free, Monsr. free Free trapper, what's that ? I don't understand you, Ba'tiste. Well, Monsr. s6ppose he is easy pour understand — you shall know all. In de first place, I am enlist for tree year in de Fur Comp in St. Louis — for bount4 — pour bounte, eighty doUare (understand, ha?) den I am go for wages, et I ave come de Missouri up, et I am trap castors putty much for six years, you see, until I am learn very much ; and den you see, Monsr. M'Kenzie is give me tree horse — one pour ride, et two pour pack (mais he is not buy, him not give, he is lend), and he is lend twelve trap ; and I ave make start into de Rocky Montaigne, et I am live all alone on de leet rivaies pour prendre les castors. Sometime six months — sometime five month, and I come back to Yel Stone, et Monsr. M'Kenzie is give me coot price »ur all. 65 So Mr. M h'>' I CiG LETTER— No. 10. i!'.. 1 i -i MANDAN VILLAGE, UPPER MISSOURI. Soon after the writing of my last Letter, which was dated at tht Month or Yellow Stone, I embarked on the river for this place, where I landed safely ; and have resided for a couple of weeks, a guest in this almost sub- terraneous city — the strangest place in the world ; where one sees in the most rapid succession, scenes which force him to mirth — to pity and com- passion to admiration— disgust ; to fear and astonishment. But before I proceed to reveal them, I must give you a brief sketch of my voyage down the river from the Mouth of the Yellow Stone river to this place, a distance of 200 miles ; and which my little note-book says, was performed somewhat in the following manner : When I had completed my rambles and my sketches in those regions, and Ba'tiste and Bogard had taken their last spree, and fought their last battles, and forgotten them in thi- final and affectionate embrace and farewell (all of which are habitual with these game-fellows, when settling up their long-standing accounts with their fellow-trappers of the mountain streams) ; and after Mr. M'Kenzie had procured for me a snug little craft, that was to waft us down the mighty torrent ; we launched off one fine morning, taking owr leave of the Fort, and the friends within it ; and also, for ever, of the beautiful green fields, and hills, and dales, and prairie bluffs, that encompass tJie enchanting shores of the Yellow Stone. Our canoe, which was made of green timber, was heavy and awkward ; but our course being with the current, promised us a fair and successful voyage. Ammunition was laid in in abundance — a good stock of dried buffalo tongues — a dozen or two of beavers' tails — and a good supply of pemican. Bogard and Ba'tiste occupied the middle and bow, witii their paddles in their hands ; and I took my seat in the stern of the boat, at the steering oar. Our larder was as I have said ; and added to that, some few pounds of fresh buffalo meat. Besides which, and ourselves, our little craft carried several packs of Indian dresses and other articles, which I had purchased of the Indians ; and also my canvass and easel, and our culinary articles, which were few and simple ; •' V «7 .hid. wa, MOO mil below"' "1 „T,h,°"/'"'"""'' ^'- '•""'■• •p^ad a„u wi,a „,i™„ i„,,ab;:,^;ic"z ;rr;'"^' ■"- "■- "•"■ ".» bant of .ho * r:„d "r,::^':; * "-■' p'«"=i "•«!' ;»"» ..po'l fmiicl.liip. ™ "' "'"■ ""'3 "la'l' of eMeem and Wa.W„g,rcieV '""°"'" ""'"'= P«°Ple. 0" !.» tour e„ fro" -^o^t! :l:h t^^^^^ his friends all its char.s-his waist, had been ct off at that n?"' "T f "" '''''''' "^^ ''^'•- '^e her with a beautiful oair of I ^ ' '""^ '''" ''''^'' '^'^'^ «»' '^ «"PPlied been converted if:a'pe„dii'n!;;'V ''"' '"': ^"^"-'^"'^ hat-band'had the poor fellow lrattlr;ei;lT::tt°,T' """"^'^^"^ times. As I before said hi, th.l , ' ^"'^ ''^P^ 'P'^«^ ^t all in the estimation of hi tribe to T ''"'"'' '" ""' exhaustless, and he. nf *k 11 '°^' to be an unexamoled liar a» old and highwlli;:!'!' 7 ,t7^"''"' '^^ "" »PPea™nco of There i> much of T, '' ""* '">"»'" »"d fences removed. p^eipico^fZt:? „:rLTf*:e!'"%°'''"'' "" """ ^"-^ d^overed in gl, „„„lt'' * " ,' """"'"'"-''"P ''well, and arc often »nd in em, retoec, U,.?» ?'",'"""" "="""* '""^ 'l""" "f Ae goat ; 'e.en,ble tli„.eT.he ram " '"'""'• "«P' '» "" ''<"»». which 01 the ram; sometime, making ,„„ entire circle, in their i |< I 68 Sell^' ''' '"^' '''' '^'" "' "•" -- "»»-e, irom five to six .„ch. in the most extraordinary mannl f ^''^^' '"'"P'"? and vaulting actually, to the sides ofLTj^^^^^^^ Sel^ '°'"*' "k' "^'"'"^ ^° «""^ follow them. ' *""•" """" "0' ^east could possibly anill:.!rfndXrh:d"'eru7aT'"';r °"^ °^^^- -^--» cliffs, we thought we had fair iv enL 7. ^"^^^"itless chase, a«,ongst the to bring him, at last wltlr fhron^'' J'? '" '""'^ ^ ^"^ "^^ *° b' sure bounded' from his narl „ . , ~ "«- = ^^en he suddenly distance ofmore than a hundred f!l» .^'' *"'* ^'""bled down a clay, where I thought wemS tt^LlTV ' '"^"^"^^ "^ '^'""^ ^^ trouble; when to mv rr^r "'"'"'y «"^ ^is carcass without further almost inlnt"; out of m^s^ht"'""' ' "" "" '°""^'"^ «'^' ^^ he was sho'uS r^Ur^nVsaid'::; %r" -^-'-^^^^^^^ these creatures, part 7t:- tramlgT tnlr '1 "^"^^' ^^ ^'"'^^ ^^^ ^'^^ ^-ter entered; and a pan of ouri.h ''^?'? '^''^'' '"*° ^^'^''^b we had war-eagle. Thl noble hirH ^^"" ""T ^"'"'^ ^P^"* '» ^he pursuit of a value s'o high?; foTttir 'ail^etr" "t" V''^ ^"''^"« '" these regions, plumes for dUating the heltdr' '. k'" """^ '' ^^ ""^^ -'"«» bird, and. the Indians tel me r. ^"^"^^^^.f ^ben" *""ors. It is a beautiful country ; from wh re cull;" ^^hTl I' °''" "'"''''' '' ^^^'^^ '" '^^ in the highest esteem die 'is V^^^^^^^ variety it belongs- but I Z ■ ^"^ ""^^le so say to what museums- nor is ft to Lf. T T""'- '* " "°* *° ^e seen in any of our base of the R^k; 1" in^s '"Trb'd ^l ^"f ^' ""^" ''"^ ^^'^ "^" ^° '"^^ eagle and war-eugleV the la^^f wH^b ^f "'^''" ''''" ^""^'^ ^^« "^'^l"™^' for; and the other 1 a arisen from V. !PP^"f °"« ^ ^ave already accounted ably ornament their a, umeTs or oil^ •^u^'"'^'^"' '^''"^^^ '--- Our davV In.-* • :"""^'^ ""^ P'pes of peace with ts quills. buffaloes; «' which g t thf 2 of us "'« H '" '''''' T'"' '' ' '^"^ «' to return to our canoe at 2^ .. ""''' °"'°^*''" ^^y' '^^^'"g "« before we reached the rive J h '.T. ' T""' '?'"'' "^ ^^^^ '"^J^' J"«t Bogard came in 2ht nH i ^^ "^^ ""''' °^ ^ "'^^' ^"^ '" ^ ^^ ™<»"ents whL add^d ouflarde? ^^^^ ^°-° fr""" bis shoulders a fine antelope; to our larder, and we were ready to proceed. We embarked i to six incTiM »er of these seping about and vaulting ling to cling >uld possibly se sagacious amongst the IS to be sure he suddenly lied down a r rocks and hout further and he was 56 creatures, ou now see it necessary d at a great the greater ich we had >ursuit of 4 Bse regions, nost valued a beautiful gles in the and hold it lay to what iny of our n^ar to the he calumet accounted ost invari- :casionally a band of leaving us ick. Just 1 moments antelope ; embarked and travelled until niglitfull, when w« »nnn,.,^ i at the base of a serie.^of grass cove^d bTuffT T.k "^"^ ""'^ P™'"" our breakfast and ato it. Ld roweTo„ unt at'et th' 7' "'""'"^ ^°°''^^' -topped at the base of some huge clav blu^ f '/""°" '' ^^'^'^ *° and romantic scenes imad.aSr L M ' 1"^°"'°'^'''° '"°''' ^"""^^ the appearance somew at o' beautifu IcT' l" "l" "'"*"'' '"'^"' '"'« and about its sand-bars, floated and .Vif^ ' ,"^'" "^^ ""'^^^ °'" '*' °"^ «» Bwans and pelicans. ^^' •'""'''■''^' ""^^ thousands of white aniSu^: x:"flXi:::::rr r;r ^i ^'t ^^' ^•-''^ various coloured bluff. J ^°.'" ""^ '"^"^ *''ere the rugged and of Naturo-^:::t«!;i:j;sr"^^' •" "" ^"^ ^"•^^^ ^^^"^'^^ -'^ -^-- intIt;e;iT!7solt'"' : """^^f ? "^^^^ ^^^" ^"^ -^^ ^'-- »? andpaifus :d\lrlinrtor^^^^^^ 'f? ^''^^° """'"^ '- -«- of a coloss I city !!!rihit; win! llT ™°'''' '"' '"'"^ ^"''"'"^ «^^"^'"'° and galleries-it ca^ ^-11,7. ''? r ";"' ''^'"P^'t^-itshuge porticos progress, he had ba o ^d i 3s"to ,f '^^V~""'/" ""^ ""'"'' "^ '"« «c i^:;2 j^^^^^^ ;;;eir vivid colours, into an unsys- tan^rttfo^tilltfr'"' ''''^''''" ^— y"»- -di- kilns ;" owing^o the r rod « ^^'^P^T'^ ^'''" *''^ "^""^ "^ " '»'« Brick- grXw:;tra:i:;:::e:ut^^^^^^^^ ^« ^-^-n conical fornio the LiXf?^ 1'"''!''^ '"°""'* °' '^'"ff' "«"'& '« a rounded at tl e top ZflloZ "I ''' '""t' '•^^'' ^^"^^^"^ P°'"'^^ "^ some of whicif 1 aTi'nra 1 1 h" ^' """ ^'7^''* '''^^^'^^^ '" ^''^' ""'"^ers ; turf. This fuc (a f 11 0? t n r"u °" I''" '°P' *"^ *=°^"^-d ^''h a gree. responding exic^ :!;: ti^ 'r: i": e^e^ ':™:';" *''?p^' '''''- distance) clearly show. tlm» h • • ^ wide-spreadmg prairies in been produced bH,; 1'::^^ '''°'r ^"' --ded forms have intervening eartl^ and left i?o"i»r"= ^''"^'^ ^^^^^ carried away the now seen. ' '^' "'"" '" ^^^ P'cturesque shapes in which they are onlhft^s'Ttt;:,!^^^^^^^^^ r '' ^^^" ^" '^""^^^^'^ °^ p'- by which it is produc d L ' ' ?' ".''"''' P-^^S^^^^ °f ^h« operation peculiar featuref £l; ^ le'ltf^^^^^^ °^ ^'^'^ P'-' ''- superstratum, forming the tnlnf , J "^ ^">owledge) occurs; that the enough to supporT anvthLTf H "'" "!'""''' ^^"'^'^ ^''^y ^^^'» ^igh pport anythmg of the or.gmal surface) is composed, for the ll ; > I' ^ Ji ' r |i w 1, I* |: i liJl W Mi -f't'i 70 depth of fifteen feet, of rod p„mice ; terminatinir nl i>. hnM. • . tl.e ruin, of an extinguished volcano. ' ' ''""^' '" "'" '"'^«' «^ As will be seen in the drawings (plate 17 « n»„, • « distant view), tl.o side, of tifes coJio„l Iduff, kT' ""'^ '■''''^''' 3«' •trata of different coloured dav,^ Z ]'!""' '^''^'^^ «^« composed of effect of the rain, .l7l;^lTof XTr" Lr:h""^ ''"^" '^ "'« ..msses of punnce an.l basalt L crun bli^ off a" f iL'T ■""'""^•'"' buses; and from thence in vast nnnn.;,: x f "' '""'"tf down to their water which are often cu t"nrthe1 1 I "" ^'''"' ''^ '^' ^^'^^^ of the river, which is clo e by „'u t ft:^!";; '"7" !'---"--' into iitfht as a cork upon its surfnr i ? "'".'""'"^'' "f miles. Honting as from this place to2 ^cean ' ^'"' '" ^"^^ '"'*' "^ •''''•t-ood and open, and its Ipeci ^ g av t' t r Z' "V""""°"- '' ' ^°'°"« be seen as they are in nature • ZIZ ^' ■ ^'"'" '^"''°'"' *^'"ff'=' '""st faithfully given', or tl tse Ur' c .^r^rrStl'^T- f " ^"'"'•" "^ variety of their vivid tints Thp »»r ^ TT ^' "''"'^'' """"^'^'^ '" the yellow-white-brow „d Lric b '^ '^^ -« ^'temating from red to fornuhe most pleasing and l;tlar:ff;ct,' " ^™'^ """"^■^'^' «» '» •ketch-book in my hand 'l vn' ?^ 'r°.' ' ""' ''''''"» "-X ^'A^ and defiles between t"e b IffJ- it "' '""'""' '''^°"^'^ '»>« -i^'ged of the pumice that had /. ir^"-". ""'' "'"''''' '''« '•"""="«« block, find the' c";.o 'source tn \ '"," ^ '^''"'"'"^"'' if possible, o sprung; but aftLr clam n'g a , trin! T ff"^'^ '''^""'"'^"^ '^"'» tunately came upon the etorn 1T -k^o? ! .'"'."' ' ' ""'"■ parently, was travellinir in .hTlr . "* ^"^'^^ ^'''''' ^'"f^'', ap- purpose) but a fl ml nrbefrme'-'a'T ^''""'f' '°'' ^ '^'^^ ^'""--^ instantly so cooled down t at I h.s X ? 7 ""'°"'' ^"'" ^"P'"""^ -«» with making my dra J"; and ^" '^''^''"'^."•y ^''^P'- »»d was satisfied n.ineralsi,.it3viclnitr "^ ^P^^^ens of the lava and other tl/^rul7w:^:"ro::::^'' ??' r' --'-P'^^--^ ^»>e beauty of pnmice-capped mL ds Zst of 'wi: ^ " n^^"" ."" '''""^^'^^ «*" ''-«« joying the pkasure of a "mount.!! ' ^'^'"^ '""' ^''''''''' '"i^ en- coffee and 'dried bul^to^; r;ra;:'urT:Lr r"'^ ^-^ and enjoyed during the night U.e luxu v ofT f u^"" "P°" ^^'^S'^'"' to the tired voyageur in these TJ 7 'P' ""' ^'°"&^ "« P^^^^Iiarly y'iteur in tht^e realms ol pure air and dead silence. » in a layer of 'diess cnnglo. Her aiiddcniy, " the midst of d PLATR 3H, compoged of down by tlie 'I'riiicuinbent own to fhoir the tjorpos of -curried irjto «, floating as f drift-wood i and when It is porous biiifl^s must colours are isists in the rom red to 'ged, as to I left my ' rifle and 'he rugged »se blocks )ossible, to mena had -, I unfor- diich, ap- y different Jriiig was * satisfied and other beauty of of these ! laid en- took our lie grass, eculiarly n 1 1 If' i ; ■ i > . ai ai ro << hi wl be Ci Ml in wit pai wh eve cer bee Ev( and che Noi curi grot at say! bear are s mon enori W one mode youn entin remo rule i I was a pail when anotli de res riviere " thes wliich 71 and trapping i„ the Ro^y' uiZ^^^'.^Z ^.^'IZ'^'fr ''' '^""^'"« robe, rubbing his eyes open and exrlin^Tn ^" ^^^ «"♦ f'""" ""der the •'.Bydarnjo'ok at old Cal? : /ou ^ '^f.^^^^'^^^f -ped for his gun. his dreams, snored awav. rauttering som thin! tha I u'"" """'' ''°"'' °' when Bogard seized him with i ^L T! ■ f ' "^""'^ "°* understand, .-. lU atl^iT i?;;tre;r:^^^^^^^^^ Caleb (as the gri^^ly bear is fami iarly ca led bv tl t " '' T' "P°" Mountains-or more often " Cale,"2 S,'j '^ TT" " "■' ^"^'y in the dignity and fury of her sex w.thinTf^ , ^^' ""^ ^'' ''"'"^ up with her two^ittle cubs' at her s de ! h was ^^ t^" T', '^'7 "T ""'' painter; but I had no time to sketch irr* -^ a ""'^ « ^^^^J^^* ^^ the which had been fastened at t e re a ~ p ^^Lm' ''" 'V'" "^^ everything had been pawed out of t and all eatahl T\ T"^ ''" u ^'' ceremony devoured. Mv motL 1 e T '' ^'^"^ ^^^" ^''^>«"t been drawn out upon^hVb n^and .r't'- '"'"^ """"'" ''' RroS that she Id\ ^" ,'?'•' ''"^^ P^"^' ^''^^ ^'^^^ ^^^ '» the ground that she had been perambulating our humble mattresses smellin^r at our toes and our noses, without choosing to molest us ; ve^-y 'nra t kf bear . though .t .s a well-known fact, that man and beast, upon theiffee are sure to be attacked when they cross the path of this gHzzly an S n nionster, wh.ch ., the terror of all this co.unry ; often Towfn'o'te enormous sot an- r : 1,1 ; 1 •ii ill 1^ '1 ■ ' Ml- 74 frequently would produce us, from oue blow, the eighth part of a bushel of this fru.t; when the boughs relieved of their burden, instantly flew up to their native position. '' ^ Of this beautiful native, which I think would form one of the loveliest ornamental shrubs for a gentleman's park or pleasure grounds, I procured a number of the roots ; but which, from the many accident, and incidents that our unlucky bark was subjected to on our rough passage, I lost them (and almost the recollection of them) as well as many other curiosities I had col- lected on our way down the river. On the morning of the next day, and not long after we had stopped and taken our breakfast, and while our canoe was swiftly gliding along under the shore of a beautiful prairie, I saw in the grass, on the bank above me, what I supposed to be the back of a fine elk, busy at hi. grazing. I let our craft float silently by for a httle distance, when I communicated the intelligence to my men, and shiy ran in, to the shore. I pricked the priming of my fire- lock, and taking a bullet or two in my mouth, stepped ashore, and trailing my rifle m my hand, went back under the bank, carefully crawling up in a httle ravine, quite sure of my game ; when, to my utter surprise and violent alarm. I found the elk to be no more nor less than an Indian pony, getting his breakfast! and a little beyond him, a number of others grazing; and nearer to me, on the left, a war-party reclining around a little fire ; and yet nearer, and withm twenty paces of tlie muzzle of my gun, the naked shoulders of a brawny Indian, who seemed busily engaged in cleaning his gun. From this critical dilemma, the reader can easily imagine that I vanished with all the suddenness and secrecy that was possible, bending my course towards my canoe. Bogard and Ba'tiste correctly construing the expression of my face and the agitation of my hurried retreat, prematurely unmoored from the shore ; and the force of (he current carrying them around a huge pile of drift wood threw me back for some distance upon my own resources ; though they finally got in, near the shore, and I into the boat, with the steering oar m my hand ; when we plied our sinews with effect and in silence, till we were wafted far from the ground which we deemed critical and dangerous to our lives; for we had been daily in dread of meeting a war-party of the revengeful Riccarees, which we had been told was on the river, in search of the Mandans 1-rom and after this exciting occurrence, the entries in my Sow - ' ""''' ""^ "'" '°^'^' **" '''' '"''°' ""^ '^' Mandans, wore as Saturday, fifth day of our voyage from the mouth of Yellow Stone, at eleven o clock.-Landed our canoe in the Grand Detour (or Big Bend) as it IS called, at the base of a stately clay mound, and ascended, all hands, to the summit level, to take a glance at the p.cturesque and magnificent wori.s of Nature that were about us. Spent the remainder of the day in painting a view of this grand scene ; for which purpose Ba'tiste and Bogard carried my easel and canvass to the top of a huge mound, where they left me at ruv 75 and abundantly added to the stock of our provisions ^ ''"'"'*'• Scarcely anything in nature can be found I -..„'=. picturesque than the view from this place exhbiLr' "°7 'r'^^''"^'^ in which the gorges of the river have c.^f ^n!. f ^ ^ wonderful manner walls of clay'on'either side of tt or ^ \rdreS tr"';'""^' ''''' the imposing features of the high tabieln s di an e I^^^^^^^^^ ^ ^"'^ petual anoma Y n the conntrv q„,i j • "','*"^^' siandmg as a per- astounding evidence of the fit rM.^''K"''"J '^' '"disputable, though a super su'rface t^ this tnt^ I ttspTndt'^^^^^ T'" r^'' tabular hills, whose surface for half at^^.!^ u ''''""" °*^ '^''^ level : being covered with ^ "re n t'f "1 T"' T '\'" ''^'' '' ^''^'''^y hundred feet elevated ahnl TV ' y'*''"' ''""'^'"'^d ^"'J fifty or two level of a'thi e on 0^^^^^^^^^ ""^ \' ^^^P^''^ *-™^^ ^''^ ~t base, without furnishing ^^^S. Tu'L^nrd", Tmi Jof " I'^'^ stui":' '^tw::: ScT iJt "r" '''-' °^ ^•^'^ ^-^ -"^^ •« ^ causesandre^ults; and held o7e'ew! """"' " "'^'^ '^^^"^'''^ in endeavouring to comprehend th. 7" 'f '* °"'' '''""^* P^'^^'y^^d from this to thf base f'^ tc V iMZt" ' "''1l ''^- ^'^^""^ '^'^""^'y' could have been swent all ^ f ' ^' '''" '' '" "''^^ directions, where its r.^^^ ::S^ZJ: Cn I^ ''' ''' '^^'^^^^ «^ '''« P'^ eigln'd:;::;^^:::: ;;i:is^^:-' -' ^^^'^^-- ^^ '^ - denominated " the Biiou Hiiu'^ K , , '^"""^ "'"'' ^"^ another seeming to corjpo'n.it"' L; sl'a^ge ^^r "an?:!"!"" ^''^ ^'^^^• down, I shall carefully exan.ine • and not f nT ,^^\''^'''^> "^ "^Y way am not mistaken in their cl ac^er) to flh ' f "■ '"''''"^"''^ (''' ' ing feature of the treolo-rv of H.f^ / n 'P^^^'^^ions on this interest- 5 c ui uie geology ot tiie great va ev of the Missniir! \v\ -i . men were yet engage.l in their sporting excu^ io ! T ft f "^ travelled to the base and summit of the e't b I I ^v ich^fo""' "' surprise, I found to be several miles from T , ' ^" "^ ^reat accomplish getting back to o .r .1 '""■' '""* ' '^^^''^ J°"^"«y to sides that tlic'y wefe ev i^^ro^, fl^lE^ ^' ^^^^'^- » ^-"d by their variety of horizontal layer fpf. r J 'P°"^'' '"'"P^^-^d "^ ^ S'^''^^ pebbi;s (many of whth fur i'h' d' i "' v ^°'°-^-°f ^--^'tic sand and indcarnelian ),ai^d ei ftlte'h^ ^'"'^'"^" "' ^^^^^' J-P- which gave as nstances .l!? '^'''' ^''^' ^'^^"^'^'^ °f P"nuce and cinders, nn.i sagacious'a:Xe!rs or vl -^^^^^^^^^^ 'T" ^^PP^^ ^'^ ^^^ ''-' '" ^'^i^ country ' andonU;- dl^tail JSSlirl"^ ^^^ ,....J I r\' 76 Tlie antelope ot this country, I belioe to be different from all other known varieties, and forms one of the most pleasing, living ornaments to this western world. They are seen in some places in great numbers sporting and playing about the hills and dales ; and often, in flocks of fifty or a hundred, will follow the boat of the descending voyageur, or the travelling caravan, for hours together; keeping off at a safe distance, on the right or left, galloping up and down the hills, snuffing their noses and stamping" their feet : as if they were endeavouring to remind the traveller of the wicked trespass he was making on their own hallowed ground. This little animal seems to be endowed, like many other gentle and sweet- breathing creatures, with an undue share of curiosity, whicli often leads them to destruction ; and the hunter who wishes to entrap them, saves him- self the trouble of travelling after them. When he has been discovered, he has only to elevate above the tops of the grass, his red or yellow handker- chief ou the end of his gun-rod (plate 40), which he sticks in the ground, and to which they are sure to advance, though with great coyness and caution ; whilst he lies close, at a little distance, with his rifle in hand ; when it is quite an easy matter to make sure of two or three at a shot, which he gets in range of his eye, to be pierced with one bullet. On Sunday, departed from our encampment in the Grand D^our; and having passed for many miles, through a series of winding and ever-varyin^ bluffs and fancied ruins, like such as have already been described, our at- tention was more than usually excited by the stupendous scene (plate 41) called by the voyageurs " the Grand Dome," which was lying in full view before us. Oui canoe was here hauled ashore, and a day whiled away again, amongst these clay built ruins. We clambered to their summits and enjoyed the distant view of the Mis- souri for many miles below, wending its way through the countless groups of clay and grass-covered hills; and we wandered back on the plains, in a toilsome and unsuccessful pursuit of a herd of buffaloes, which we discovered at some distance. Though we were disappointed in the results of the chase ; yet we were in a measure repaid in amusements, which we found in paying a visit to an extensive village of prairie dogs, and jf which I should render some account I have subjoined a sketch (plate 42) of one of these sub-terra commu- nities ; though it was taken in a former excursion, when my party was on horseback, and near the mouth of the Yellow Stone River ; yet it answers lor this place as well as any other, for their habits are one and the same wherever they are found ; their houses or burrows are all alike, and as their location IS iinifoiinly on a level and desolate prairie, without timber, there is little room for variety or dissimilarity. The prairie dog of the American Piairies is undoubtedly a variety of the munnot; and probably not .inlike those which inhabit the vast Steppes of >m all other rnaments to )er8 sporting jf fifty or a le travelling the right or imping their the wicked and sweet- often leads saves hi in- covered, he w handker- the ground, oyness and e in hand ; shot, which kour; and i^er-Tarying ed, our at- ?LAT» 41), J full view 1, amongst r the Mis- 2S9 groups lains, in a Jiscovered he chase ; in paying lid render i commu> ty was on t answers the same 1 as their •, there is ty of the teppes of 22 V K^. i3MViV» K.V- •'"1,1 ,■ . . „ I .1 .'- "M.'ll ■ 1 "'■ ',| , ■■ '!■ .11 11 ii7. .M 111'.' II ••• ,i\"^"'"Mm.(.'''''\.;m ,'■■■''*•'>',»"" ""■ -,1. CiiUif, 40 j-ff 1 ^'^ Ir. .| i ll ' y\i ! II 1 1 : 'li If "] 77 Aila. It bears no resemblance to any variety of dogs, except in the sound of .1. vo.ce, wben excited by the approach of danger, which is something like that of a very small dog. and still much more resembling the bark ine of a grey squirrel. " ' The size of these curious little animals is not far from that of a very laree rat, and they are not unlike in their appearance. As I have said, their burrows, are uniformly built in a lonely desert ; and away, both from the proxmnty of timber and water. Each individual, or each family, dig iheir hole in the prairie to the depth of eight or ten feet, throwing up the dirt from each excavation, in a little pile, in the form of a cone, which forms the only elevation for them to ascend ; where they sit, to bark and chatter when an enemy is approaching their a illage. These villages are sometimes of several miles in extent; containing (I would almost say) myriads of their excavations and little dirt hillocks, and to the ears of their visitors, the din of their barkings is too confused and too peculiar to be described. In the present instance, we made many endeavours to shoot them, but hndin- our efforts to be entirely in vain. As we were approaching them at a distance, each one seemed to be perched up, on his hind feet, on his appro- priate domicil. with a significant jerk of his tail at every bark, positively dis- puting our right of approach. I made several attempts to get near enough to '< draw a bead " upon one of them ; and just before I was ready to fire (and as if they knew the utmost limits of their safety), they sprang down into their holes, and instantly turning their bodies, shewed their ears and the ends of their noses, as they were peeping out at me ; which position they would hold, until the shortness of tlie distance subjected their scalps to danger again, from the aim of a rifle ; when they instantly disappeared from' our sight, and all was silence thereafter, about their premises, as I passed them over; until I had so far advanced by them, that their ears were again dis- covered, and at length themselves, at full length, perched on the tops of their little hillocks and threatening as before ; thus gradually sinking and rising like a wave before and behind me. The holes leading down to their burrows, are four or five inches in diameter, and run down nearly perpendicular ; where they undoubtedly communicate into something like a subterraneous city (as I have formerly learned from fruitless endeavours to dig them out), undermined and vaulted ; by which means, they can travel for a great distance under the ground, without danger from pursuit. Their food is simply the grass in the immediate vicinity of their burrows, which is cut close to the ground by their flat, shovel teeth ; and, as they sometimes live twenty miles from any water, it is to be supposed that they gel moisture enough from the dew on the grass, on which they feed chiefly at night ; or that (as is generally supposed) they sink wells from their uuder-giound habitations, by which they descend low enough to get their supply. In the winter, they are for several months invisible ; existing, un- ,^,:l ft:"T |i 78 doubtedly, In a torpid state, as they certainly lay by no food for that season— nor can they procure any. These curious little animals belong to almost every latitude in the vast plains of prairie in North America ; and their villages, which I have sometimes encountered in my travels,' have rompellcd my party to ride several miles out of our way to get by them ; for their burrows are generally within a few feet of each other, and danger- ous to the feet and the limbs of our horses. The sketch of the bluffs denominated " the Grand Dome," of which I spoke hut a few moments since, is a faithful delineation of the lines and character of that wonderful scene ; and the reader has here a just and striking illustration of the ruin-like appearances, as I have formerly described, that are so often met with on the banks of this mighty river. This is, perhaps, one of the most grand and beautiful scenes of the kind to l)e met with in this country, owing to the perfect appearance of its several huge domes, turrets, and towers, which were everywhere as precise and as perfect in their forms as they are represented in the illustration. These stupendous works are produced by the continual washing down of the sides of these clay-formed hills; and although, in many instances, their sides, by exposure, have become so hardened, that their change is very slow ; yet tliey are mostly subjected to continual phases, more or less, until ultimately their decomposition ceases, and their sides becoming seeded and covered with a green turf, which protects and holds them (and will hold them) unal- terable: with carpets of green, and enamelled with flowers, to be gazed upon with admiration, by the hardy voyageur and the tourist, for ages and centuries to come. On Monday, the seventh day from the mouth of the Yellow Stone River, we floated away from this noble scene ; looking back again and again upon It, wondering at its curious and endless changes, as the swift current of ihe river, hurried us by, and gradually out of sight of it. We took a sort of melancholy leave of it— but at every bend and turn in the stream, we were mtroduced to others— and others— and yet others, almost as strange and curious. At the base of one of these, although we had passed it, we with difficulty landed our canoe, and I ascended to its top, with some hours' lal)our ; having to cut a foot-hold in the clay with my hatchet for each Rtep, a great part of the way up its sides. So curious was this solitary bluflT, standing alone as it did, to the height of 260 feet (plate 43), with its sides washed down into hundreds of variegated forms— with large blocks of indurated clay, remaining upon pedestals and columns as it were, and with such a variety of tints ; that I looked upon it as a beautiful picture, and de- voted an hour or two with my brush, in transferring it to my canvass. In the after part of this day we passed another extraordinary scene, which is denominated " the Three Domes" (plate 44), forming an exceedingly pleasmg group, though requiring no furthci description for the reader, who 13 now sufficiently acquainted with these scenes to understand them. 2 I >0(J for that s belong to nerka ; und ravels, have t by them ; md danger- of which I 3 lines and a just and y described, of the kind f its several :ise and as )n. These >fthe sides r sides, by slow : yet ultimately ul covered bem) unal- I be gazed ■ ages and one River, igain upon rent of ihe k a sort of a, we were ;range and it, we with )me hours' i for each is solitary 5), with its blocks of , nnd with 5, and de- iss. ne, which ;ceedingly iuier, who II. 23 % % ■KV m If. s/i. ..a-' ci-)-- k t 1' ,, ' r 1 1 ■ '1 m 24 /.. 'V '-i^'>i'w^„-w.«i:v, -.. -.-. y \-\ .. -^eo-j^jt ./f /r ci.vx. iUi.CH "I ',^: Wf'lMiVir-^ i CnUui. •H 3 ^1 :il! I li j ) . /;;. '1 M Or Mane wards Amer Heki to Ill's ix^nefi and it 'f wi»w « wiwi.>i. ■' i iy w <' . ' j?j"^) i ■■ [fww t iWMWj ig wi 'P JLMw s 71) On this day, jn,t before night, we landed o,.r l,t,le boat i„ front of the Mandan v.llage; and amongst the hundreds and thousands who ZLd t wards the nver to ,neet and to greet „s, was Mr. Kipp. th agen of the Amencan F„r Con.pany, who has charge of their Establish ncnt at thi p at ,>"-. ■> «u LETTER— No. 11. il ii: 1% M MANDAN VILLAGE, UPPER MISSOURI. I SAID that I was here in the midst of a strange people, which is literally true ; and I find myself surrounded by subjects and scenes worthy the pens of Irving or Cooper — of the pencils of Raphael or Hogarth ; rich in legends and romances, which would require no aid of tlie imagination for a book or a picture. The Mandans (or See-pohs-kah-nu-mah-kah-kee, " people of the phea- sants," as they call themselves), are perhaps one of the most ancient tribes o. Indians in our country. Their origin, like that of all the other tribes is from necessity, involved in mystery and obscurity. Their traditions and peculiarities I shall casually recite in this or future epistles ; which when understood, will at once, I think, denominate them a peculiar and distinct race. They take great pride in relating their traditions, with regard to their origin ; con- tending that they were the Jirst people created on earth. Their existence in these regions has not been from a very ancient period ; and, from what I could learn of their traditions, they have, at a former period, been a very numerous and powerful nation ; but by tlie contmuai wars wnicn navo •liisted between them and their neighbours, they have been reduced to theii present numbers. This tribe is at present located on the west bank of the Missouri, about 1800 miles above St. Louis, and 200 below the Mouth of Yellow Stone river. They have two villages only, which are about two miles distant from each other ; and number in all (as near as I can learn), about 2000 souls. Their present villages are beautifully located, and judiciously also, for de- fence against the assaults of their enemies. The site of the lower (or prin- cipal) town, in particular (plate 45), is one of the most beautiful and pleasing that can be seen in the world, and even more beautiful than imagination could ever create. In the very midst of an extensive valley (embraced within a thousand graceful swells and parapets or mounds of interminable green, changing to blue, as they vanish in distance) is built the city, or principal town of the Mandans. On an extensive plain (which is covered with a green turf, as well as the hills and dales, as far as the eye can possibly range, without tree or bush to be seen) are to be slcu rising from the ground, and towards the heavens, domes — (not "of gold," but) , ^V-^,.-.c, j:2:^ "^^ ! |f I 81 of dirt— and the thousand spears (not " <,nir«<.••^ i . the se^i-subterraneous village of tl e hosp itlbl ?V'"'P.-P°'"' *^- *^-' ^^ These people formerly (and within tTe:ncUo"n ff""""'^ ''''"^^"«- men) I.ved Hfteen or twenty miles la, tl e.Ti T ""^"^ "* '^''" ''^'^^^t villages; the marks or ruin's of wh^'et? '[""''" *^" ^-^■■^'-- period, it is evident, as well from tl number om'",' '" ?' ^'"'- ^' ^^at contained, as from their traditions tlmTlt^ k"'' '"'"'' ''''" ^'"'"^«« than at the present day *''"' ""'"'^'^'•^ ^^--e much greater speak more fully on a future Ic.sionp I' ^'"^^'' °^ ^'"^'^ ^ «hall mulged,IthinktLemaybeapret;^;der;- T' "'"" ^'^^ ^^ I- occupied the lower part of the M ssoaH . i u''':^''"' ''^"* *''^y '""'•"'erly and have gradually'made their 2 up the S ''' ?"°, ^"' ^"^''<-"' There are many remains on the river below h",' "''"' '^'^ ""^^ «■•«• seen neariy as low down as St Lous) 1 " f'"' f'"'^' '" ''''' '^ ^^ construction of Mandan lodges and cL\f'"^ "'""'y *''« P^'^""'"" the above position. WhiL de^cenlinrr"' ^''^'^ ' strong proof of commence in a few weeks, in a ealeL^^^ however, which I shall I shall give it close examination! ^ ""'^J''^* °^ '"^^^^^^ • «"d The ground on which the Mandan vUU^^ • . rably selected for defence- behronVi^! '.' '* P""'''"* ''""*' ^^^ adn,i. bed of the river. The gre;tLZt of ^ "' "^''^ '''' '''''' ^''« of solid rock. The rivT udSv cJ ^ '' ""'^'^ P"?^"^'*^"''^'-' «»d protects two sides of theV , a' ^'^h,! if "b^;? '"""/^ ' "^^''^-o'^' angle; they have therefore but 01^,^0 T" '"' P^«-«ntory or done by a strong piquet and a TI ■ /'°*''*' *''"^'' '« effectually depth. The piquet is composed o timt: P ';' '' '""^ "^ ^°"^ ^^^ '' and eighteen feet high, set firmly 1 tT' ,' *°"' '' '"°^« ''" ^i^-^eter, each other to admit of gnsa'd^oThrT "' T"^"''"* '^'^^^"^^^ f'- The ditch (unlike that oT v .ed'^rdeToT f" .'« ''• '?' '^^"^^" *'-- piquet, in which their warrior creentheTr h ^''''f'^''^") '« in^-'de of the of their enemies, whilst they arrdoad . ^^ "T '"^'^" ^"'^ --'•P""-^ through the piquets. reloadmg and d.schargmg their weapons any tSt:- ::\:t!:i:^^^::; ^^^'^ ^"•^^-. ^^om the attacksof enemy on the prai, e. T." vill t has a ' r''\ "''" '^'^ "^^'^ ^^eir of a stranger; their lodg s are cSdv 1 "°''' ^PP'^'^^^^ '^ ^'^ '^ye room enough for walking and ridinLbetlfr ''"'"'i' '^^^'"^^ "^"^ J-^ to be built entirely of dl^ b t o fe ;, ! ''" '- '"" "^^''' ^™"' "'■"''"'' the neatness, comfort and sp'osH^ "''^' ^'^"^ ^^^'"' '"-« 'Iwellings. They all ha>e a c rcula for " "T'" °^ '''"^ earth-covered - diameter. Their foandatio at p e" ^clt 7 "" '" '^ '° ^^'^^^ '"'^^^ tlie ground, and forming the floor nf fu ? / ^'^^'"" ''*"^'' '"o 'eet in n.ng the floor of earth, by levelling the requisite size for h 82 I;.' If,!' Ill I 1 IHh 1 the lodge. These floors or foundations are all perfectly circular, and varying in size in proportion to the number of inmates, or of the quality or standing of the families which are to occupy them. The superstructure is then pro- duced, by arranging, inside of this circular excavation, firmly fixed in tlie ground and resting against the bank, a barrier or wall of timbers, some eight or nine inches in diameter, of equal height (about six feet) placed on end, and resting against each other, supported by a formidable embankment of earth raised against them outside ; then, resting upon the tops of these timbers or piles, are others of equal size and equal in numbers, of twenty or twenty- five feet in length, resting firmly against each other, and sending their upper or smaller ends towards the centre and top of the lodge ; rising at an angle of forty-five degrees to the apex or sky-light, which is about three or four feet in diameter, answering as a chimney and a sky-light at the same time. The roof of the lodge being thus formed, is supported by beams passing around the inner part of the lodge about the middle of these poles or timbers, and themselves upheld by four or five large posts passing down to the floor of the lodge. On the top of, and over the poles forming tlie roof, is placed a complete mat of willow-boughs, of half a foot or more in thickness, which protects the timbers from the dampness of the earth, with which the lodge is covered from bottom to top, to the depth of two or three feet; and then with a hard or tough clay, which is impervious to water, and which with long use becomes quite hard, and a lounging place for the whole family in pleasant weather — for sage— for wooing lovers — for dogs and all ; an airing place — a look-out — a place for gossip and mirth — a seat for the solitary gaze and meditations of the stern warrior, who sits and contemplates the peaceful mirth and happiness that is breathed beneath him, fruits of iiis hard-fought battles, on fields of desperate combat with bristling Red Men. The floors of these dwellings are of earth, but so hardened by use, and swept so clean, and tracked by bare and moccassined feet, that they have almost a polish, and would scarcely soil the whitest linen. In the centre, and immediately under the sky-light (plate 46) is the fire-place — a hole of four or five feet in diameter, of a circular form, sunk a foot or more below the surface, and curbed around with stone. Over the fire-place, and sus- pended from the apex of diverging props or poles, is generally seen the pot or kettle, filled with buffalo meat; and around it are the family, reclining in all the most picturesque attitudes and groups, resting on their buffalo-robes and beautiful mats of rushes. These cabins are so spacious, that they hold from twenty to forty persons — a family and all their connexions. They all sleep on bedsteads similar in form to ours, but generally not quite so high; made of round poles rudely lashed together with tl.ongs. A bufl'alo skin, fresh stripped from the animal, is stretched across the bottom poles, and about two feet from the floor; which, when it dries, becomes much con- tracted, and forms a perfect sacking-bottom. The fur side of this skin is placed uppermost, on which they lie with great comfort, with a buffalo-robe 83 folded np for a pillow, and otliers drawn over thpm ■«<.♦«.. . <• u. , Those beds, as f.r as I have seen the: (and T avT Sed alLsr^^'" lodge in the village), are uniformly screened with a co'' ri„t n K l7'^ elk skins. oftentin,es beautifully dLsed and placed over he uL "hf l" or frame, like a suit of curtains; leaving a hole in front IffioiPnr^ "^ ' for the occupant to pass in and out, ^o and fl^^mt^or h r b^^^^^^^^^^ oMhese covenugs or curtains are exceedingly beautiful, being .utastefulv thing to see these lodges tl.y feet in dianZ'^id; ( Jhi iran" ":=: roon.), w.th a row of these curtained beds extending quite around theHides bemg some ten or twelve of them, placed four or five (feet apart Indth' space between them occupied by a large post, fixed quite firm n t he grou d and 8.x or seven feet high, with large wooden pegs or bolts in it on wS are hung and grouped, with a wild and startling taste, th arms and armt^ of the respecfve proprietor ; consisting of his whitened shield, embossed an" emblazoned w.th the figure of his protecting medicine (or my tery) is bow and qu.ver h.s war-club or battle-axe. his dart or javelin-hii' obacci pouch and p,pe-h,s medicine-bag-and his eagle-ermine or ra en h S! oT:: ,:dlar::"- ^"' r ''- *? -^^'^^ p«^^ ^^^ -^p'-^ ^y -" - '. .e.Cin Z r^"'^"'/«f-"l/"'l P'o'eet the spell of wiidness that horCof « r^. ^^t-^'"'^'''""^ ^°"'' """^ •» '■•" relief the head and by eveiy man .n the nat.on, and hung at the head of his bed, which he uses as a mask when called upon by the chiefs, to join in the buffa o-dance ot winch I shall say more in a future epistle ' rins arrangement of beds, of arms, &o., combining the most vivid display and arrangement of colours, of furs, of trinkets-of barbed and glisZ.'^ po.nts and stee -of mysteries a..dhoeuspocus, together with thf omlrf and smoked colour of the roof and sides of the lodge; and the wild and rude and red-the graceful (though uncivil) conversat.Lal. garrulous storv- I l|ng and happy, though ignorant and untutored groups °that are mokZ h p.pes-woo,ng their sweethearts, and embracing their little ones abouf sp ons and 7, '"' r "' '""''" '' ^°^^'^^' ^^"^ ^^^^ P°*« ^^^ Settles poons. and other cul.nary articles of their own manufacture, around them ; present altogether, one of the most picturesque scenes to th^ eye of a r Et;s '' ^°^'"^ - ' -' '- -- ''' ^' ^^^^^ '^- -1^ is fr'uf ^; J 'rf ' n''' P^'^P V.^-^^ g^""l°"«. story-telling and happy ; this >8 true, and hterally so; and .t belongs to me to establish the fact and correc the error which seems to have gone forth to the world on this subject. As I have before observed, there is no subject that 1 know of within the 84 itf' r i I .f scope and reach of human wisdom, on wliich the civilized world in thit en- lightened age are more incorrectly informed, than upon that of the true man- ners and customs, and moral condition, rights and abuses, of the North American Indians; and that, as I have also before remarked, chiefly oi account of the difficulty of our cultivating a fair and honourable acquaintance with them, and doing them the justice, and ourselves the credit, of a fair and impartial investigation of their true character. The present age of refine- ment and research has brought every thing else that I know of (and a vast deal more than the most enthusiastic mind ever dreamed of; within the scope and fair estimation of refined intellect and of science ; while the wild and timid savage, with his interesting customs and modes has vanished, or his character has become changed, at the approach of the enlightened and intellectual world ; who follow him like a phantom for awhile, and in igno- rance of his true character at last turn back to the common business and social transactions of life. Owing to the above difficulties, which have stood in the way, the world have fallen into many egregious errors with regard to the true modes and meaning of the savage, %vhich I am striving to set forth and correct in the course of these epistles. And amongst them all, there is none more common, nor more entirely erroneous, nor more easily refuted, than the current one, that " the Indian is a sour, morose, reserved and taciturn man." I have heard this opinion advanced a thousand times and I believed it; but such certainly, is not uniformly nor generally the case. I have observed in all my travels amongst the Indian tribes, and more particularly amongst these unassuming jjeople, that they are a far more talkative and conversational race than can easily be seen in the civilized world. This assertion, like many others I shall occasionally make, will some- what startle the folks at the East, yet it is true. No one can look into the wigwams of these people, or into any little momentary group of them, without being at once struck with the conviction that small-talk, gossip, garrulity, and story-telling, are the leading passions with them, who have little else to do in the world, but to v. hile away their lives in the innocent and endless amusement of the exercise of those talents with which Nature has liberally endowed them, for their mirth and enjoyment. One has but to walk or ride about this little town and its environs for a few hours m a pleasant day, and overlook the numerous games and gambols, where their notes and yelps of exultation are unceasingly vibrating in the atmosphere; or peep into their wigwams (and watch the glistening fuu thats beaming from the noses, cheeks, and chins, of the crouching, cross- legged, and prostrate groups around the fire; where the pipe is passed, and jokes and anecdote, and laughter are excessive) to become convinced that It IS natural to laugh and be merry. Indeed it would be strange if a race of people like these, who have little else to do or relish in life, should be curtailed in that source of pleasure and amusement; and it 86 «ouId be also strange, if a life-timA «<• • j i innocent and producfiv'e a J£ TJLZ':^!'^ T' 'T''' '" «° anxieties of business or professions sholl nT ' ?*"" ''"^ ^''^^^ ""^ and enable them to drawbar grater plea uref'"'^'^''" '" ''''" '""^e,. the civilized and business wXaf ^^^^^ in condition of their minds curtails the number of th^- uncultivated free from, and independent of, a tSousrd ll- 'Ty"''''''' ^'^ '^'y ^'« fro:n n.ercenary mcAives in th civil.zd world !, ^"^^'T'' "^^''''^ «""« (in my opinion) in the real a^ unttlrn 1, '" ^^^ ^-/"''-d of u, natural faculties. "nmterrupted enjoyment of their simple expenses of life, which are absob.t!! ^ '"'^ "^'^''""^ incurring the lightened world; a d o cou"" ^ L""i'"'"' """■■''''' " '" "" directedtotheei^joyln of TenLr. , '"'''°r "°^ ^^^"'^'«« ^^« «°'«'y onthepastorap^reCls^fXSe y^ -^''-^ »'- sober reflection^ and^'llt oV'^lSTfelus' ""'"'"T^^^ '^ ''^ ^'^^^ P--» thoughts and theirconvtaS'n' ;2 Ttletd t ^ ^°"^"^'^^ ^'^^'^ their lives. They are fond of fun T/ i u ^ *"^'"° o<^currences of heartily at a sligh't joke, of which the^nrf- '^'"\ '"^ '^" '^"^^^ ««^'y «"'» inexhaustible fund, and enaWe ,t T , '' "'"'''' °^ '""^ '""^"'^^ them an .i.wam fire side withlriLi^^^^^^^ '''' ''''' ^'^^ ^'^ ^^^^'^^^ti^L:;::^'^^ f ^^p-- establish as 1 am opposing an error that J ^ ? u '" ^ °*'''"'''" ^^""^d' '"««^^^"<=h world; anTwhi'ch ifTbe o'r^:^^^^^^^^^^^ --"^ through the which has always stood in the waTof « 'f T- " '"''"'"' ^'^^"'^y- Indian character. For the nurnn! ^ ,"" '"^ J"'^ estimation of the before the world as I hop ^^^do '^ "'"'^ '^' '"^'^" '" ^P™P«^ ''ght ™e-itis but juXtoTe vt-a:rfu:;rr' ' *-V"^p°^*^"^'^° such points should be cleared ulJl ^ I ° "^^ '■'''^"" ^'«°' ^^at enquire for correct and iustnf7 . T'''* * ""^ ^""^ '^^ ^"^'^ who truth, or else come to tse-:^^rTi '['I ""^^ '^''^ "'^ words for the tesque circles of ne I Id^ 1 u h, 1 J" '^'"'^^'^^^' '"'« ^'^^ g- ington City to ^aze on the n ° '""S^"'" ''^"^ '^"»' '"^tead of going to Wash- his "Grelt %: er" fo cCrT Tf '"''^" "''° '"^ -"^' thereby acquisitive worW j, btt i„l . ''V'^ "^^'^'^^ '' '"^^ '--^'^ -^ hunting grounds o; hi^a Tc Jors '[he;: ''"'^ T'' ^'^ '"'^'^ ^"'^ ^''« the Indian character- vet it u tK T " ?' '^' P-'^P*^' P''^^« *» ^^udy scribbler go to gazeandf:l\;o::i,^'"Tol"r^ ^^'^"^ ^"'^ ^'^^ "ier^reSrriL^-T?^-- 88 ii '. % I il l'< 1^ t i. -I J I] 't 1 > ml almost equally so iii the Mandan village. An Indian in VVailiington is mute, 18 dumb and embarrassed ; and so is a white man (and for the very same reasons) in this place — he has nobody to talk to. A wild Indian, to reach the civilized world, must needs travel some thou- sands of miles in vehicles of conveyance, to which he is unaccustomed- through latitudes and longitudes which are new to him— living on food that he is unused to— stared and gazed at by the thousands and tens of thou- sands whom he cannot talk to — his heart grieving and his body sickening at the exhibition of white men's wealth and luxuries, which are enjoyed on the land, and over the bones of his ancestors. And at the end of his journey he stands (like a caged animal) to be scanned— to be criticised— to be pitied — and heralded to the world as a mute— as a brute, and a beggar. A white man, to reach this village, must travel by steam-boat— by canoes— on horseback and on foot; swim rivers— wade quagmires— fight mos- quitoes—patch his moccasins, and patch them again and again, and his breeches ; live on meat alone— sleep on the ground the whole way, and think and dream of his friends he has left behind ; and when he gets here, half-starved, and half-naked, and more than half sick, he finds himself a beggar for a place to sleep, and for something to eat ; a mute amongst thou- sands who flock about him, to look and to criticise, and to laugh at him for his jaded appearance, and to speak of him as they do of all white men (without distinction) as liars. These people are in the habit of seeing no white men m their country but Traders, and know of no other; deeming us uU alike, and receiving us all under the presumption that we come to trade or barter; applying to us all, indiscriminately, the epithet of "liars" or 1 raders. The reader will therefore see, that we mutually suffer in each other's esti- mation from the unfortunate ignorance, which distance has chained us in ; and (as I can vouch, and the Indian also, who has visited the civilized world) that the historian who would record justly and correctly the charac- ter and customs of a people, must go and live among them. sr letter-No. 12. MANDAN VILLAGE. UPPER MISSOURI. In my last, I gave gome accounf nf ♦!.» -n appearances of this strange peopT-a„d w! "'^'' '"' ''" '''''"''' ""^ details on that subject. """ """^ P''°'^««'l t^ give further beneath and about me (plate 47/whh' , "'"^ ^''" ^''°'« ^'"•''Se -and its horses in m tion-it ^Ji j 17'""^-'^.^ -----its dogs ^vaving over my head-its pinuets-it ^ ^''^'y''''^'') «nd scalp-poles full view, with the din and buTt e o7t t f'n • "^' ""'^ ^'''"''''' ^"^ ^'^^ '" I «hoii be able, I hope, to g e ome It I ^"^ '"°^""'" ''''' '^ ^''-" -- have done from any effort of recolTecttn '""'' '" '" '""^^ ^'^^'" ^ ^^^ ^rty'rii:;;^ -j:;!^:: zr:;oT '''''-' -'' -^">— ^^ room enough ,0 walk and ride^etween 1 Tern' ^^1 ''f '!"" ""^ "^"^ J"^' to enter them, and a hole in the ton Jo 2' ~, "^ ''^"' " ^'°°^ ^^^ ^^'"'^^^• smoke to escape,-that the i ma f we e ^ tfmT"'" "' l'^''' ^"'^ '"''' ^'^^ «n conversations and other amuserenU *^ , ^'""^'^ "P°" '•^^''- *«P« how they look, nor what is ^.ov^Z ' ""'' ^'' y"" ''""^ "°' ^''^^W - about me. There is ca ly f vn^'^'^r " ^^ '" ^'""^^^ ^^'^ ^''«' is to be seen. There are lu CZlZ '"'^T'" '" '^''y ^"^'"^ ^^at tl'ey are purely unique-trev 1 ' ' .1 T' °' '^'"'^^"'S^ »»^o"t ^e, and red.audUdfstinc? f^om L "j;::,t;T' '''~''^ P^P'^ - «'^ ii'L groups ot lodges around me nrp^Pnf . , pearance, rcsemblinff in shane VmL^ \ ^ ^""""^ ^"^ P'^^sing ap- pare them to) so maty PoS IZ ""'^'^ ^" ^"^'''""^ ^'^^^ '^^'^ con.- be seen groups stanZ/a d tnl '' "'T ^" '^' ''^^ ""^ '^''' ^^ ^« ance it would' he cliSuo ,:::'' ^T ""' "''' P'^^"^^^*!- ^PP^^ in dignified groups, wraoned in , "'"'"'"' "^^ «*^t"«^' standing and plumed' wi,^, q" fo e war '"?' "'"' "'' ^'^^'^ '^^^''^ ^-l'"' ^ tl,e wur-eaglej extending their long arms to 88 'I :ii| the enst or the west, the scenes of their battles, which they iirc recounting over to each other. In another direction, the wooin^r h)ver, softenini^ the heart of \m fair Taih-nah-tai-a with tlie notes of his simple lute. On other lodg^cs, and beyond these, t^roups are engaged in games of the "moccasin," or the "platter." Some are to be seen manufacturing robes and dresses, and others, fatigued with amusements or occupations, have stretched their limbs to enjoy the luxury of sleep, whilst basking in the sun. With all this wild and varied medley of living bemgs are mixed their dogs, which seem to be so near an Indian's heart, as almost to constitute a material link of his existence. In the centre of the village is an open space, or public area, of 150 feet in diameter, and circular in form, which is used for all public games and festivals, shews and exhibitions; and also for their " annual religious ceremonies," which are soon to take place, and of which I shall hereafter give some account. The lodges around this open space front in, with their doors towards the centre; and in the middle of this circle stands an object of great religious veneration, as I am told, on account of the importance it has in the conduction of those annual religious rites. This object is in form of a large hogshead, some eight or ten feet high, made of planks and hoops, coniaining within it some of their choicest medicines or mysteries, and religiously preserved unbacked or scratched, as a symbol of the " Big Canoe," as they call it. One of the lodges fronting on this circular area, and facing this strange object of their superstition, is called the " Medicine Lodge," or council house. It is in this sacred building that these wonderful ceremonies, in commemoration of the flood, take place. I am told by the Traders that the cruelties of these scenes are frightful and abhorrent in the extreme ; and that this huge wigwam, which is now closed, has been built exclusively for this grand celebration. I am every day reminded of the near approach ot the season for this strange affair, and as I have not yet seen any thing of it, I cannot describe it; I know it only from the relations of the Traders who have witnessed parts of it ; and their descriptions are of so extraordinary a character, that I would not be willing to describe until I can see for myself, —which will, in all probability, be in a few days. in ranging the eye over the village from where I am writing, there is presented to the view the strangest mixture and medley of unintelligible trash (independant of the living bemgs that are in motion), that can possibly be imagined. On the roofs of the lodges, besides the groups of living, are buffaloes' skulls, skin canoes, pots and pottery ; sleds and sledges — and suspended on poles, erected rtome twenty feet above the doors of their wig- wams, are displayed in a pleasant day, the scalps of warriors, preserved as trophies ; and thus proudly exposed as evidence of their warlike deeds. In other parts are raised on poles the warriors' pure and whitened shields and quivers, with medicine-bags attaciied ; and here and there a sacrifice of red recounting Icninji^ the On other n\occiisiii," titl (tresses, tched their ^ith ill I thin eh seem to huk of his f 150 feet [panics and tl rehgious 1 hereafter with their > an object portunce it feet higli, r choicest atched, as lis strange or council nonies, in Aders that erne; and usively for proacli ot ling of it, iders who >rdinary a >r myself, , there is itelligible 1 possibly iving, are ges — and ;heir wig- served as eds. In elds and :e of red lP((?(JI((!!)lil'ff?j((((f(MH|.,uiM||,Mn,,,,.n,,,n ■t6c -jrrilr-prifti^ • Caat t c 8< ei in til ar th JUi do pis (p] is ( vie ^ hor besi pip< a fe take and soaK arou woui from TI right tliese whicl whici the ri Th excef with ! of pul reposi village learn, if he 1 sacred throug affectic Great vot. 89 cloth, or other costly stuff, offered up to the Gri.«t Q • : some benignant chief, i„ humble gratVut for L r* "'" '^' ^'°' '^ enjoying. Such is a part of the sfranl mJ? .. ^ ''""^' ''^'''^ ^'^ '» ".e ; and amidst them and the blue re?mTofsmou'* '.l'^'"^ ^"' "°-'' the tops of these hundred - coal-oitl » "Tn k ' *''"' "" "sing from and boundless, treeless, UCl%f''LY:T,:'''T''''' ^'^"" i^^zrtr:::nx:^^^^^^ f ^«^.-es «„ .ight scaffo,ds dogs; and they are there Tft to 1. ' w ^^'hewayof wolves and place of deposife for the dead is juTtbt^^^ 'T '"''^ ""^'^'y' ^ -L.TB 48); and with all its appCancet hsfo v '''' °" ' ''''' ?"'"« IS one of the strangest and most inLrr. k ^' °™'' "'^•"onies, &c. vicinity of this peculiar race ^"^ "'^^'''^ *" ''^ '^««"''>«'l « the honT^"::^^:Xwt:p^dt\^ra" ^"'T.-^^ ^^^ custom.y best att.e, painted, oiled, feZZnr:;;^'^^:^: 1'^ '^''-'^ '^ pipe and tobacco-knife, flint and .tP^I ^^"^"^ "^'^^ r^" and quiver, shield, a few days on the journe; w£h he i' to n rfl P^^''^ ?"°"S'* *° ^^«^ ^^^ taken from the animal's LTt^rZll "^ ''.^ l'"'^ buffalo's skin, just and wound with thongs oft;SLh:^tltot%r^H^^^^^^^^^ soaKed m water, till thev are ouitP «nft o i . ^'^^° °^^^'' "^obes are around the bod in the'sameCnner?::' Stt t T ^'^'^ ''^"'»^^«'' which is laid upontherZits £ck lihT^'^^"^'' *° '"PP«^^ *he body, the rising sun. ''''' "'"'' '*' ^''' ^"^^""7 Presented towards There are a great number of these bodies restino- exactiv in » • •. exceptmg m some instances where a chief or m a ^ "'"''" ^^^ ' with a few yards of scarlet or bluTcLh nr. . '"^''7"^-'"«"' "^'^Y be seen of public respect and estelr W nrdto7lt\T'"' "f ™^^^ reposmg in this manner in this curious nUp! u- u u '^'^' ""^y ^« ^^en village of the dead ;" and the ravX P^''."''"'^^ '^' ^"'J'ans call, " the learn, will not only be struck wtrt/' i '""' '^'' *=°""''y *« ^^"^7 ''"d if he will give atte'ntionTthe t tTd de\T"""'K "' ''' ^^^°^^ »'"' sacred place, he will draw mlnv a Zf 1 7-^'°°' ^'' ""' P^''^ *° t*"'' through life: he will learn TL^t th / «. ."'"°" ''^'* ^'" '^^^ ''^ affection are not nece a2 the rllu of '."""'''' ''^' P^'""^" 0;^^i.hasgiventhe^o^m:th^^:^r;;--- ■I '■ w f)'' 1 1 ; m ill 90 spices and improvements of the enlightened world have never refined upon them. There is not a day in the year in which one may not see in this place evidences of this fiict, that will wring tears from his eyes, and kindle in his bosom a spark of respect and sympathy for the poor Indian, if he never felt it before. Fathers, mothers, wives, and children, may be seen lying under these scaffolds, prostrated upon the ground, with their faces in the dirt, howling forth incessantly the most piteous and heart-broken cries and lamentations for the misfortunes of their kindred ; tearing their hair — cut- ting their flesh with their knives, and doing other penance to appease the spirits of the dead, whose misfortunes they attribute to some sin or omission of their own, for which they sometimes inflict the most excruciating self- torture. When the scaffolds on which the bodies rest, decay and fall to the ground, the nearest relations having buried the rest of the bones, take the skulls, which are perfectly bieached and purified, and place them in circles of an hundred or more on the prairie — placed at equal distances apart (some eight or nine inches from each other), with the faces all looking to the centre ; where they are religiously protected and preserved in their precise positions from year to year, as objects of religious and affectionate veneration (plate 48). There are several of these " Golgothas" or circles of twenty or thirty feet in diameter, and in the centre of each ring or circle is a little mound of three feet high, on which uniformly rest two buffalo skulls (a male and female) ; and in the centre of the little mound is erected a " medicine pole," about twenty feet high, supporting many curious articles of mystery and superstition, which they suppose have the power of guarding and protecting this sacred arrangement. Here then, to this strange place do these people again resort, to evince their further affections for the dead— not in groans and lamentations however, for several years have cured the anguish ; but fond affections and endearments are here renewed, and conversations are here held and cherished with the dead. Each one of these skulls is placed upon a bunch of wild sage, which has been pulled and placed under it. The wife knows (by some mark or re- semblance) the skull of her husband or her child, which lies in this group ; and there seldom passes a day that she does not visit it, with a dish of the best cooked food that her wigwam affords, wliich she sets before the skull at night, and returns for the dish in the morning. As soon as it is dis- covered that the sage on which the skull rests is beginning to decay, the woman cuts a fresh bunch, and places the skull carefully upon it, removing that which was under it. Independent of the above-named duties, which draw the women to this spot, they visit it from inclination, and linger upon it to hold converse and company with the dead There is scarcely an hour in a pleasant day, but 91 more or less of these women mav be seen sittino- i • . their child or husband-talking to it nhr^*, ^^'^ language that they can use XyVLllXlo'^' ^"' ^"'^^^""^ seemingly getting an answer back. Itisnotunfr. "I ^T'' "^"^'^ «»d woman brings her needle-work with her spendinf ^"'""^ *''" '^'' ^'^^^ *»>« -ttrng by the side of the skull ofTe; cl S^eVat •^"''"P'^'"'*''^ ''^y' wh.le she is embroidering or garnishi„ra p^' S'T' -"'''""^'^ "'"^ '*' overcome with ^tigue, falls\sleep%ith her aZ"""' ^ T' ^'""'P'' dead. ' ' ™"' "• ""» »1>". to je,t and gossip with ,he l«S«t| but I app,el,e„d IhaU w2 1 ' "' ""' '^-'OP" ""I Phreno- of i.,»..ibi,i J?: pro JiThlTtti "uTt'th '"" ''^■"'^ '■'"»' scientific world. ' *°' *"« "se and benefit of the i M'2 III I :■■ 1 I* MB i LETTER— No. 13. MANDAN VILLAGE, UPPER MISSOURI. In several of my former Letters I have given sketches of the village, and some few of the customs of these peculiar people ; and I have many more yet in store ; some of which will induce the readers to laugh, and others almost dispose them to weep. But at present, I drop them, and introduce a few of the wild and gentlemanly Mandans themselves ; and first, Ha-na- tah-nu-mauh, the wolf chief (plate 49). This man is head-chief of the nation, and familiarly known by the name of "Chef de Loup," as the French Traders call him ; a haughty, austere, and overbearing man, re- spected and feared by his people rather than loved. The tenure by which this man holds his office, is that by which the head-chiefs of most of the tribes claim, that of inheritance. It is a general, though not an infallible rule amongst the numerous tribes of North American Indians, that the office of chief belongs to the eldest son of a chief; provided he shews himself, by his conduct, to be equally worthy of it as any other in the nation , making it hereditary on a very proper condition — in default of which requisites, or others which may happen, the office is elective. The dress of this chief was one of great extravagance, and some beauty ; manufactured of skins, and a great number of quills of the raven, forming his stylish head-dress. The nex. and second chief of the tribe, is Mah-to-toh-pa (the four bears). This extraordinary man, though second in office is undoubtedly the first and most popular man in the nation. Free, generous, elegant and gentlemanly in his deportment — handsome, brave and valiant ; wearing a robe on his back, with the history of his battles emblazoned on it ; which would fill a book of themselves, if properly translated. This, readers, is the most extra- ordinary man, perhaps, who lives at this day, in the atmosphere of Nature's noblemen ; and I shall certainly tell you more of him anon. After him, there are Mah-tahp-ta-ha, he who rushes through the middle (plate 50) ; Seehk-hee-da, the mouse-coloured feather (plate 51) ; Sun- ja-ka-ko-kah (the deceiving wolf); Mah-to-he-ha (the old bear), and others, distinguished as chiefs and warriors — and there are belles also; such as Mi-neek-e-sunk-te-ca, the mink (plate 63) ; and the little gray- haired Slia-ko-ka, mint (plate 52] ; and fifty others, who are famous lor a. Caidn^ 1 f I ■■*' ; ; { II i iiiii % ^ Caikn, ' Calkn, "i. i III I I' tlici eye boh 1 pen lool a w coui that on t time perr By I s'.ipi ofli this refin life) Trad Man Tl lieen with the I custc origii anialj H( cussi( tradil Suffi( pencil less, A of CO him; India Th> as hai skins featui sweeti them Wh 93 their concruests, not «ith the bow or the javelin, but with their small black eyes, which shoot out from ur.der their unfledged brows, and pierce the boldest, fiercest chieftam to the heart. ^ The Mandans are certainly a very interesting and pleasing people in their personal appearance and manners; differing in many respects, both in looks and customs, from all other tribes which I have seen. Thev are nit a warlike people: for they seldom, if ever, carry war inio their enemies' country ; but when mvaded, shew their valour and courage to be equal to that of any people on earth. Being a small tribe, and unable to contend on the wide praines with the Sioux and other roaming tribes, who are ten times more numerous; they have very judiciously located themselves in a permanent village, which is strongly fortified, and ensures their preservation. By this means they have advanced further in the arts of manufacture ; have supplied their lodges more abundantly with the comforts, and even luxuries of Ide, than any Indian nation I know of. The consequence of this is, that tins tribe have taken many steps ahead of other tribes in manners and rehnements (if I may be allowed to apply the word refinement to Indian life); and are therefore familiarly (and correctly) denominated, by the Mandans" ^ ''''° ^^'^ ^^^" ^"'''"^'* ^^^'"' " *^® P""*® ^"'^ ^"^"'^'y There is certainly great justice in the remark ; and so forcibly have I lieen struck with the peculiar ease and elegance of these people, together with the diversity of complexions, the various colours of their hair and eves • the singularity of their language, and their peculiar and unaccountable customs that I am fully convinced that they have sprung from some other origin than that of the other North American tribes, or that they are an amalgam of natives with some civilized race. Here arises a question of very great interest and importance for dis- cussion ; and, after further familiarity with their character, customs, and traditions If I forget it not. I will eventually give it further consideration, bufhce It (hen, for the present, that their personal appearance alone, inde- pendant of their modes and customs, pronounces them at once, as more or less, than savage. A stranger in the Mandan village is first struck with the different shades of complexion, and various colours of hair which he sees in a crowd about him ; and is at once almost disposed to exclaim tliat " these are not Indians. There are a great many of these people whose complexions appear as light as half breeds; and amongst the women particularly, there are many whose skins are almost white, with the most pleasing symmetry and proportion of features; with hazel, with grey, and with blue eyes,-with mildness and sweetness of expression, and excessive modesty of demeanour, which render them exceedingly pleasing and beautiful. Why this diversity of complexion I cannot tell, nor can they themselves it::" !;l 94 account for it. Their traditions, so fat as 1 have yet learned them, afford us no information of their having had any knowledge of white men before the visit of Lewis and Clarke, made to their village thirty-three years ago Since that time there liave been but very few visits from' while men to this place, and surely not enough to have changed the complexions and the customs of a nation. And I recollect perfectly well that Governor Clarke told me, before I started for this place, that I would find the Mandans a strange people and half white. fhe diversity in the colour of hair is also equally as great as that in the complexion; for in a numerous group of these people (and more particularly amongst the females, who never take pains to change its natural colour, as the men often do), there may be seen every shade and colour of hair that can be seen in our own country, with the exception of red or auburn, which is not to be found. And there is yet one more strange and unaccountable peculiarity, which can probably be seen nowhere else on earth; nor on any rational grounds accounted for,— other than it is a freak or order of Nature, for which she has not seen fit to assign a reason. There are very many, of both sexes, and of every age, from infancy to manhood and old age, with hair of a bright silvery grey ; and in some instances almost perfectly white. This singular and eccentric appearance is much oftener seen among the women than it is with the men ; for many of the latter who have it, seem ashamed of it, and artfully conceal it, by filling their hair with glue and black and red earth. The women, on the other hand, seem proud of it, and display it often in an almost incredible profusion, which spreads over their shoulders and falls as low as the knee. I have ascertained, on a careful enquiry, that about one in ten or twelve of the whole tribe are what the French call "cheveux gris," or greyhairs; and that this strange and un- accountable phenomenon is not the result of disease or habit ; but that it is unquestionably a hereditary character which runs in families, and indicates no inequality in disposition or intellect. And by passing this hair through my hands, as I often have, I have found it uniformly to be as coarse and harsh as a horse's mane ; differing materially from the hair of other colours, which amongst the Mandans, is generally as fine and as soft as silk. The reader will at once see, by the above facts, that there is enough upo/i the faces and heads of these people to stamp them peculiar,— when he meets them in the heart of this almost boundless wilderness, presenting such diversities of colour in the complexion and hair; when he knows from what he has seen, and what he has read, that all other primitive tribes known in America, are dark copper-coloured, with jet black hair. From these few facts alone, the reader will see that I am amongst a strange and interesting people, and know how to pardon me, if I lead him through a maze of novelty and mysteries to the knowledge of a strange, yet kind *nd hospitable, people, whose fate, like that of all their race is sealed ;— I ■ '' 95 The .latu.o of 11,0 M.uidl? . ^,1 ?"'"""!'' J«'»"«'i"l.. l»«...ifd .„,„„„ of f ,,"",; ''"'" ^'''"' ""; <"'li""y « of n,»„, will, or «lalw of two indiu* in width a.wl fill i .u *' • " •^""^'"' '"to plaits earth or vcnnillion. „t i„rrvai'B o /„ T ' f""""'^'"" "^ ^''"'^ ""^^-^ "»:j''--r " '^ "-!^^^^.n er o;r' ^''" ^^^-'-'"^ -^^ 1 Ins mmlf of (Iressiiiu- tl, ' ; ■ •''=.'"'•" y*^ar- ear, and thence falling down over t^ h. i, • , T ""'^ '''^'"^ "" I'"-' . Fintcd red, extending oftltiZ. te 1 ; 'tl l'^"'"^' ''""'^''^«' «"^ ti'..es ir. .ueh profusion as ul to onceal t T ',"«'" '^^' "''' ^«"- »on walking behind then,. I„ the portr^ o S t '',»""'"' ^'"^ '•'« P^'" inff wolf, .aATE54), where he is 1 . f''"-J'^-^--ko-kuh (the deceiv- -tl'ers of his fa„.ily .rould hil i r '. """" '^"^"^' ^-^'' ^^veral tioaof these and orilni::^^ it. oii:a ::;^:^:s;i;rri;7^ '^7ri ^°^^'^'^ -''- .mtural colour. They often br uj it in . ^ " ^''"^' ^""^ «'>"^« "« iust back of the ear. o'n ead. Hd V h het :S o' ^'^' °" '^"'"^ '^''«" requires them to '< put on their best looks ".i^v /'"^ "'''''°" ^'"'='' ".drawing it out of braid an7 nr • ^ ^'"'^ '^''" '^"^^''^ through Mundan women obse ve st I'tlv H ^ "^ " '''' '^'" ^'^^"'ders. The ti-eCrow. and BlackletT nd in firV^f""' r''"' ' ^^^^-^'^ ^--P single exception). o7p rtinl /." ?' "u"''; '"'^"^ ^ '^"^^^ «^«"' >-"houf a t"e crease o'r se LralrS t^Z:ii^ rlT' ' ^".' ^'^^^^ ''-P'"^ one of, the very few little (md\ZTT ^ '^'^ P^'°'' ^lus is ^o;.nd a„.ongst'the Indi"!:. il on T g'^VeT'L"""" ^"'" ' '^^ oilier than that " thev are Indi-,n, "„ !. , • ' ^'" ""'^ *^a"«e for it, I" mourning, like i^e c'ot " ' ""? '^^ ^'"^ '^ =»" ^"dian fashion. ' to crop their ,^i. «,! l!^ "z'.::^::^:^:^'^::; ^ ^r"" -- ^^">^' I'an^has grown again to its former length ^^"dolence is until the ^^^^^^^1:^1;^::::^::,^ r ''-'- ^'^ - is quite a lock or two can be Zrcd w ?"''^ ^''"'''" '"'PO'tanco, and only -thout destroying 1 's' ostva ued Ztnt f f ' '''''' "'^ '"^^''' "•espect to the dead. ornament. ,s doing just reverence and ll ' 96 country has been friendly and kind over since their first acquaintance with them they have ever met and received them, on the prairie or in their villafrea, with hospitality and honour. They are handsome, straight and elegant in their forms — not tall, hut quick and graceful; easy and polite in their mannc-rs, neat in their persons and beautifully clad. When I say "neat in person and beautifully clad," however, I do not intend my readers to understand that such is the case with them all, for among them and most other tribes, as with the enlightened world, there are different grades of society— those who care but little for tlieir personal appearance, and those who take great pains to please them- selves and their friends. Amongst this class of personages, such as chiefs and braves, or warriors of distinction, and their families, and dandies or ex- quisites (a class of beings of whom I shall take due time to speak in a future Letter^, the strictest regard to decency, and cleanliness and elegance of dress is observed ; and there are few people, perhaps, who take more pains to keep their persons neat and cleanly than they do. At the distance of half a mile or so above the village, is the customary place where the women and girls resort every morning in the summer months, to bathe in the river. To this spot they repair by hundreds, every morning at sunrise, where, on a beautiful beach, tlicy can be seen running and glisten- ing in the sun, whilst they are playing their innocent gambols and leaping into the stream. They all learn to swim well, and the poorest swimmer amongst them will dash fearlessly into the boiling and eddying current of the Missouri, and cross it with perfect ease. At the distance of a quarter of a mile back from the river, extends a terrace or elevated prairie, running north from the village, and forming a ad of semicircle around this bathing- place; and on this terrace, which is some twenty or thirty feet higher than the meadow between it and the river, are stationed every morning several sentinels, with their bows and arrows in hand, to guard and protect this Bacred ground from the approach of boys or men from any directions. At a little distance below the village, also, is the place where the men and boys go to bathe and learn to swim. After this morning ablution, they return to their village, wipe their limbs dry, and use a profusion of bear's grease through their hair and over their bodies. The art of swimming is known to all the American Indians ; and perhaps no people on earth have taken more pains to learn it, nor any who turn it to better account. There certainly are no people whose avocations of life more often call for the use of their limbs in this way ; as many of the tribes spend their lives on the shores of our vast lakes and rivers, paddling about from their childhood in their fragile bark canoes, which are liable to con- tinual accidents, which often throw the Indian upon his natural resources for the preservation of his life. Tiiere are many times also, when out upon their long marches in the pro- secution cf their almost continued warfare, when it becomes necessary to i^^B ^m I i 1 : i tanre with or in their , but quick !rguns and illy clad," is the case nlinhtened t little for ease them- es chiefs idies or ex- peak in a J elegance take more customary ler months, ry morning ind glisten- md leaping }t swimmer current of )f a quarter ie, running lis bathing- ligher than ling several protect this 0119. he men and they return ear's grease ind perhaps A-ho turn it itions of life of the tribes dling about able to con- resources for s in the pro- necessary to 1 ! u t I phi I the trib sex( chil way T oftl civil instc strol upor side, as he that this i him, to be turne in its By that I had, avoid( longei of swi In£ Mandi toby luxury them f contim each vi accessil sick an In e\ of a ba to recei which, sudator' lias beei These bank oi or Sioii; VOL. t 14 i "i lJ i »7 child upon .l,e back. »ad .'ucolfut'rplV'; ''"T •■■ ""''"'"•'• way. '""' '"• P"» any river (hat lies in llieir c.vilized world, which I have 1 ad he n ^ "'^ '" '^''' ^^''^ "^ ^^e instead of parting his hands !inut«l.n ^ ? ^'' '" ''■^''- ^he Indian, stroke outward, in a hodln^dl " t ' ""^'^ "'' •='""' '^"^ ■"-'<'»o- the upon the chest, throws is boiv I ' T"""^ '^'''^y ^ ^"'°"« strain si^e, raisin, oL ar. ent'e. 1:1:^1"'°", ''\'^' ''' ''' "^'^ as he can, to ,•: , it, whilst his whrwelt anH f "'''^'"^ '' ^'' ^™«' that is passing under him and iTke Tn^ , . 'f ''' 'P^"^' "P°» ^^e one this arm is making a hal "el tndish ^^'''^^'"^ '"" ^'°"^' ^'^'-'^t him, the opposite arm is de c ibinf " ^'\';^'''''f ""^ of the water behind to be dipped in the wat r a I 1 A. "■ T^ '" '^' ^*^ '''' »'- head, turned under, forming a son "f bu et"; "'? '''"' '"■"' ^'"' ^"^^ ^^^ in its turn underneath him ' '" ''' '""^^ ^^'^^''^^'y «« itpaaic that^:a:;t:::'u,rXte^ -'^^^ -y -tthe g^ce had. that much of the fa g^e and's^ ""' 'T ^'^ ^^P^"^"- ^ ^ave avoided, and that a man Sll n " '*T "P°" '^' ^'''''' *"'' «Pine are iongerin this alternate and rl^ZL T'T ^"' ''^ ''-^'^ much of swimming, in the polished wodf °"' '•'"" '^^ '^^^ '" ^^e usual mode M::^:::s£:ii::tLh?r:::^;'''r ^^^ ''-- '-^''< ^^« ;o by the sick, but Avr mor ofte„ by hf : r; 'T'' "/' °'''^" ^^^^^^^ luxury only, or perhaps for the puroosp J r 7" ^" V°""^' ^^ ^ '"atter of them for the thousand exposuresTnH °^'?'^.^^"'"^ ^^eir limbs and preparing continually liable. I alS ^ Zr J""'"k '^ "' ''^ '' "•^'^'^ '^ey arf each village has several, and whi di 1 ^^ "?• '' ^"^"^^"■^^' '' ^'"ich accessible to all, and risoned o bv^ f " """^ "*■ P"'^"'= P^-^P^^ty^ sick and well. '''' '" ^^ '"' ^^'^ and female, old and young to receive any person of the Tm^v t^ -How boughs, and sufficiently large which, when any one i to takp 'J ., ^.^^''"'"8^ «^ recumbent posture; -datory for the^puls an! to hf '' l '""'^ ""^ '^' ^^1"^^ ^o th I'as been used ^ ^ ' ""' '''°"^'^* ''^"^^ '« ^he wigwam again after it o-ou.,odge Which. LebL/rtr:^:!^^^^^ .1* 111 ' 98 sewed tight together, with a kind of fuman" i... i'.,^, centre; ir in other words, in the centre of the lodge are two walls of stone about six feet long and two and a half apart, and about three feet high; across and over this space, between the two walls, are laid a number of round sticks, on which the bathing crib is placed (vide plate 71). Contiguous to the lodge, and out- side of it, is a little furnace something similar, in the side of the bank, where the voman kindles a hot fire, and heats to a red heat a number of large stones, which are kept at these places for this particular purpose; and having them all in readiness, she goes home or sends word to inform her husband or other one who is waiting, that all is ready; when he makes his ap- pearance entirely naked, though with a large buffalo robe wrapped around him. He then enters the lodge and places himself in the crib or basket, either on his back or in a sitting posture (the latter of which is gene- rally preferred), with his back towards the door of the lodge; when the squaw brings in a large stone red hot, between two sticks (lashed toijether somewhat in the form of a pair of tongs) and, placing it under him, throws cold water upon it, which raises a profusion of vapour about him. ^^ '» ^ once enveloped in a cloud of steam, and a woman or child will sit at a little distance and continue to dash water upon the stone, whilst the matron of the lodge is out, and preparing to make her appearance with another heeted stone : or he will sit and dip from a wooden bowl, with a ladle made of the mountain-sheep's horn, and throw upon the heated stones, with his own hands, the water which he is drawing through his lungs and pores, in the next moment, in the most delectable and exhilarating vapours, as it distils through the mat of wild sage and other medicinal and aromatic herbs, which he has strewed over the bottom of his basket, and on which be reclines. During all this time the lode wlio Iiave by the sick )ngst them 100 LETTER No. 14. MANDAN VILLAGE, UPPER MISSOURI. The Mandans in many instances dress very neatly, and some of them splendidly. As they are in their native state, their dresses are all of their own manufacture; and of course, altogether made of skins of different animals belonging to those regions. There is, certainly, a reigning and striking similarity of costume amongst most of the North Western tribes ; and I cannot say that the dress of the Mandans is decidedly distinct from that of the Crows or the Biackfeet, the Assinneboins or the Sioux; yet there are modes of stitching or embroidering, in every tribe, which may at once enable the traveller, who "s familiar with their modes, to detect or distinguish the dress of any tribe. These differences consist generally in the fashions of constructing the head-dress, or of garnishing their dresses with the porcupine quills, which tlu?" use in great profusion. Amongst so many different and distinct nations, always at war with each other, and knowing nothing at all of each other's languages ; and amongst whom, fashions in dress seldom if ever change ; it may seem somewhat strange that we should find these people so nearly following, or imitating each other, in the forms and modes of their dress and ornaments. This must however, be admitted, and I think may be accounted for in a manner, w.vhoui raising the least argument in favour of the theory of their having all sprung from one stock or one family ; for in their continual warfare, when chiefs or warriors fall, their clothes and weapons usually fall into the possession of the victors, who wear them ; and the rest of tiie tribe would naturally more or less often copy from or imitate them ; and so also in their repeated councils or treaties of peace, such articles of dress and other manufactures are customarily exchanged, which arc equally adopted by the other tribe: and consequently, eventually lead to the similarity which we find amongst the modes of dress, &c, of the different tribes. The tunic or shirt of the Mandaii men is very similar in shape to that of the Biackfeet— made of two skins of deer or mountain-sheep, strung with scalp-locks, beads, and ermine. The leggings, like those of the other tribes, of whom I have spoken, are made of deer skins, and shaped to fit the Lg, em- broidered with porcupine quills, and fringed with scalps from their enemies heads. Their mwcasins are made of buckskin, and neatly ornamented (i:|n lOJ quills and ermine. These are ^1 "' . ^^^''•e^g^'es' or ravens in all this country, ow nTto h d^fficu, v f""' ^'-^ °' "*" ^"^'^"'^ ^-^^ fur. The war-eagle belg ^e '< ^m r^r"?^''^ «!-"« -^ the animal that is fLd in^h countTv ^ T ''V™'"^ ^'^ ""«* this viUage, provided it is a perfect 1: Jf- °^ ' "'^'-''^^^ '» quills, which are denominated fisraL^I '"'"'; ''""' '''' '' ^'^^''^ in a head-dress, will pu.hasTl tt^ trCeVrrh:" '"'"'' much cheaper here than tl,o„ n,» • , (.norses, however, are abundant „Uu"ionotirt"z'v:;r rrr'- ' "■»'= ■"■' tune, attach to ,n„h article" rfdre.. t """ ''"P'" """'- p-.ln, a ,^. „a„,, „h- L f .t: r,hr:r; Oa^c'^onnSl" Pain .ngs, that the world may examine then, (or then„el,e, a„7,h„ K ^ eagles qu.lls and ermme, extending quite down to his feet- TnH u r :rizv: ,? ra -rr,i:t:e:M r E JX^i^;;s:th-;.ri^ci:^et::L^tSt ^. the bargam wa, m.tantly ,„„ck_the l,o,„, „cre proc„,edT,t a strange and m.Je.tic el." ™tJ™:d'e"„: "'"' '° '■' ?'''"' of the horn of a buH.lo h„ll . ,1 i , '" °' "'""' " """' P«" and a third Da ,t of it' ,1 '", "", ''"'"» '"'" »f'" '""" ™<1 '" ™!ain to us at once, if he were asked and felt disposed to do so — that each ijniil in his head stood, in the eyes of his whole tribe, as the symbol of an entemy who had fallen by his hand — that every streak of red paint coverod. a wound which he had got in honourable combat— ?nd that the bear's grj.iic with which he carefully anoints his body every morning, from )0:j - really, rid.culous customs an fash r but' . e r^^P^^""''^' ^ *«!' nor questions,-for his natural good en J an^ ^^ ""'' """ "''''"'^''' until he is reclining about the firsidro hi. ^ "'"""' ^''^'^ '"'"'- vents forth his just criticisms unonH,o, '"T'^"" companions, when he J"«t theme for median crit' r a^ ,"„r ;:;' '"''''' ^'^ '" ^ '^'^' ^^ J^z:^lz:t :h:tr ^" '' --- ^^y ^- ^o.s not oi, ^s a l.at on his head' o why he h. butT "' 'k "I'" '"'^-^^^ ^'^^ »>^ -- they never can b; used-or ^ hoZrT '- '"' ^"^ °' '^'^ ^°^*' "'-- his eyes-or why he sleeos w^h K \ . '^ ^"^"■'' ""'' ^^ ^^'^^ <^°>l'ir up to -why he walks'wUh : 0^0^^^ «- "-^ead of hisL^ that hundreds of wl,ite folkTwH fl ", "'"'"^ '•^'^'" '"-°' ^hy it is Indian eat-but he t 1 ' h^ "i "" ''''''' ^^-^ welkin ring" with jokes and fl r''" ^''■'''^'' ^^^^ " make the knowing world. ^ " "P°" ^'''^ '»"«'-^"^e and folly of the and gold or silver epaulettes unon hi K n" '"°"'"' ^''^^ "^ ''^'^^^ "^^^t quiring the meaning of tl em or r ^ ^ ^'^*^' ^'thout knowing or en- so a .Ine man travds amon4t a will 'T '"' ."''"'' ^'"^ "^« "°"° "^-t occasionally one of I e.rnl ^ ^''"' "'!''"^'^' ^""^^ °f I»d'a«^. and sees eagles' qu.ls and er> n and el "'7^'? """ ""'^^"' "'''> ^ ''^«^-'^-- ^^ buffalo horns ; anru " 1 InorT? f '7 '' '^ P"'' "*' '^'"^^"^'^""y P^'^^hed ance; and more so ''^or tl e fi 7 , " ■''' "'?' '^ "'"^ ""^^"'"^ "^ import- and cocked hats al'l ^ In! ed^^ ,'" ^"^""P^'"" ^^^^ ^P-''ttes purpose.-but the lattS w 1 p u'eThat 'h"" "''' '" ^°"" ™P"^^'^"^ nothing more nor les. (noTc.n herh ^^ °" '" '"^'^"'^ ^'^^^ «>•« nonsense and stupidity. ^ ^' '" ^^^'^ estimation), than Indian This brings us to the «< scans epaulettes and oocked^hT, "'!." '°''"' ^""^ "" *''" P°°^ ^"dian explaining them to his tribe it Ts n^ "" T^"'""^ '''^'■'' "-eaning, and with the noble dignitar ; tile 'T" ^'^ ^ ^''^"'^ '^^^'^ «««°eiated on their heads, and the^ to hav „,rT ,' 'u''''''' "'''^ ''^^"« ^'"i -mine further clue to their mportance anf "' '^' "'J^'^ "'■^'^•'"* ^'^"^ -"'« would be doubly unpX ir r ™''".'"^- ^'"" '"«' ^'»« "^ghgence the Indian and hi dyLltittrpoS' "" " '-'' ''' '^ ^^^^^ westirbZ is:;e^tf dL'r r-'' ''-''-' ^^'-^« ^^ ^" ^^« --•>- olas8.c meaning. No one wear the 17. T""' ""^'"'' ^''"'^ ^ P"^^'>' wears the head-dress surmounted with horns ex- f !■ ■i : 104 cept the dignitaries who are vei^ hi^^U in authority, and whose exceeding valour, worth, and power is admitted by all the nation. He may wear them, however, who is not a chief; but a brave, or warrior of such remarkable character, that he is esteemed universally in the tribe, as a man whose '* voice is as loud in council'' as that of a chief of the first grade, and consequently his power as great. This head-dress with horns is used only on certain occasions, and they are very seldom. When foreign chiefs, Indian agents, or other impor- tant personages visit a tribe ; or at war parades, at tiie cekbialion of a vic- tory, at public festivals, &c. they are worn ; but on no otlier occasions — unless, sometimes, when a chief sees fit to lead a war-party to battle, he decorates his head with this symbol of power, to stimulate his men ; and throws himself into the foremost of the battle, inviting his enemy to concen- trate their shafts upon him. The horns on these head-dresses are but loosely attached at the bottom, so that they easily fall back or forward, according as the head is inclmed forward or backward ; and by an ingenious motion of the head, whicii is so slight as to be almost imperceptible — they are made to balance to and fro, and sometimes, one backward and the other forward like a horse's ears, giving a vast deal of expression and force of character, to the appearance of the chief who is wearing them. This, reader, is a remarkable instance (like hundreds of others), for its striking similarity to Jewish customs, to the kerns (or keren, in Hebrew), the horns worn by the Abysinian chiefs and Hebrews, as a symbol of power and command ; worn at great parades and celebrations of victories. "The false prophet Zedekiah, made him horns of iron" (1 Kings xxii. 11). " Lift not your horns )n high ; speak not with a stiff neck" (Ps. Ixxv. 5). This last citation seems so exactly to convey to my mind the mode of raising and changing the position of the horns by a motion of the head, as I have above described, that I am irresistibly led to believe that this custom is now practiced amongst these tribes very nearly as it was amongst the Jews ; and that it has been, like many other customs of which I shall speak more in future epistles, handed down and preserved with very little innova- tion or change from that ancient people. The reader will see this custom exemplified in the portrait of Mali-to- toh-pa (plate 64). This man, although the second chief, was the only man in the nation who was allowed to wear the iiorns ; and all, I found, looked upon him as the leader, who had the power to lead all the warriors in time of war ; and that, in consequence of the extraordinary battles which he had fought. \Wf 105 letter-No. 15. mandan village. upper missourl There is evidently much ZZr7Zl^~^v ?""''"" "^'^^''' ''^^rnony. what I can learn^oonerthe nation 1^' ,f 'S''^"^^'"^ '^"^ ^-"^ knowledge of the exact day on which t -.7' '"^'''"■"^-^«' ^^^ve any by the chiefs, that it takes nir ' V *° ^""""^"^e- I am informed for, say they «< the twL whthtK T." T ''"' wi"ow-tree is in full leaf; and had fuigrown leaSs «" it ' S > '™"''\" "" ^ billow bough some relation to the Sd " '""'"' *''^^ ''"« ^^'^bration has '-^hich I have made since my last ^ ' '^'"^ ""'"^ ^"'^ memorandums. .ubje'r^errrat 1:1:17. ^-t ^^'^«- -^ p---^- notions which they Lave of Tart so T' ", '"'"'^' '"'^ superstitious have been initiated into manvofth 7 '"^ ""accountable to them, I curious incidents, aidprefveS t 7'^^™^^'-'- witnessed many very relate. ' P'""'""'' ^^^*=^^' anecdotes, some of which I must operiroritw:: "t,:: roSr:^ r ''•^' ''-- ^-^'^ ^'- ^^'« new to them, and of our untllLhr'f '"';!'"^ ^'^ ' ^"'^J^'^* '^"^'^^'y commenced a new era in U ' arc t S )■ ""^ "^ 'PP'^''^"^^ ^''^ ^as arriving here. I commenced ndfinihd The "! " "^^'"^- ^°"" «^^- c jefs. This was done without hilVtCdtht ''^-'"^ ^'"/'P^' villagers, as they had heard nothino- n/ .''Y ^^ curiosity of the chiefs themselves seemed to be i' rf 7T ^'' ^"'"^ ''"' ^"^ ^-^" the were completed. No one el, waTL "' T^- '"'^"^' ""'*' ^'^^ P-^urcs operation; and when finTshed it wL p '? "^ '^''^^ d"™& ^^e mutually recognizing Lch othl/ iV'^^ ^"^'^ '"""^'"^ '« ^^« »f'-» the striking resemblLce which t k'"'"'' ""'^ ^^^"""^ ^^^^ other of pressed their hand over the m 7. I". *'- «"g-als. Both of these amongst most tribes, when 11^ "'•'''' T ''^^'^ ^"^"^ (^ -^^om attentively upon the ioTS, 7nH ^ 7J^'''^' '^^"^ '^'^ ""^l^) • 'coking with which tLse u arcountble ffp'r ''^k' "P'^" '''' P^'^«^ ^^^ -'-" VOL. ,. ""accountable effects had been produced. lit I I. 1 = i il I' ;.PPP Vi i1 li They then walked ,up to me In the most gentle manner, faking me in turn by the hand, with a firm grip ; with head and eyes inclined down- wards, and in u tone a little above a whisper — pronounced the words " te-ho- pe-nee Wasli-ee ! " and walked off. Readers, at that moment 1 was christened witli a new and a great name — one by which I am now familiarly hailed, and talked ctf in this village ; and no doubt will be, us long as traditions last in this strange community. Tlial moment conferred an honour on me, which you as yet do not under- stand. I took the degree (not of Doctor of Laws, nor Bachelor of Arts) of Master of Arts— of mysteries — of magic, and of hocus pocus. I was recog- nized in that short sentence as a " great medicine white man ;" and since that time, have been regularly itistalled medicine or mystery, which is the most honourable degree that could be conferred upon me here ; and 1 now hold a place amongst the most eminent and envied personages, the doctors and conjurati of this titled community. Te-ho-pe-nee Wash-ee (or medicine white man) is the name I now go by, and it will prove to me, no doubt, of more value than gold, for I have been called upon and feasted by the doctors, who are all mystery-men ; and it has been an easy and successful passport already to many strange and mys- terious places ; and has put me in possession of a vast deal of curious and interesting information, wiiich I am sure I never should have otherwisfi 'earned. I am daily growing in the estimation of the medicine-men and .he chiefs; and by assuming all the gravity and circumspection 'iie from 80 high a dignitary (and even considerably more) ; and endeaviiiring to perform now and then some art or trick that is unfathomable, 1 am in hopes of supporting my standing, until the great annual ceremony com- mences ; on which occasion, I may possibly be allowed a seat in the virdi- cinelodge by the doctors, who are the sole conductors of this great source •nd fountain of all priestcraft and conjuration in this country. After 1 had finished the portraits of the two chiefs, and they had returned to their wigwams, and deliberately sealed fliemselves by their respective fire-sides, and silently smoked a pipe or two (according to an universal custom), they gradually began to tell what had taken place ; and at length crowds of gaping listeners, with mouths wide open, tiuonged their lod-^es ; and a throng of women and girls ,. re about my houw , and th mgh every crack and crevice I could see their glistening eyes, whicli were piercing my hut in a hundred places, froui a natural and restless pro- pensity, a curiosity to see what was ing on within. An hour or more passed in this way, and the soft and silken throng continually increased, until some hundreds of them wer(> clun^'. and piled about my wigwam like a swarm of bees hangu ' on the front and sides of their hive. During this time, not a .nan made his appearance about the premises — after awhile, howevpi hey could be seen, folded in their robes, gradually siding up towards the lodge, ^^'h a silly look upon their faces, which confessed at 107 with iucurs in their humU^ ..t fK- -i„ ■ ■ ' P'''^'"^*"/'''^" (braves recogniae llicir cliicf. Tl„ Tir, ■ ^ , "'' ' °'"™'' '» '«" »'"' had l,p,u.l „„ ; "P"" "° ""«■' » "I'lltilude, « ho a. vet had M,d „o „a, „f accounlmg for then,, „„, „„,c| a„j „, ,, ,.„ f £' .ho,,o„j::r%;°?;h,''r.r' "'";'— yj-K-"™. - j c "iiUoB'ing uirougli the crowd to touch me wifli tJio c>„aJ ^e ^i. ■ d.olI'toTr^''""!'''. *'"''• """ ""J ''"I ''i"=°™'«l life en»»gh i, m to rendf ,n, ,„,„„« toojrcat fo, the Handan. ; sajing thal.uch an I Til 'ii I: ■ M 1 ; 108 upcrution cuuld not be pt'iformed without tuking away from tho original ■nnietliing of his existence, whicli I put in the picture, and they could see it move, could Kce it stir. This curtailing of the natural existence, for the purpose of instilling life into the secondary one, they decided to be an useless and destructive operation, and one which was calculated to do great mischief in their happy community ; and they commenced a mournful and doleful cliaunt against nie, crying and weeping bitterly through the village, proclaiming mc a most "dangerous man ; one who could make living persons by looking at them ; and dt the same time, could, as a matter of course, destroy life in the same way, if I chose. That my medicine was dangerous to their lives, and that I must leave the village immediately. That bad luck would happen to those whom I painted — that I was to take a part of the existence of those whom 1 painted, and carry it home with mc amongst the white people, and that when they died they would never sleep ([uiet in their graves." In this way the women and sonie old quack medicine-men together, bad succeeded in raising an opposition against mo ; and the reasons they assigned were ho plausible and so exactly suited for their superstitious feelings, that they completely succeeded in exciting fears and a general panic in the minds of a number of chiefs who had agreed to sit for their portraits, and my operations were, of course, for several days completely at a stand. A grave council was held on the subject from day to day, and there seemed great difficulty in deciding what was to be done with me and the dangerous art which I was practicing ; and which had far exceeded their original expectations. I finally got admittance to their sacred conclave, and assured them that I was but a man like themselves, — that my art had no medicine or mystery about it, but coidd be learned by any of them if they would practice it as long as I had — lluit my intentions towards them were of the most friendly kind, and that in the country where I lived, brave men never allowed their squaws to frighten them with their foolish whims and stories. They all immediately arose, shook me by the hand, and dressed themselves for their pictures. After this, tiicid was no further difficulty about sitting; all were ready to be painted,— the squaws were silent, and my painting-room a continual resort for the chiefs, and braves, and medicine- men ; where they waited with impatimce for the completion of each one's picture, — that they could decide as to the likeness as it came from under the brush ; that they could laugh, and yell, and sing a new song, and smoke a fresh pipe to the health and success of him who had just been safely delivered from the hands and the mystic operation of the "white medicine." In each of these operations, as they successfully took place, I observed that a pipe or two were well filled, and as soon as I commenced painting, the chiefs and braves, who sat around the sides of the lodge, commenced smoking for the success of the picture (and probably as much or more so for the safe deliverance of the. sitter from harm while under the operation); 100 Zt,ZT' ""'""^ '° ''-' ''' P'P« -"'I u„t.l the portrait wa. the pipe, and streannn, the smoLLl^^^^^^ and uctions an evident rdief; onubiiri? ' '. "'"^'""»^' '" '"y '«"•"• .ucce„._by fluttering und cLn n i " . ,'''°''''^ ^'"' '"°^'= '"^"^"i^y ""d '.u'l .ot it done, and taki„VZf "c « J' r^' "?" '"' ^°"^ '«"'''' «''" ' a .natter of honour w.th them. whS tsel tl'' " ''"f^' "-'""^' '« ...e and n.y art thealan.pof re^peetability "t oncl "'"''"^'y- ^'^ «-« ^ar::^;:;t::.Kr j- -o^.^. where truly elej^ant. *" '''* ''"'^''"S^' '"'''^^'^^ them in my estin.ation rel::::':^:zz t^.!:z-^r^r ^y ^ -^^c..™. .ho a fea,t, and they presented ;; a i:""'' ^''"'*^'' . ' ^^ '"-ted to also a magical wand, or a doc r's suH t'uT"''' "[ " ^'^'"^'^ ^''"'''' "»«» bear, with hoofs of the antelop 1^ ^: Ij;^ ^';;- «'' »''« griz.ly wmgs-and perfumed withal lith the c™ ~rd " '"^f ""' ''''''• pole-cat-a do, was sacrificed and In.n/TLllT""'' °'^°" °' ''" I was therefore and thereby initiated in.o^V *' " ""^ ^'S^^^m, and of) the arcana of mcdicine'o s^l nc cl'T"'r"""' '" '''^ P^-^'- traordlnury Society of ConJuraT ^' ''"'''^'''^ ^ ^^^Uow of the Ex, Smce this signal success and srood fort,in« in gone on very pleasantly, and I ha've .ad ge dTalTT""' ''"»" '^'^ altercation ha» taken place, however amomS .K . "'""^'^"lent. Son.e regard to standing or rank of which th'^ the chiefs and braves, with '•'ust sit (if at ali;in regularorder t o .1"?'^ "^'^ J^^''^"^' ""^' they settled at last. Leve^ a J h ^ ^ the trouble is all great many have become at in a 1 '," ^«"t of subjects, though a as some say, tlmt they :iuT Vr rtur;,:'^"" "'T'"'"^' ^" ^''' '^ '-''r. ^"- if they are paintL, the icCX ,nt*'aK:;i : ^"', "^ "'^^^^ ^'^y' cannot sleep quiet in their graves ^ '"''' '^'^''' ^"'J they t..ilt^;':hi:h7::l";;rrt:^^ST^^^ '- -^^ parting-room, or •"incls and feelings of the cllfs a„d ^ ' ^^'"^ ^"^'"''^^ ^'^-'^^ : though the by them. Theresas been ee or four ? """""u '"^'^ "°^ '^^^'^ '««-ted young men have been in ^^ZJZ^T''''' "'"' ^""'^ '^"^ '^^P'-'^ f'oad chief across the room (wS sits 00 T'"^- '' ''"' P""^'-*'"'^ «'' 'he their hands before their face Ind walkir '^ '"" ,'" ^'" ^y^"'')' »>-« ^^"-d the right or left, fron. when e o trkMr" /°. '''■'''' °'^''^ ''''^'' «" "««ead of staring him full in uL ftn ^ r 1 "" ^"' '''''^■'°«'* ^t the chief. m the face (wh.ch ,s a most unpardonable offence i i'» 110 ha.e.h™„„ ,bei, „bo, over their heads'and b: cd «5 he^tr I had trouble brewmg also the other day from another source- one of 2«-«i„,,he.eb, „y ^p„,„Uy. , .,.:!: .iiranTalSrl' k d and llu I r tr^'"'"' 'y ^"^^ °-«f a mostextraordina V "oute, ana that 1 had several days shce tpsoIvpH thof m„ .„ r . . It (after paddhng my canoe so far as I had) and makp ,> . ""'''°"\°* and successfully, I would begin on his portl^t which twa. IrpUS o commence on that day, and that I felt .s if I could do himtstic? He shook me by the hand, giving me the « Doctor's ^rio " nnH h? i a e had „„ .ftiendly feeli„g. ,„„a,d. .e,Z a/y IT d :? n'" »n- I know jou are a jood man (said he), 1 kno» ,ou will 11 k ' to anyone, your medicine is great and .on are .I^r, j "° rjonid iike to «e n,,se,f ve, weU Jnl'^J „ dToVtl tST; ».oked, and he ,ot "p^nd jjorfp-r:;' ^riii' ;^ 1, and cast their full in the face, of the wigwam, they always will y walked around iese unfortunate and also by the e them of their »ny explanation Iways evidence i sooner than a s to my room, :esgfu]. source; one of id my domicil, ^0 were inside ery materially ' called him in iter with me; md had been find out his extraordinary my particular oon as I had iffness out of work easily len prepared justice. He koned me to his was over, 3ugh he had ie who had in and chil- tremble, yet Iread of my do no harm licine-man.' chiefs ; but 7 ail know made alive d you who 1 in a little k'us lit and s and pa- lette liis i toile Ai with foxes PLAT aroui remai whorr poca. caluir his d which in the in fro while and ti wherei preach and ai( Thei Btalkinj I have village, ■» I HI ^P^^f^^^^^JTl^r^^ -oe. ... He „.e -ith bear's grease ^nd chacoal'^^f'^l •""'^ P^'"^« ^'^ various colours, foxes tails attached to his h s 'e„^ I'thTT'l^ J" ''^ '^-^^ -^ ri^-^TE 55), with a train of h s own !.. ,^^.^-*°-*'f- '''^^ (the old bear, around him; and also a numb r of bovs T'"' "'" ''^''"^ ''^^"^^Ives remam with him. and whom I supposed Too 'T '' T "^"^^'^^ ^^-^ whom he was instructing i„ the Tvste i^, t "'^^'* '^^^^ ^^«" ?"?»«• ;-«• He took his position in he middT of ^r'"''' "''''''" ^"^ La calumets in .ach hand, and sing n' hi tedir ™"'"' "'""^ '"'^ ^^'^ h» dy.ng patient, looking riie fuilfn U^ll ' n r"^ ^'^''^'^ ''^ ^'"^^ ^v^r wh-ch I painted at full length His tanhv hrK ""^''"'^ ""''' ^''''"'^ n the operation; he lie, for hours toJethl H T '^"'"P^^^^'y gratified >n .front of his picture, gazing intense 1 1 ^^, "'!'{ ^^y' ^" '"^ '°on,. whdel am painting-shakes hand wi Le^ a" H ' ''^'^^ "^^ P'P^ '^^ - and talks of me, and enlarges upon r^v % '" ''""'' °" «^a^h day. wherever he goes; so that thrneTdSr "' "''"" ^"'^ -^ *^>-i Preachmg against me, he is one of mt^ ro IJ^^:; ^^™--^' -^ '"^tead o and aids m the country. ^ °' ""'^ ^"'^ ""ost enthusiastic friends ff^^^^^^^^S:^^ that is often seen I ave been somewhat annoyed, and il '1 ^ "^ nondescript, with whom V'llagcof whom (or of.kJk) 1 hall 1 eTome'?"'' ^'"" ' ^^™^ *« t'"' ,'ve some account m my next epistle. 112 i LETTER— No. 16. MANDAN VILLAGE, UPPER MISSOURL Besides chiefs, and braves and doctors, of whom I have heretofore spoken, there is yet another character of whom I must say a few words before I proceed to other topics. The person I allude to, is the one mentioned at the close of my last Letter, and familiarly known and countenanced in every tribe as an Indian beau or dandy. Such personages may be seen on every pleasant day, strutting and parading around the village in the most beautiful and unsoiled dresses, without the honourable trophies however of scalp locks and claws of the grizzly bear, attached to their costume, for with such things they deal not. They are not peculiarly anxious to hazard their lives in equal and honourable combat with the one, or disposed to cross the path of the other ; but generally remain about the village, to take care of the women, and attire themselves in the skins of such animals as they can easily kill, without seeking the rugged cliffs for the war-eagle, or visiting the haunts of the grizzly bear. They plume themselves with swan's-down and quills of ducks, with braids and plaits of sweet-scented grass and other harmless and unmeaning ornaments, which have no other merit than they themselves have, that of looking pretty and ornamental. These clean and elegant, gentlemen, who are vei-y few in each tribe, are held in very little estimation by the chiefs and braves ; inasmuch as it is known by all, that they have a most horrible aversion to arms, and are deno- minated " faint hearts" or " old women" by the whole tribe, and are there- fore but little respected. They seem, however, to be tolerably well contented with the appellation, together with the celebrity they have acquired amongst the women and children for the beauty and elegance of their personal appearance ; and most of them seem to take and enjoy their share of the world's pleasures, although they are looked upon as drones in society. These gay and tinselled bucks may be seen in a pleasant day in all dieir plumes, astride of their pied or dappled ponies, with a fan in the rigl t nuud, made of a turkey's tail — with whip and a fly-brush attached to the .viis' of the same hand, and underneath them a white and beautiful and soft pleasure- saddle, ornamented with porcupine ijuills and ermine, parading througli and lovmging about the village for an hour or so, when they will cautiously bend their course to the suburbs of the town, where they will tit 113 or recline upon their horses for an hour nr ♦ games where the braves and the young asp 2,°? ''''"° '^'' ^'^^'^^^ and athletic amusements .-when theyLTtllir"/'"^'"^ '" '"^"•y they wend their way back again, lift off their fi'u"""" "'" '^'^'^ effort, which is wadded with baffal's 'h^l^;" '"^.^"^ -^^^le of doe's-skin th:':?;hLXt:ir:^;r-^^ Ha. been two or my door; decked out in all their finlw-.l^ "" ""''"'^^^ '» '"'•«"' of other information, than such as hey cT^Id d ^ '"f"^ '''''' ''^"^^^ - seams of my cabin. The chiefs 1 1! ^ '"'""' "''°"&'' ^^e cracks and and of course, without invi ^ Lm r^ali fr"' ''^^ '^ "'^''-^ -^'e' door from day to day in theirVe t dres^s "nH h^ T""""^ '' '^^"^ ^''°"* '"y that I would select them as m °' ^'^'^ '-"' -^ '#-! I.' I'. $ 'Nil 'I I ! I 114 I had thus far progressed, with high-wrought feelings of pleasure, when the two or three chiefs, who had been seated around the lodge, and whose |jortraits I had before painted, arose suddenly, and wrapping themselves tightly in their robes, crossed my room with a quick and hea\ y step, and took an informal leave of my cabin. I was apprehensive of their displeasure, though I continued my work ; and in a few moments the interpreter came furiously into my room, addressing me thus : — '* My God, Sir ! this never will do ; you have given great offence to the chiefs — they have made com- plaint of your conduct to me — they tell me this is a worthless fellow — a man of no account in the nation, and if you paint bis picture, you must instantly destroy theirs ; you have no alternative, my dear Sir — and the quicker this chap is out of your lodge the better." The same matter was explained to my sitter by the interpreter, when he picked up his robe, wrapped himself in it, plied his fan nimbly about his face, and walked out of the lodge in silence, but with quite a consequential smile, taking his old position in front of the door for awhile, after which he drew himself quietly off without further exhibition. So highly do Man- dan braves and worthies value the honour of being painted ; and so little do they value a man, however lavishly Nature may have bestowed her master touches upon liim, who has not the pride and noble bearing of a warrior. I spoke in a former Letter of Mah-io-loh-pa (the four bears), the secono chief of the nation, and the most popular man of the Mandans — a high- minded and gallant warrior, as well as a polite and polished gentleman. Since I painted his portrait, as I before described, I have received at his hands many marked and signal attentions ; some of which I must name to you, as the very relation of them will put you in possession of many little forms and modes of Indian life, that otherwise might not have been noted. About a week since, this noble fellow stepped into my painting-room about twelve o'clock in the day, in full and splendid dress, and passing his arm through miae> pointed the way, and led me in the most gentlemanly manner, through the village and into his own lodge, where a feast was pre- pared in a careful manner and waiting cur arrival. The lodge in which he dwelt ,/as a room of immense size, seme forty or fifty feet in diameter, in a circular form, and about twenty feet high — wit.i a sunken curb of stone in the centre, of five or six feet in diameter and one foot deep, which contained the fire over which the pot was boiling. I was led near the edge of this curb, and seated on a very handsome robe, most i.igeniously garnished and painted with hieroglyphics ; and he seated himself gracefully on another one at a little distance from me ; with the feast prepared in several dishes, resting on a beautiful rush mat, which was placed between us (plate 62). The simple feast which was spread before us consisted of three dishes only, two of which were served in wooden bowls, and the third in an earthen vessel of their own manufacture, somewhat in shape of a bread-tray in our own country. This last containeu a quantity of pem-i-can and marrow- sure, when and whose themselves y step, and iispleasure, •reter came this never made coin- ow — » man St instantly juicker this r, when he y about his n sequential after which ly do Man- md so litt!t> her master warrior. , the secona »s — a high gentleman, iived at his p.8t name to many little en noted, inting-room passing his gentlemanly jst was pre- in which he imeter, in a of stone in It contained ige of this rnished and on another eral dishes, LATE 62). hree dishes an earthen ead-tray in id Ttiarrow- I ''5 1^ i If I M' |Bk>' % ;; i I 115 fat I and one of the former lield a fine brace of hi,ff»u .k j i- l , .. roasted ; and the other was filled with a kind of oal n n'- '^^''g*'»f"»y the flour of the ";,o... W«„cAe.-' as the J^en h'c I Tde •"'' "j"'' "' of the prairie/finely flavoured wiU. the buffa o berf wh^h '^001":'! m great .uantitiej in this country, and used with dive^SlsLr^o Si' Ible '''"' """'"" '"^ '"^^ currants, which they very t^^t k'ntk'kwr.n' -nJ a tobacco-pouch made of the otter skin, filled with werfsitrd i;e'C^^^^ ^''•^ "^^'^^f-*^ and when we belt cut off a vl , ' °^" * " P'P^' '"^ ^^^"'"S •''« knife from his threw it into the fire ^^ ^"''"'"^ " ""'^'""^ «^'="«<^«)' He then (by signals) requested me to eat, and I commenced after dr»w and I observed as I ate, that after he had taken enough of tiri'n ckS t^^^^'l^- '^^ ""' P°"^''' ^^ -"^^ -* ^' - ^'^ a pLetf i.LoT l\ " '="«'0'"«'-y an^ongst these folks to carry in their oba co-sack to g.ve .t a flavour; and, shavingoffa small quantity of it mixed twth the bark, w.th which he charged his pipe. This done, he d^w al Td buVl d ' '"'r r? -"^--^^ «- Po-cler. whick was made S dned buffalo dung, a l.ttle of which he spread over the top. (according also t le ri r'lr'"' "" "'^ tinder,havingnoothereffecttha; hat of gin" dwUhTV';;^' "''''"*""• ^y ^PP^^"« -t'-t^''. I straightened up: a ho themf. M-T.r ''' ^"'^ "^ ^"J^^^^^ together for a'quarter and pa . otir , ^ ^'''':i' '"^'""^^ "'^•'°'* ^^«^'"g^' -"'^ clouds of smoke .nm pantomimic signs and gesticulations. nrst a„^ art-i'?/f"''r '"'* "'^"°^-*«^" of which I spoke, was thus :-The •Tst, an article of food used throughout this country, as familiarly as we use 116 I' If ill bread i»» the civilized world. It is made of bufTalo meat dried very hardi and afterwards pounded in a large wooden mortar until it is made nearly a> fine as sawdust, then packed in this dry state in bladders or sacks of skin, and is easily carried to any part uf the world in !,ood order. '*' Marrow-fat" is collected by the Indians from the buffali bones which they break to pieces, yielding a prodigious quantity of marrow, which is boiled i. it and put into buHalo bladders which have been distended ; and after it ools, liecomes quite hard like tallow, and has the appearance, and very nearly the flavour, of the richest yellow butter. At a feast, chunks of this marrow- fat are cut off and placed in a tray or bowl, with the pemican, and eaten together ; which we civilized folks in these regions consider a very good substitute for (and indeed we generally so denominate it) '• bread and butter." In this dish laid a spoon made of the buffalo's horn, which was black as jet, and beautifully polisticd ; in one of the others there was another of still more ingenious and beautiful workmanship, made of the horn of the mountain-sheep, or " Gros corn," as the French trappers call them ; it was large enough to hold of itself two or three pints, and was almost entirely transparent. I spoke also of the earthen dishes or bowls in which these viands were served out ; they are a familiar part of the culinary furniture of every Mandan lodge, and are manufactured by tht women of this tribe in great quantities, and modelled into a thousand forms and tastes. They are made by the hands of the women, from a tough black clay, and baked in kilns which are hiade for the purpose, and are nearly equal in hardness to our own ?i nufactiire of pottery ; though they have not yet got the art of glazing, which would be to them a most valuable secret. They make them so strong and serviceable, however, that they hang them over the fire as we do our iron pots, and boil their meat in them with perfect success. I have seen some few specimens of such manufacture, which have been dug up in Indian mounds and tombs in the southern and middle states, placed in our Eastern Museums and looked upon as a great wonder, when here this novelty is at once done away with, and the whole mystery ; where women can be seen handling and using them by hundreds, and they can be seen every day in the summer ulso, moulding them into many fanciful forms, and passing them through the kiln where they are hardened. Whilst sitting at this feast the wigwam was as silent as death, although we were not alone in it. This chief, like most others, had a plurality of wives, and all of them (some six or seven) were seated around the sides of the lodge, upon robes or mats placed upon the ground, and not allowed to speak, though they were it readiness to obey his orders oi commands, which were uniformly given by signs manual, and executed in the neatest and most silent manner. When 1 arose to return, the pipe through which we had smoked was presented to me ; and the robe on which I had sat, he gracefully raised by the corners and tendered it to me, explaining by signs that the paintings 117 1t>. .S^J^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) y^o .v^ Zi 1.0 !f« I.I 1.25 50 m 2.2 2.0 1.8 U 111.6 y Photographic Sciences Corporation ^ « '^^ouror the ceremony of marriage, his stoik of ( J ^ '"^ '"^ compromising by ;f^K:^rtSr:;:;:kttr?"'^^^ - e«.ctivetha„ the estimation of his people and wields h/1 . ""V ^^° ^'^"^^ ^^^h in by temptation, which he consider, tt„ld b? "' P^^-^^rou^nded no law or regulation of society stands Tni """''"'' '° resist, where a custom amongs. savage n tt, et ea n' T °'^" ^"J^y""-*' ^uch bound to excuse it, when we behold "an ^ '"'"^'^ '°°' ^^^ *« ^re •nade, following a natural inc inaln J." K ''"'' °^ "^^"^^' ^« ^^ ^^3 custom and by their religi „ "St "'".'^ '« -"^^ioned by ancient society to discountenance it ; aLd wh n at th "' '■'^"'^'•°" ^^ ^heir "•"lation of a man's househo d! insTead 'f ^''"^' *'™'' '"'^'^ "" '''^- would be the case in the civi i ed wopi/n '^"'^^"Pl'"^ bis expenses (as as the results of their labour aSantt "V'l '''''"''' '""^ ^-'^b. and luxuries of life. abundantly secure to him all the necessaxies well as from a love of dorv to 1 I , . '"* '"^ never-ending feuds as ^He only .oad, th Jr' t^s t^^^d tff%f ^^ '"^'^^ -£-e comm„„ity to an evi^ ^f = ^^S^- ^ j^J t^Si::::::^ i^- 1: ?^' t ^-"^ -^-d to the obscure individual from marrying s'vralw'''^ P'°"''''"^ ^ P°°r O"" d'fficulties which lie between him!„d he HrV°?''' ^'^^^ '^' P^'^O"^' get. for want of sufficient celetl t teietv /"'' '^ "'^'^" '" -'" *° objection, that of his inability (fom wantT' m, ""^ " '*'" "°^« ^^^^ent customary way with the father^ VfthTr; if 7''''u^ ^''^'^ '' ^^^1 '« the b's own household. ' ^"'' "''•°™ *»« wo"ld appropriate to Po?:^^^.^- :r ^:^:< -^ - in .hese regions, where a ^- orgeat reputation, and ^^"^ :f:L:z-r :::'::^ 120 im^'' J I h.u 4 \>f. Si'- ■f 1. ill ill '. h f 1, «t '1 ■ ' '1 'i 1 1 i 1 ''^^ P^ '- eight living under one roof, and all apparently quiet and contented ; seemingly harmonizing, and enjoying the modes of life and treatment that falls to their loi-. .,,,., • n Wives in this country are mostly treated for with the father, as m all instances they are regularly bought and sold. In many cases the bargain IS made with the father alone, without ever consulting the inclinations of the girl, and seems to be conducted on his part as a mercenary contract entirely, where he stands out for the highest price he can possibly command for her. There are other instances to be sure, where the parties approach each other, and from the expression of a mutual fondness, make their own arrangements, and pass their own mutual vows, which are quite as sacred and inviolable as similar assurances when made in the civilized world. Yet even in such cases, the marriage is never consummated without the necessary form of making presents to the father of the girl. It becomes a matter of policy and almost of absolute necessity, for the white men who are Traders in these regions to connect themselves in this way, to one or more of the most influential families in the tribe, which in a measure identifies their interest with that of the nation, and enables them, with the influence of their new family connexions, to carry on successfully their business transactions with them. The young women of the best families only can aspire to such an elevation ; and the most of them are exceedingly ambitious for such % connexion, inasmuch as they are certain of a delightfal exemption from the slavish duties that devolve upon them when married under other circumatantes ; and expect to be, as they generally are, allowed to lead a life of ease and idleness, covered with mantles of blue and scarlet cloth— with beads and trinkets, and ribbons, in which they flounce and flirt about, the envied and tinselled belles of every tribe. These connexions, however, can scarcely be called marriages, for I believe they are generally entered into without the form or solemnizing ceremony of a marriage, and on the part of the father of the girls, conducted purely as a mercenary or business transaction ; in which they are very nxpert, and practice a deal of shrewdness in exacting an adequate price from a purchaser whom they consider possessed of so large and so rich a stock of the world's goods ; and who they deem abundantly able to pay liberally for so delightful a commodity. Almost every Trader and every clerk who commences in the business of this country, speedily enters into such an arrangement, which is done with as little ceremony as he would bargain for a horse, and just as unceremoni- ously do they annul and abolish this connexion when they wish to leave the country, or change their positions from one tribe to another ; at which time the woman is left, a fair and proper candidate for matrimony or speculation, when another applicant comes along, and her father equally desirous for another horse or guu, &c. which he can easily command at her second espousal. , ;•■* 121 tignuy unuerstood Ihon this, and none either that hai furnished m. n,nr. nuure occasion, when I shall say a vast deal more of marriage-of divorce -of polygamy-and of Indian domestic relations. For th^ent l7m and uSr '" 'T'^ ^"'^ "^^S^' ^f ^»»« I"d'-» who a?e bo. m" S I ose sSt S ihl' '.""' "°^ ''^"" ^°° '""'^'^ '"^° general relks S. I !i, ^ .,, ''''° "^ ""*' ™^' *"d the first to be heralded. Such, then are the Mandans-their women are beautiful and moL ^ and amongst the respectable families, virtue is as highly cherished Td as iZ app oachable. as ,„ any society whatever ; yet at thi sa'me time a chief may ma ry a dozen w,.es .f he pleases, and so may a white man ; and if eiZ only equal, perhaps, to two horses, a gun with powder and ball for a vear five maly a the a.e „ " > ^ °^ "°^* °^ '^''^ north-western tribes, marry at the age of twelve or fourteen, and some at the aee of eleven and C seem ^'"''■"T '"" .''' '''"' °''"P'''°"' ^'^ ^''""^^ ^°"^'""« ' meat and wiLf\ T*""^' ^"■"'^'"^ ™^^^ ^"'^ ^^''^^ ^kins. in dryint shn!lT M J'"V' *" '•''"" ^y t»>« ^"""e". «J'o make their hoes of the IS ;l^^^ '"^^'^ °^ t ^"'' '^' ^'S the ground over instead of ploughmg .t, which IS consequently done with a vast deal of labour. Thev hum ?hr T °' " n ' ^'" '''' '' ^'"'^•^ -^ "°t '-g- than a J . ■ than 1 '"'"'y '' ^'" ^'^''Pt^^ t° their climate, as It ripens sooner than other varieties which would not mature in so cdd a la kude The Etar Te" " r °' 'T '"''^''-^ ^''•^ ^»'-' -d - of "-' m " ^'' ^"' '''''•■ ""P " **'^" '^"""g these festivals, R .'I II h I' ' |! 122 and the remainder is gatlioied and dried on the oob, before it has ripened, and packed away in " caches" (as the French call them), holes du;y in the {ground, some six or seven feet deep, the insides of which are somewhat in the form of a jui?, and tightly closed at tlie top. The corn, and even dried meat and pemican, are placed in these caches, being packed tiglit around the sides, with prairie grass, and effectually preserved through the severest winters. Corn and dried meat are generally laid iu in the fall, in sufficient quantities to support them through the winter. These are the principal articles of food during that long and inclement season ; and in addition to them, they often- times have in store great quantities of dried squashes and dried "pommes blanches," a kind uf turnip which grows in great abundance in these regions, and of which I have before spoken. These are dried in great quantities, and pounded into a sort of meal, and cooked with the dried meat and corn. Great quantities albo of wild fruit of different kinds are dried and laid away in store for the winter season, such as buffalo berries, service berries, strawberries, and wild plums. The buffalo meat, however, is the great staple and "staff of life" in this country, and seldom (if ever) fails to afford Ihem an abundant and whole- some means of subsistence. There are, from a fair computation, something like 250,000 Indians in these western regions, who live almost exclusively on the flesh of these animals, through every part of the year. During the summer and fall months they use the meat fresh, and cook it in a great variety of ways, by roasting, broiling, boiling, stewing, smoking, &c. ; and by boiling the ribs and joints with the marrow in them, make a delicious 80up, which is universally used, and in vast quantities. The Mandans, 1 tincl, have no regular or stated times for their meals, but generally eat about twice in the twenty-four hours. The pot is always boiling over the fire, and any one who is hungry (either of the household or from any other part of the village) has a right to order it taken off, and to fall to eating as he pleases. Such is an unvarying custom amongst the North American Indians, and I very much doubt, whether the civilized world have in their institutions any system which can properly be called more humane and charitable. Every man, woman, or child in Indian communities is allowed lo enter any one's lodge, and even that of the chief of the nation, and eat when they are hungry, provided misfortune or necessity has driven them to it. Even so can the poorest and most worthless drone of the nation; if he is toe lazy to hunt or to supply himself, he can walk into any lodge and everyone will share with him as long as there is anything to eat. He, however, who thus begs when he is able to hunt, pays dejr for his meat, for he is stigmatized with the disgraceful epithet of a poltroon and u beggar. The Mandans, like all other tribes, sit at their meals cross-legged, or rather with their ancles crossed in front of them, and both feet drawn close under their bodies ; or, whicii is very often the case also, take their meals in a re- i I' 123 are .nvariably on the ground or floor of X . I" '^''^'' '^"'» ^'"^h they e « buffa o robes or n,ats of various stutu el '"'' T' '" ^^°"P ^^^4Z The position in which thn «,n™ • manufacture. '^ » different fro. that the mer^d '' ''1""" ""^ "" °'her occasions again, with great ease and much Lr" T ''^''^ '^'^ ''^' ^nd riseTom together, inchning the body back fnd the'h T^ 'k"'"'^ ''^ ''"^ ^th t ley squat entirely down to thp !• ! ^'^ ^"^ shoulders quite forward nght or the left. L this po,,S.?r; '. '"''"'"° ''^^'^ ^-t either "the' ..oth modest and graceful. Lt„ 2 wT "'' "'"^ ^^"■"^' '^^ ' " P-on and rise out of it. wi.oi u^ ^ CT^;- ^ ^ ^ These women, howevpr aUUr. u «; eve, so !,„„,;, J: ; '.J'^e," S-ceM ,.d dvN, a„d over „ beau A, Willie at their meals «;« / f , ^" '" ^he same ffrouD wifh thT »- have .een'ati Jril S>" f-'W i" .he T/CZTI liw group at the banquet ZZ ^ """' '"' '"'sbantl. Men formal 8«He, at the next, anSe "tnTS !" H f "T '"■■ ■"-«» «" "" e t It IS time that an error on *!,:. u- ■"the world, was correcte . TlT^:!:!'''^ ^^ ^"^ generally abroad «ally believed, that the Indian a e .^^"'''"'^ '^^^^^''ted. and almost unTer yaking. I assure my read rs hat this T""'"' '^'"^ ■' ^"' -mparare,: ^ere are no persons on eart wl .' ,ice" "'"' ' ^^'""^ '« 4 t' 2 ^-n the men do (amongst the w ld7nd aLf? " P'"'^"'=^ -'^ -'^^'enia '" the chase, or i„ their athletic 800^..^' ■'*'' '^""^'antly in war and are excited by the highest id sTorir Tu'"^ = '- all of which they e«ess is studiously avoided ! V/ ''"'' ''°"'^"'-' and every kind S "-t painful abstin'ence s ;r ce " ' "^! ^"'*' ^^^'^ '^*' thai Mi f the E:7 their bodies and Th^ r;;':^^^ ^'^ purpos'e^f J«any a man who has been .. ( f "'^^^^ extravagant exprt;n„« o^tly excess; and he has sepn i, . '' °^ten seen them eat tn ::::'r^> ^'■" "^ '- -n im^;;: ;:/-'^ iv^-^^^ey (a„d per^apTj: , energy to n.ove; and many and tho , . . ''''°"'''' ^'thout will or een. where white people Im've ^ be " ^ 1^'' *'^'"^^ -" -'- be do but he under a fence and be^ a Si t""' '"'^ '^^^^ '^^^ notching enough for one feast and one carousP / ' """" '" ^^'^ '^eat and whiskef x/.:;'ar ^^^ -^ ^^^^^--^ ^^ -k : r^- ^^^^ ^^i. mdians ,tt^ ui natural precept, studies to keep hi, h! i ^"""^ f'^'y '"an, from a beau- hape and condition as will at alltime enaff ?' ""'"' '" «"'^'' ^ Wealthy '^'"^^' ^' ^-^^'^ ^r the pwr • n,.:;; :t:L;;;ir '' ^^^^°- ^" Uiltl 124 As I before observed, tliese men generally eat but twice a day, and many times not more than once, and those meals are light and simple compared with the meals that are swallowed in the civilized world ; and by the very people also, who sit at the festive board three times a day, making a jest of the Indian for his eating, when they actually guzzle more liquids, besides their eating, than would fill the stomach of an Indian. There are, however, many seasons and occasions in the year with all Indians, when they fast for several days in succession ; and others where they can get nothing to eat; and at such times (their habits are such) they may be seen to commence with an enormous meal, and because they do so, it is an insufficient reason why we should for ever remain under so egregious an error with regard to a single custom of these people. I have seen so many of these, and lived with them, and travelled with them, and oftentimes felt as if I should starve to death on an equal allow- ance, that I am fully convinced I am correct in saying that the North American Indians, taking them in the aggregate, even where they have an abundance to subsist on, eat less than any civiliied population of equal numbers, that I have ever travelled amongst. Their mode of curing and preserving the buffalo meat is somewhat curious, and in fact it is almost incredible also ; for it is all cured or dried in the sun, without the aid of salt or smoke ! The method of doing this is the same amongst all the tribes, from this to the Mexican Provinces, and is as follows :— The choicest parts of the flesh from the buffalo are cut out by the squaws, and carried home on their backs or on horses, and there cut ''across the grain," in such a manner as will take alternately the layers of lean and fat ; and having prepared it all in this way, in strips about half an inch in thickness, it is hung up by hundreds and thousands of pounds on poles resting on crotches, out of the reach of dogs or wolves, and exposed to the rays of the sun for several days, when it becomes so effectually dried, that it can be carried to any part of the world without damage. This seems almost an unaccountable thing, and the more so, as it is done in the hottest months of the year, and also in all the different latitudes of an Indian country. So singular a fact as this can only be accounted for, I consider, on the ground of the extraordinary rarity and purity of the air which we meet with in these vast tracts of country, which are now properly denominated " the great buffalo plains," a series of exceedingly elevated plateaus of steppes or prairies, lying at and near the base of the Rocky Mountains. it is a fact then, which I presume will be new to most of the world, that meat can be cured in the sun without the aid of smoke or salt ; and it is a fact equally true and equally surprising also, that none of these tribes use salt in any way, although their country abounds in salt springs ; and in many places, in the frequent walks of the Indian, the prairie may be seen, for miles together, covered with an incrustation of salt as white as the drifted snow. Jay, and many mple compared id by the very aking a jest of liquids, besides '■ year with all d others where are such) they use they do so, ler so egregious travelled with 1 equal allow- hat the North 5 they have an Eition of equal £ is somewhat cured or dried f doing this is svinces, and is ire cut out by and there cut r the layers of about half an of pounds on , and exposed so effectually araage. This is done in the ititudes of an 125 ""yikm along our Frontier ZZTl ^' '"""« ""''"'y on meat ■ h„. nsider, on the we meet with minated *' the of steppes or ie world, that t ; and it is a ese tribes use and in many be seen, for ! drifted snow. 180 ^ Im> I ill I in ' li J I'r < It m LETTEU-No. 18. MANDAN VILLAGE, UPPER MISSOURL The Mandans, like all other tribes, lead live, of idleness and lewure- and of course devote a great deal of time to their sports and amusements! of which they have a great variety. Of these, dancing is one of the princN pal, and may be seen in a variety of forms : such as the buffalo dance the boastmg dance, the begging dance, the scalp dance, and a dozen other or obe°ct8 ""'' "" "'" ^^'''^ ''*'"' ^^^" P"''""'"" ^^^^'^'^'^^ «"d meanings Thei.e exercises are exceedingly grotesque in their appearance, and to tlio eye of a traveller who knows not their meaning or importance, they are an uncouth and frightful display of starts, and jumps, and yelps, and jarring gutturals, which are sometimes truly terrifying. But when one gives them a httle attention, and has been lucky enough to be initiated into their mys- tcrious meaning, they become a subject of the most intense and exciting interest. Lvery daucc has its peculiar step, and every step has its meaning • every dance also has its peculiar song, and that is so intricate and mys- terious oftentimes, that not one in ten of the young men who are dancing and Singing It, know the meaning of the song which they arc chanting over. None but the medicne-men are allowed to understand them ; and even they are genera ly on y initiated into these secret arcana, on the payment of a liberal stipend for their tuition, which requires much application and study. There •s evidently a set song and sentiment for every dance, for the son-^s are perfectly measured, and sung in exact time with the beat of the drum ; and ;,rr ^''y ? """"""^ ""^' "'^'"•''••'''^ ««t of sounds and expressions, which clearly indicate certain sentiments, which are expressed by the voice, thoutjh sometimes not given in any known language whatever. ^ They have other dances and songs which are not so mystified, but which are sung and understood by every person in the tribe, being suL in thet rliyn e. On these subjects I shall take another occasion to say more • and wdlior he present turn your attention to the style and modeHn Ui h some of these curious transactions are conducted *= 'n wnicn the^rof'vtr' *"''". k'"-'* '°r'""'"y ■■"'S'"g «'"^« I -^"'e here, with the dm of yelping a„d beating of the drums ; but I have for several days «s and leUtire ; nd amusetnenfst le of the princi- ifthio dance, the 1 a dozen other 9 and meanings ince, and to tlia ice, they are an Ips, and jarring one gives them into their mys- e and exciting IS its meaning ; cate and mys- re dancing and ng over. None even they are ent of a liberal study. Tlicre the songs are he drum ; and ■essions, which voice, tliough led, but which sung in their i, but without jy more ; and >des in which me here, with several days 12? P»8t been peculiarly enerossoH n„ i H'iffaloes, it i, known, are a mn „r e«».onalJy in huge n.as.e; Ind ,tr li '"""""^ "''''''''*' ^ongregatino. oc «« ^ve,t, or from north to louH. ^^ T'^ "'""'' ^^e country from : -«y 'oad them ; „„d ^ M il^^V^''^- "-"^ -"'•"« or stra^n^S ceremoniously left without Z^Z^ cT^""?','^ ^'"^ -ans,'mo: T "nw.llmg to risk their lives by jl r V '' ''""^ " «'""" tribe and -re powerful enennes. are o^„S :?, '^^ J«- '» the face of 't /" ""y .^"'ergcncy of this kind, eve v - "' '" " ''"'' "'" ^''^^^°"'°" 'odgc his mask (the skin of „ I ?^. '*" ""'''*^'"''' «"'' brings out n7i ;• obliged tokcopint i , f :"f "^ "^^ -th the horns l)Xl.tl^'Z b;.fralo dance, of which irvefbnv"T"'°"= "'"^ "-" commeT.c s the 0' -aking.. buffalo come >s Z tT n' 1'"' '"^ '-''J '- the p rpl to change the direction of thei wand ^^' " '"•'"•'^'■"^' '^'^ ^^^^alo 'S e Mandan village, and gra e .bo t ' ' tP* T' '"" ^'"^'^ — towa^ v'c.mty. where the Mandans can lot ' T'^""^ ^'"^ ''"'' •>'"«■« '» its want them for food. ''"'°' "'«'" ^own and cook them as they *or the most part of the year tl,«. out a mile or two from the vdlaJ; l^kill ^ """■J"" '^"'^ ''""*^"' ^y riding t'.;"es large herds of these an mal's m.v """"" ^^^""'Jance; and sonj 7"/ .*''« '^^"ntry as far as they are wil^ . y°""^' '"«» ^^^ve ranged of he,r enemies, without findL'g me^ ""'^;J° ^'1 ^^^ ''-^. «" accou u the village-and in a f.. "^^ ;,";"-;- f", who proclaim it through a-e on.ation is carried on is in\he":b r.!: 7^ ^'^ ^^^ ^hl :|-.e operation irc^^e^Tl ^n t^^^^^- ^^ P'- ^iT^ V lage and in front of the great medic 1 ^ '" ""'^ '"" ^''^ ^«"tre of h' ^ th masks on their heads, and weanon,? t ' T^ '°"'"^"-°" «*a«d ready g-eral exc,,en,.„,, .pe« or •■ fe,w „e kept „„ .he ,\l 'ilW*^ htlli in the neighbourhood of the village, who, when they diicover buffaloea in iight, give the appropriate signal, by " throwing their robei," which is instantly seen in the village, and understood by the whole tribe. At this joyful intelligence there is a shout of thanks to the Great Spirit, and more especially to the mystery-man, and the dancers, who have been the im ■ mediate cause of their succeti I There is then a brisk preparation for the chase — a grand hunt takes place. The choicest pieces of the victims are sacrificed to the Great Spirit, and then a surfeit and a carouse. These dances have sometimes been continued in this village two and three weeks without stopping an instant, until the joyful moment when buffaloes made their appearance. So they never fail; and they think they have been the means of bringing them in. Every man in the Mandan village (as I have before said) is obliged by a village regulation, to keep the mask of the buffalo, hanging on a post at the head of his bed, which he can use on his head whenever he is called upon by the chiefs, to dance for the coming of buffaloes. The mask is put over the head, and generally has a strip of the skin hanging to it, of the whole length of the animal, with the tail attached to it, which, passing down over the back of the dancer, is dragging on the ground (plate 56). When one becomes fatigued of the exercise, he signifies it by bending quite forward, and sinking his body towards the ground ; when another draws a bow upn him and hits him with a blunt arrow, and he falls like a buffulo — is seized by the bye-standers, who drag him out of the ring by the heels, brandishino- their knives about him ; and having gone through the motions of skinning and cutting him up, they let him off, and his place is at once supplied by another, who dances into the ring with his mask on ; and by this taking of places, the scene is easily kept up night and day, until the desired effect has been produced, that of •* making buffalo come." The day before yesterday however, readers, which, though it commenced in joy and thanksgiving to the Great Spirit for the signal success which had attended their several days of dancing and supplication, ended in a calamity which threw the village of the Mandans into mourning and repentant tears, and that at a time of scarcity and great distress. The signal was given into the village on that morning from the top of a distant bluff, that a band of buffaloes were in sight, though at a considerable distance off, and every heart beat with joy, and every eye watered and glistened with gladness. The dance had lasted some three or four days, and now, instead of the doleful tap of the drum and the begging chaunts of the dancers, the stamp- ing of horses was heard as they were led and galloped through the village young men were throwing off their robes and their shirts,— were seen snatching a handful of arrows from their quivers, and stringing their sinewy bows, glancing their eyes and their smiles at their sweethearts, and mounting tlieir ponies. • • « * • A few minutes there had been of bustle and iKOver buffaloes robei," which ia tribe. At thii Spirit, and more ve been the im paration for the r the victiini are use. ^e two and three t when bufialoei L they have been is obliged by a on a post at the le is called upon >ask is put over it, of the whole ssing down over i6). When one g quite forward, aws a bow u|K)n iffalo — is seized iels, brandishing ions of skinning nee supplied by y this taking of e desired effect 1 it commenced ccess which had sd in a calamity repentant tears, 1 was given into that a band of and every heart Iness. ', instead of the :ers, the stanip- jh the village — ts,— were seen ing their sinewy , and mounting I of bustle and I w h In IH ' tj ^i*^ t C t c Ci fc c: ar W( di: ne pei rec dis ant villi eclii wig' ness win( as t redd bend othei over speefl shout toid i nalcec anotiii tiie ot the nii VOL ii 129 v.-lio^ ^fenie, an interpreter of tlif. P„r r. ^ °' ^"'^ outset, when graceful swel of the pSl'" ^ '^'"«'^' -^ l^eliJCZd^'^V 'z ^:^'^^ r ^Sr!:!r t!''^ --'-^ .ont^xr::;;: to look the. r^h: ^:e Xas t;?r'' "' ^'™- -« almost readv ch.efs and doctors whoh'ad been f^ :: ^r"!f 'V""' -^gladne ' T to the community from the public crbn ^^' ^'"""^^ °"^ '"'"■'""'n ration! contents of their own privLe '1' ""^/P^^^^ before their subjetsZ -Id be mustered, that LymigheS::, 'l' '"' °' ^^^ *'>C t for his goodness in sending them ^ ''^"^sgiving to the Great Soiri carouse of banqueting ensueVwhlh^"'^°' '"«'^'° ""^^t- A gene and their hidden stores which ml, ur'?'';''' ^'"^ ^'•^^^^•- P«« of thfdav ;ere pretty nearly used up o^ t ol 'l'""^""^ '^ ^-^ ' ^^^^^^^^^ neither, m the general surfeit • several i ^'- ^^ *^^« not for-otten received tl em m this time of scarcity whh ."^ P^inting-room, and I After th,s general indulgence wJ, ^'"^' ^^'^'''''^ d'siies, their usual games and ! °''^''' ^"^ "'^ dogs had lickprl .. and^y too. Posseiio:j;!lr^--'--ed^and In J, ^:^,X v'lage; and m the midst of thU ' ''"^'"y "oolc and corner of thJ echoed everywhere. Women and :h,T"'' '"'^ ^'"''"'^ -^re heard- and nesstothe pra.ne, whilst blackenor ■ ''^'^ '" agonizing earnest- w.nd.ng „,aze of the village, and i uh , T"'' ''"'' '"""''"^'y through eve' a« they snatched their deady rr';''-'''"''"^^"«"'«'«o -ddened „3t as they fu^X" -^ T ^ '°'^'^^' ^"^ «'-'" "S o a^d d^ 1'"'^°"' °f«dcep ravin and V r^'^u "'' ^"''»^^' «"d an- «peed " a,ST," "' ^^^"' '""^. and al "^r' 2, "^''^^^^ --n dashing n^ked breast Tl "' '"''" bleeding, and th/w . ' """ ''"''^ ^^^^ another Ira Jh 7'"'°"^'^ '"« ""'k wSte ttedl m "f '''^"^'^ ''•°'" '"'^ the o her hTf t'" '"' '''"' ''^'^ « scalp thitvl l "'^ '^'''^P^^' °^- '""' •• .0. /^ - '- m the otber. havin/;^:: itr r ;:r ^^ 130 Uf 1 l1 ' > •way, and trusted to the fleetness of his horse for his safety ; yet the story was audibly told, and the fatal tragedy recited iu irregular and almost suffo- cating ejaculations — the names of the dead were in turns pronounced and screams and shrieks burst forth at their recital — murmurs e.id groans ran through the village, and this happy little community were in a moment ■mitten with sorrow and distraction. Their proud band of hunters who had started full of glee and mirth in the morning, had been surrounded by their enemy, the Sioux, and eight of them killed. The Sioux, who had probably reconnoitred their village during the night, and ascertained that they were dancing for buffaloes, laid a stratagem to entrap them in the following manner : — Some six or eight of them appeared the next morning (on a distant bluff, in si^ht of their sentinel) under the skins of buffaloes, imitating the movements of those animals whilst grazing; and being discovered by the sentinel, the intelligence was telegraphed to the village, which brought out their hunters as I have described. The masked buffaloes were seen grazing on the top of a high bluff, and when the hunters had approached within half a mile or so of them, they suddenly disappeared over the hill. Louison Frenie, who was leading the little band of hunters, became at that moment suspicious of so strange a movement, and came to a halt • • • • " Look"! (said a Mandan, pointing to a little ravine to the right, and at the foot of the hill, from which suddenly broke some forty or fifty furious Sioux, on fleet horses and under full whip, who were rushing upon them) ; they wheeled, and in front of them came another band more furious from the other side of the hill ! they started for home (poor fellows), and strained every nerve ; but the Sioux were too fleet for them ; and every now and then, the whizzing arrow and the lance were herd to rip the flesh of their naked backs, and a grunt and a groan, as they tumbled from their horses. Several ir;iles were run in this desperate race; and Frenie got home, and several of the Mandans, though eight of them were killed and scalped by the way. So ended that day and the hunt ; but many a day and sad, will last the grief of those whose hearts were broken on that unlucky occasion. This day, though, my readers, has been one of a more joyful kind, for the Great Spirit, who was indignant at so flagrant an injustice, has sent the Mandans an abundance of buffaloes ; and all hearts have joined in a general thanksgiving to Him for his goodness and justice. ty ; yet the story and almost sufTo- pronounced and and groans ran ;re in a moment ' glee and mirtli the Sioux, and Jconnoitred their ere dancing for manner : — Some nt bluff, in sight le movements of the sentinel, the ut their hunters ing on the top of lialf a mile or so Frenie, who was suspicious of so the right, and at or fifty furious ing upon them) ; lore furious from fs), and strained I every now and e flesh of their om their horses. ; got home, and and scalped by sad, will last the ;asion. joyful kind, for ice, has sent the ined in a general .h1«', M 1 ''W I ■ ', e tl s) at of i:} Of cal CGI the sun Th, effe he tops as si lead of f, mani face, head missi If Otiigi hir , twitch 'ront( Thi ' illiiu 131 letter-No. 19. ^'AVDAN Va^GE. UPPER MISSOUHI. Iir wy last Letter I p-a kead *iS"!T, " '""'y f~' of each ..he, „L 1 "i'^'!: "^ '"'= » ■-■"luiaiing them on Tim;- u ' '" ""^ir leaders nt th^;^ "";;"- %m,, white .h^ are dX^a'nd ^li ">"" ^-h "'I"' >"d *e" , 'f any one i. „„jk „ilh .„ * "* ''"*"« ""em off. """"™"'— >-— ™,-n.he™„,„. 132 'i '" li r and IB performed on an empty stomach, affording them a rigid and whole- some exercise, whilst they are instructed in the important science of war. Some five or six miles of ground are run over during these evolutions, giving suppleness to their limbs and strength to their muscles, which last and benefit them through life. After this exciting exhibition is ended, they all return to their village, where the chiefs and braves pay profound attention to their vaunting, and applaud them for their artifice and valour. Those who have taken scalps then step forward, brandishing them and making their boast as they enter into tiie scalp-dance (in which they are also instructed by their leaders or teachers), jumping and yelling — brandishing their scalps, and reciting their sanguinary deeds, to the great astonishment of their tender aged sweethearts, who are gazing with wonder upon them. The games and amusements of these people are in most respects like those ofthe other tribes, consisting of ball plays — game of the moccasin, of the platter — feats of archery - horse-racing, &c. ; and they have yet another, which may be said to be their favourite amusement, and unknown to the other tribes about them. The game of Tchung-kee, a beautiful athletic exercise, which they seem to be almost unceasingly practicing whilst the weather is fair, and tiiey have nothing else of moment to demand their attention. This game is decidedly their favourite amusement, and is played near to the village on a pavement of clay, which has been used for that purpose until it has become as smooth and hard as a floor. For this game two champions form their respective parties, by choosing alternately the most famous players, until their requisite numbers are made up. Their bettings are then made, and their stakes are held by some of the chiefs or others present The play commences (plate 59) with two (one from each party), who start off upon a trot, abreast of each other, and one of them rolls in advance of them, on the pavement, a little ring of two or three inches in diameter, cut out of a stone ; and each one follows it up with his " tchung-kee" (a stick of six feet in length, with little bits of leather projecting from its sides of an inch or more in length), which he throws before him as he runs, sliding it along uoon the ground after the ring, endeavouring to place it in such a position when it stops, that the ring may fall upon it, and receive one of the little projections of leather through it, which counts for game, one, or two, or four, according to the position of the leather on which the ring is lodged. The last winner always has the rolling of the ring, apd both start and throw the tchung-kee together ; if either fails to leceive the ring or to lie in a certain position, it is a forfeiture of the amount of the number he was nearest to, and he loses his throw ; when another steps into his place. This game is a very difficult one to describe, so as to give an exact idea of it, unless one can see it played — it is a game of great beauty and fine bodily exercise, and these people become excessively fascinated with it ; often gambling away every thing they possess, and even sometimes, when everything else was gone, have been known to 133 stake their liberty upon the i«,..« ^e .u as weii j,y j::z t"i ^arr rr^ rr' '^ '"« ^-^^n These observances are strictly rel ^^^ . '"'^ ^""^ P^«'<="lar purpose, '"«ny of these forms pract ced In ! '."'' ^^'^''^ '^'^^^^^^'l- There a -ceedingly interesting; :TLZT2' if r^' ^""'^ °^ -'^'^^ o'. the I„d,an character ; and I ha! a : f . ™'"^ " '"^^^^^^ ^^^'"'^te Pams to lay then, before my readers ^"'"'■' P'^"°'' ''"^« Particular «''all also speak more fuiy hereafter T"? °""""^- ^^ ^^is 'us oT of the hundred modes inl5 ttse T^' "°''""^^ ^' P^^«^"'. -'"e fe* Evil Spirits. Human sacrifices hlveno 1"°' ''' """^^ '° *''« Good and by any of the north western tribsfsoT "r"^' ^^ '"^^ ^^^ndans, „or Pawnees of the Platte; wir^e I, fi "n ' '''' '^arn). excepting the practice in former tinies, tLugh^ .'tf^lV^'^ry^"^'' ''"'"' '-" Mar>dans sacrifice their fingers^o he oZtT'^i '' «' '^'«- The goods the best and the molt costly !f a t '^' ' "!'* °^ "'^'^ ^^^'dly favourite one; if it is an arrow frl* /h ' "^ ^ ''''&' '' -""^t be the perfect one as the most efF Xe S" Tl^""''''' '''' ^'" ^^'^^ '^e mot cut rom the buffalo or other an md i it J T' V' '^'' ^''"''=^^' P-^e Traders, it is the most costly-" Ts Li ? ?^ '^'°'" ^''^ «'°^«« ^^ the ;'•- country an enormous pric aJris T «'' '^ "'"' '^"'^ *'^^'" '» angmg- over their wigwams'od^caTo tot ' T' '""^ ^'^^ P"^P°«« ^^ "'^';«7«f their departed relations ' "'' '''^°'^^ ^''«^« '^^t consist of ten or fifteen yards o bl„» ■ '""'•■' "^*^ "'^ village-they ti'e Fur Company at fiftL r Letd'! '"' ^'^^'l ^^^"^^ P^^''-^ f-- so as to resen.ble human fi/u res wi,,f f ^^ y^'*^' ^^''^'^ are folded up thea- faces. These singular-looSr! '^",f '" "'"'" ''^^''^ ^"^ ""asks on erected on poles abou't thirtytet^S "'v ::"r" ^--"(—47), are and there are left to decay.^ TI le h ^ ? ^°°' "^ '^'' "'ystery-lodge. wh.h was added to the .Lbe "few 'J ""' '^ ''' ^''^ ^*'^''^'" ^-^^1. buffalo, Which will remain tlTe e untitk H " ' '""f "' *''^ ^'''" "^ a white This beautiful and costly ,L ''^' '"'' '^^"« ^o pieces, striking proof of the ^rt e' 3 rh^.f'? 't ''--. ^11, furnish a offenngs. But a few weeks 11 ^ ^"^'^'^ ^° ^''ese propitiatory f outh of the Yellow I e tlo h T. '' ''^"''^"^ '^'--'' f'- "' e J-t a party of Blackfeerw;re vis^^nl th ?'? ''°^^' "'^'^ '»^---'- Amencan Fur Company; and J.a h " h "^ T "" "^"^'"^^^ ^^''^ the for sale. This was looked upon ., ^ . ""'' ''''^'" '^ ^'^'^^ Buffalo robe ^fa'efs. and one worthy of TbL "!•"'' °^ ^''^' "»P°«ance by the '^y pubhc consideration. A white buffalo robe i, a „/ .^1 I .. f-lH tff ill i5 134 hV ^ J'J great curiosity, even in the country of buffaloes, and will always command an almost incredible price, from its extreme scarcity ; and then, from its being the most costly article of traffic in these regions, it is usually converted into a sacrifice, being offered to the Great Spirit, as the most acceptable gift that can be procured. Amongst the vast herds of buffaloes which graze on these boundless prairies, there is not one in an hundred thousand, per- haps, that is white ; and when such an one is obtained, it is considered great medicine or mystery. On the receipt of the intelligence above-mentioned, the chiefs convened in council, and deliberated on the expediency of procuring the white robe from the Blackfeet ; and also of appropriating the requisite means, and devising the proper mode of procedure for effecting the purchase. At the close of their deliberations, eight men were fitted out on eight of their best horses, who took from the Fur Company's store, on the credit of the chiefs, goods exceeding even the value of their eight horses ; and they started for the Mouth of the Yellow Stone, where they arrived in due time, and made the purchase, by leaving the eight horses and all the goods which they carried ; returning on foot to their own village, bringing home with them the white robe, which was looked upon by all eyes of the villagers as a thing that was vastly curious, and containing (as they express it) something of the Great Spirit. This wonderful anomaly laid several days in the chief's lodge, until public curiosity was gratified ; and then it was taken by the doctors or high-priests, and with a great deal of form and mystery consecrated, and raised on the top of a long pole over the medicine-lodge ; where it now stands in a group with the others, and will stand as an offering to the Great Spirit, until it decays and falls to the ground. This Letter, as I promised in its commencement, being devoted to some of the customs peculiar to the Mandans, and all of which will be new to the world, I shall close, after recording in it an account of a laugliable farce, which was enacted in this village when I was on my journey up the river, and had stopped on the way to spend a day or two in the Mandan village. Readers, did you ever hear of " Rain Makers?" If not, sit still, and read on ; but laugh not — keep cool and sober, or else you may laugh in the beginning, and cry at the end of my story. Well, I introduce to you a new character — not a doctor or a high-priest, yet a medicine-man, and one of the highest and most respectable order, a " Rain Maker I" Such dignitaries live in the Mandan nation, aye, and " rain stoppers" too; and even those also amongst their conjurati, who, like Joshua of old, have even essayed to stop the sun in his course ; but from the inefficiency of their medicine or mystery, have long since descended into insignificance. Well, the story begins thus : — The Mandans, as I have said in a former Letter, raise a great deal of corn ; and sometimes a most disastrous drought will be visited on the land, destructive to their promised harvest. Sucli ys command an , from its beingf lally converted nost acceptable )es which graze thousand, per- t is considered hiefs convened the white robe te means, and je. At the close eir best horses, e chiefs, goods siarted for the , and made the h they carried ; hem the white thing that was ; of the Great f 's lodge, until the doctors or nsecrated, and where it now ig to the Great Bvoted to some 'ill be new to if a laughable journey up the n the Mandan , sit still, and ly laugh in the i to you a new n, and one of ich dignitaries nd even those ven essayed to ir medicine or id in a former strous drought arvest. Such ' 1 ll , ill 1 s ' 3^ ' m ]36 wai the case when I arriv*>H «» .u »* j Vellow-Stone. R„i„ ha7 J Z'rT:'Z '"T "" '"^^ — boHt. g.rlsand the u,ly old squaw,, ut^eter "ro;;"'* T"'! ""' '^"^ ''"'« were groanin,^ and oryinp to their loS „ i f '"'" ''"*' "'''^^ »f corn) rain, that their little respLtle Ta c e ' T^'''""^' '''^'" '° '"'"«de fo yellow, might not be wiLtd it; btdl:"; rJ""'"*^ P^'« -" customary annual festivity and Z Z\ . ^ ^ ^ ''^ ^^^ P''^'*'"^^ of their and the " green corn dancL ■" ^ ^'"' °'^'*^"^" '^'' ^''^ " ^""''ting ear^" -^^;s:^^::;tt:r:^^rs^ ''-^'-'^ of the women, and these case,; and though t y eso ' 7 ' .'"^ ""''• ^^"^ "'^'^«-»ry i„ rain for the benefit of the cor'n ye^ heW '" ^ '''' """"P' ^« P^^^'uce too soon might ensure their entire It ^ ^ery wisely resolved that to begin 'onger they put it off. theZ'e^^,^^^^^^^^^ the endeavour = and that t'he So, after a few days of furt^r dela' ^^^ T ''' '^ "''''"^'^ '^^^'^''■ had become clamorous, and even tou-f-' "" .'"T^'""'"" '' '"^^ — » ".-i.c.-ne-.en assembled in U.e 00"^ I '' ""'^ " '"t '"'"PP-'^ble. the paratus about them-with in 1 '^^"'-''-''O"^^, w,th all their mystery an- herbs with a fire prepi;: TotZlC tttTl'^- ''''' ^"^ ^''^ --"^^ sent forth to the Great Spirit The Tl .' '"'°"'y "'^O"" •"■ght be except some ten or fifre ;ount J>'' T" ""'"'"^ '' "" the villagers, readful alternative of maTi„rrf,ro; Z T """"^ *° ''^-''l^'- havmg made a fruitless essay ' '"^"" "'' ^^^rlasting disgrace of They. only, were allowed as witnessP, t. tk * devsed by the doctors inside of 2^ ° "'' .^^ * ^"'"* '"'^ '^''">'-«"''« "P by lot, each one in his urn to spL "r '"'' = ?' ^'"^ "^^ -"^^ to test the potency of his ,„ed"cine • nr .'^ "P°" '''" '°P ^'^ ^'^^ ^^^S^> voice might be hea'rd and 0^ arn'on^M, T Tt'' '' "^ "^^^ ^^ ''» the doctors were burning inceSe 72 °u t ""^ ^''^ '^^'»^^"« • whilst and prayers to the Grfat Sp rit fo ' ""^"'"'" '^^'°"' ""^ ^'^h their songs fumes and odours to Him ' wirilerinT"' ""^''="^'"^ ''-th gratefbl ders of Heaven." Wah-kee (tl] '^ '"" '*"'* commands the tlum- wigwamat sunrise; and he s ood tlf? """ ^^f ^"' ^''° ''^'^^"''^d the counting over and over his str ^ .f ^^' T"^ ^''^'"^ ''°°"^^ «« he was assembled around him, an ^ayVJ Z'T''''''~'t "''°'^ ^'"^^^ -- -the day was calm and hof and^t . '"'"''• ^°* ^ ^'^"d appeared from the lodge and went hom'el',r,w'"'"^ °' ^'^ ^""' '^^ ^^-"^^d ever be a medicine-man. ''''""' "'^^ "°* &ood." nor can he next7ornin^" hII^ bo'd/ was" mirelv nTt'f t "'' '"'^^^ ^^ ^"""^ t'- elay. On his left arm he carr ed a hi *?>.'• ^^ '°^^'^^ ^'''' ye'low "ght; and on his head the skin of ^ """'' '"^ ^ '°"^ '^"'^^ "' his clouds, and above the lightning's 1. '^T' ?' ^"'^ ^''^^ «°«" "'"^st the d'shed his lance, and raised huVoicrh";" '°"'^''' ""'' ^'"^''^ -"i ^^-- h,s voice, but m vam ; for at sunset the ground If !tf 136 ■M dry uid the .ky wai clear ; the Kquawi were cryinff. and their corn wai wflherinK at lU roots. War-ruh-pa (the beaver) was the next ; he also spent his breath in vain upon t he einpty air. and came down at night^und Wak-a-dnh-ha-hce (the white buffalo 8 hair) took the stand the next morninjc He i. u sinall but beautifully proportioned young man. He was dre»,.d in a tunir- and leir gmKS o< the skins of the mountain-sheep, splendidly garnished with guills of the porcupine, and fringed will, looks of hair taku. by , s own hand from the heads of his enemies. On his arm he c.nied his shield, made of the buffalo 8 hide-its boss was the head oft; ,..r-ea(.|e-»nd its front was ornamented with " red chains of lightning." In his left hand he clenehe, hi. sinewy bow and one single arrow. The villa^'er8 were uH fathered about him; when he threw up a feather to decide on the course of the wind, and he commenced thus :-" My friends ! people of the pheasants! yoi. see me here a sacrifioe-I shall this day relieve you from great distress and bring joy amongst you ; or I shall descend from this lod^rc when the sun goes down, and live amongs the dogs and old women all mv days My friends you saw which way the feather flew, and I hold my shield this day in the direction where the wind con.es-the lightning on my shield will draw a great cloud, and this arrow, which is selected from my quiver, and which i« feathered with the quill of the white swan, will make" a hole in it Mv friends ! this hole in the lodge at my feet, shows me the medicine-men, who are seated in the lodge below me and crying to the Great Spirit • and through It comes and passes into my nose delightful odours, which yo'u see rising in the smoke to the Great Spirit above, who rides in the clouds and commands the winds ! Three days they have sat here, my friends, and nothing has been done to relieve your distress. On the first day was Wall koe (the shield), he could do nothing ; he counted his beads and came down— his medicine was not good— his name was bad, and it kept off the ram. The next was Om-pah (the elk); on his head the raven was seen who flies above the storm, and he failed. War-rah-pa (the beaver) was the' next, my friends ; thr ..vr livr 3 under the water, and he never wants it to rain My friends ! 7 ire yn^x ,re in grc.. d" Iress, and nothing has yet been done; this shif .i H'.njjC'i to my father the White BuHalo; and the lightning you see on it is red ; it was taken from a black cloud, and tliat cloud will come over us to-day. I am the white buffalo's hair— and I ;uu the son of my father." ^l this manner flourished and manoeuvred Wak-a-dah-ha-hee (the white buffalo's hair), alternately addressing the audience and the heavens— and holding converse with the winds and the ">-ii" (spirits) that aie floating about m them— stamping his foot over the heads of the magi, who were involved in mysteries beneath him, and invoking the spirits of darkness and light to send rain, to gladden the hearts of the Mandans. it happened on this memorable day about noon, that the steam-boat ipPI'ISPtIIi nd their corn wat the steam-lmat 137 wa. lucky enough to b. a pa.enger o„ ttis 3 ttd heUdt^r''", ' of twenty guns of twelve pounds rnlibre when we 7J. * *"'"'* vdlage. some three or fou/n.iU. below The!" Zs?niT T "'''' ""^ ''" .nto this strange country, which the M nir V;' ^r.lr^r^^K^ thunder ; and the young man upo.. the lodge who turnT""? "" ^. account, was gathering fame in round, of « . f. . J"' " '° ^°°^ and echoed through the whole Xe all S '' "'^ "''' ''^''"''^ --chiefs envied hfm-mothe ^ tf ;ere b :LT;Tr' T" '""" decorating and leading up their fair daughL'o offer him" ' ""° J.» signal success. The medicine-men ifad Ift the t .e and """"'"''' "" bestow upon him the envied title of " rnedicinTr^an ' or '' llr ""LVt .'" had so deservedly won— wrenthn wp« ,^. i . ''^"or, which ho hi. old ,.e«he.,«, who h.d former y It ht Iff 1"'' ''""f ' "'"' Uunng all this excitement. Wak-a-dah-ha-hen If^r.* i.i. „ •.• the most commanding and threatening tides bra ICT Tm "^ the direction of the thunder f plate 58^ llthT .' f'*"''"''""? *>'• "hield in wi.H --h,:„T,:;^^^rL: ,r:,,r:r:o'r:? t;r '^™ »l„ch jool",, :l; rtetL'™ '"" '• <"■' o' !■" -"-h. and ,he lightning pio.,ghing ..nng/t:^;: :i,:rd^:trr;ro:: -- '-' '"" -'-' °«' »a. n^L'17wI7d'.h''r.' or chief, dooto,., w„.en, children and dog,, M,"zi''d' ii eirTo":!:?: r°'' "^ ""'r "•* - »^«' "- chief, all h„wl. ' • "'"■ "»'"«". i "hen, by an order of the .1. .'a Med irr™', "f'T "° ""'"'" ■" "■^' ''"'8=. •"■' boati,. .ron. of heWl.t"!'? S''""' .l" 'T """"'"" "'""Sl" "- Ma„danw,.tob.^en ;' \ etal^The ,'"'' '""'" " "T"^ ""' ' or four of the chief. ,n„„.o ,, ^ ™ ""'"""■" ■""o''^''''"'' 'h'ee .OL. ,. '""'• "■'"'"' '"WIJ ''o-™ 'he bank and on to he. iiPli 138 deck, with a spear in one hand and the calumet or pipe of peace in the other. The moment they stepped on board they met (to their great surprise and joy) their old friend, Major Sanford, their agent, which circumstance put an instant end to all their fears. The villagers were soon apprized of the fact, and the whole race of the beautiful and friendly Mandans was paraded on the bank of the river, in front of the steamer. The "rain maker," whose apprehensions of a public calamity brought upon the nation by his extraordinary medicine, had, for the better security of his person from apprehended vengeance, secreted himself in some secure place, and was the last to come forward, and the last to be convinced that this visitation was a friendly one from the while people ; and that his medicine had not in the least been instrumental in bringing it about. This information, though received by him with much caution and suspicion, at length gave him great relief, and quieted his mind as to his danger. Yet still in hii! breast there was a rankling thorn, though he escuped the dreaded vengeance which he had a few moments before apprehended as at hand ; as he had the mortification and disgrace of having Aiiled in his mysterious operations. He set up, however (during the day, in his conversation about the strange arrival), his medicines, as the cauie of its approach ; asserting everywhere and to everybody, that he knew of its coming, and that he had by his magic brought the occurrence about. This plea, however, did not get him much audience ; and in fact, everything else was pretty much swallowed up in the guttural talk, and bustle, and gossip about the mysteries of the " thunder-boat ;" and so passed the day, until just at the approach of evening, when the " White Buffalo's Hair" (more watchful of such matters on this occasion than most others) observed that a black cloud had been jutting up in the horizon, and was almost directly over the village ! In an instant his shield was on his arm, and his bow in his hand, and he again upon the lodge ! stiffened and braced to the last sinew, he stood, with his face and his shield presented to the cloud, and his bow drawn. He drew the eyes of the whole village upon him as he vaunted forth his super-human powers, and at the same time commanding the cloud to come nearer, that he nn'ght draw down its contents upon the heads and the corn-fields of the Mandans ! In this wise he stood, waving his shield over his head, stamping his foot and frowning as he drew his bow and threatened the heavens, com- manding it to rain — his bow was bent, and the arrow drawn to its head, was sent to the cloud, and he exclaimed, " My friends, it is done ! Wak-a-dah- ha-hee's arrow has entered that black cloud, and the Mandans will be wet with the water of the skies !" His predictions were true : — in a few moments the cloud was over the villai^e, and the rain fell in torrents. He stood for some time wielding his weapons and presenting his shield to the bky, while he boasted of his power and the eflScacy of his medicine, to those who had been about him, but were now driven to the shelter of their wig- wams. He, at length, finished his vaunts and his threats, and descended 139 acquires the J.onourable appellation! ' "''" '" '"^'^» <^o«ntries Tins man had " made it rain " o« i e ..s..a. honours, as he had done mud. 1""^:" f° ""'^^ "°^^ '•^- All eyes were upon hi„., and all wTe eadvV. ' ^ ''"''^ '"'" '°"''' ^°' the magic art; and must be so neZ a ie^ to M^^ r" ''''' ^' "^^ ^'''''^^ in lie mus, needs be a man of great ^nd power .V «'"' °' ^'" ^P'"*> ^^at iteaders, there are two facts rplatJvn t^ ^i are infallibly true, and should . e d b n T' f'"^' transactions, which when the Mandans undertake to^^^ke ah, //'""""• '^ '''' '^' ^'-' for their ceremonies never stoo ^ . ll ".'^"''''^2' "^'^^'^ /«'/ to succeed. equally true, and is this -tl t'he w o T" '"" '° '''"• ^'^ ^-'^ i t-pts it again ; his medici s J 1 ?: °"", "f ' '' ^"■"'" "^^ ''t- kind, he stands aloof, who I a! on e t" "^ °" ^"'"^^ ^'^'^^^^'""^ "^ ^''e giving an opportunity to o he. vou.r . '" T""" °'^'" "''«'^ ^'"^»- themselves in the snJe way ^ ^^ '" ''''° "'^ ^""^'''""^ ^^ ^i.^nalize During the memorable ni-ht of whirl, r i.o • . , reu.ained by the side of the M . ' i , ^T T^'''^ *''^ ^'^^'""•'"'^t menced falling continued to nou ^^"' '""^ ""^ ^'^'" ^''''^^ »^^d '^^-n- tl'under roared, and Ivd oC.- «;:',' 'r ^T r"" '"''^"'^''^ = '''-'' "t up with one unceasing t. Ji l^:"' f '^^?"^ ^''1--^ ^o be eo..sternation, a flash of li,W „n ' '^ f 1 ^" "''' '^'■'-''^'■"' '""'"^nt of lodf,-s of the Mand ns a. I k rl T "'■' '" °'" °^" ^'^^ ^^'"h-cove.ed fuel fresh for their su'e^U ions 1^. "';?'" '''■ ''^'^ ^^ ^^^ -d ensued. The drean,s^of .enlw ' '"' r"^ "''' '""'"" ""^' ^''^''-^^"t '- had dreadful apprehl Is for; o '-^'--— " -re troubled, and -4ect to the i.-..eLable dee e " Tl!^''^'^' '""'^ '''' ''^ ^^ every st.ange and unaccountab e evlt wit 1 "^ ''°'^'"'-«' ^^''° <=^-^-^^ and let their ven.^eance fall wifhn! '' """^ superstitious scrutiny. He looked upon 1 Ix I ! ^'"^ "P°" '^^ '"""^^'''^^ ^''"^e. ^ and also consid r 1 at ,^' "h r"," 't'V" '^ ^^'^''''^'^ '-■" '^ ^ f- girl's death, which! dtu'r'h'^ be demanded as the forfeit for himself as culpable a,,d su.mn? i^ ^ ^^^^^^.^^*^^^^ He looked upon ' his criminal desertioL o 11 T'^ "'•'" '" ''"' '^'-"" "'^easioned by village. Mornin. cL^ /kI' '"; "'' ^'"""■'°"' ^^'''^ approaching the options of the ^ise mL. „ T 7" T"'''^ ^''"' '''''' '^ '''^ '*'^-'^^ '^e preparing for him he s ! .o H "'' ""'"''^ "*" ''''^ ^'•'^"'-' ^'''^^ was brought In, and h'e LliJ^it: TT" ""i ;" ''"^ '"'■^'^^' ''''^'^ -- n'on,ents, the vilUv^ers we.e .11 "'ff ""^"'"'^i/'^' ^'"""'l wl'ieh. in a few "11 around me, a d rbl '' "% ^''-'^ ' (said he) I see you ' ' '"" ^"''^'^ i'"": »'y "lediciue, you see, is great-it is 110 too great — I am young, and I was too fast— I knew not when to stop. The wigwam of Mah-sish is laid low, aiid many are the eyes that weep for Ko-ka (the antelope ;) Wak-a-dah-ha-hee gives three horses to gladden the hearts of those who weep for Ko-ka; his medicine was great — his arrow p!erced the black cloud, and the lightning came, and the thunder-boat also ! who says the medicine of Wak-a-dah-ha-hee is not strong ?" At the end of this sentence an unanimous shout of approbation ran through the crowd, and the " Hair of the White Buffalo" descended amongst ' jem, where he was greeted by shakes of the hand ; and amongst whom ho now lives and thrives under the familiar and honourable appellation of the " Bio Doublf Medcink." [' > iU letter-No. 20. MANDAN VILLAGE, UPPER MISSOURI. This day has been one of unusual m.vn, a Mandans, and whether on account o^L ' . ^'""^^'"^"t amongst the as yet unable to say. though^T hi ^rchTt "'^'^^^^^^^ °'"«^'- have many days which, like this arVdevotl . T".^°''^''' ?««?'« ments. "'• "^ devoted to festivities and amuse- Their lives, however, are Jivpo nP .mi d.,. and hour. "^ .pZinT^^fZl^ir-r" """°" "" «■- have no oflice hour, to attend T ' r ^- "'""""S" » P«»Ple wlio with looking on ^nd'also tn^^^^^^^^ ^"J. f y-ntil I am fatigued so little success as only to atWt "L' 1 J "^ ^ ^^'' '^^''^ ' ^ut with excite the criticisms and laug" ter of he sn """'''''T:^' ^"^ as generally to I have seen a fair exhibition of ^h ^"T """^ ""'" '•^"^^^°- ' amusement which they call the " aam.nJ,t^^^'^ ?'' ^^^' '" ^ '"^^ourite the young men who Ire th^lsfS ^L™ ?" ^^^^^ ''^-''- on the prairie at a little distance from thevTl .t '''"■"'"' ^^^^'"ble Lis " entrance-fee," such as a sh^W a roK ^" '"^ ^'""^ P^'^' '^^^ one, forward in turn, shooting their atow, Sn' T. ^''''' °' ''^" article, step who can get the greatest number fly n^n t '"' «"^^^^«""ng to see from the same bow. For thlT the n ^ .' ^" "' °"^ *'■"«• ''"•«»'n clenched in the left hand with L t S"". °^ ''^'^' °' ^^-^ «™ws are elevated to such a degre as ^ ,1 enab r.'t?' '" 'T""' "^'^'^ '^ ^'^-^ '« ■n the air. and while it is flying the^ hi ""'TV^' 'ingest time possible sible ; and he who succeedrS getU 1 1 !" I ''^ " "P'^'^ ^ P- " best," and takes the goods staked ^ ^ '' ""™'''' "P ''^ °»<=^. •'« of fixing them on the string, and dichTr^ T' ' ^""^ ^^ the quickness '^ no doubt, the result of \Tl 'r„t ^'"^ ''^'" '" succession; which great practice, and enables the most expert LI tJ l|itlM^^ 142 of them to get as many as eight arrows up before the first one reaches the ground. For the successful use of the bow, as it is used through all this region of country on horseback, and that invariably at full speed, the great object of practice is to enable the bowman to draw the bow with suddenness and instant effect ; and also to repeat the shots in the most rapid manner. As their game is killed from their horses* backs while at the swiftest rate— and their enemies fought in the same way ; and as the horse is the swiftest ani- mal of the prairie, and always able to bring his rider alongside, within a few paces of his victim ; it will easily be seen that the Indian has little use in throwing his arrow more than a few paces ; when he leans quite low on his horse's side, and drives it with astonishing force, capable of producing instant death to the buffalo, or any other animal in the country. The bows which are generally in use in these regions I have described in'a former Letter, and the effects produced by them at the distance of a few paces is almost beyond relief, considering their length, which is not often over three, — and sometimes not exceeding two and a half feet. It can easily be seen, from what has been said, that the Indian has little use or object in throwing the arrow to any great distance. And as it is very sel- dom that they can be seen shooting at a target, I doubt very much whether their skill in such practice would compare with that attained to in many parts of the civilized world; but with the same weapon, and dashing forward at fullest speed on the wild horse, without the use of the rein, when the shot is required to be made with the most instan- taneous effect, I scarcely think it possible that any people can be found more skilled, and capable of producing more deadly effects with the bow, TJie horses which the Indians ride in this country are invariably the wild horses, which are found in great numbers on the prairies ; and have, un- questionably, strayed from the Mexican borders, into which they were introduced by the Spanish invaders of that country ; and now range and subsist themselves, in winter and summer, over the vast plains of prairie that stretch from the Mexican frontiers to Lake Winnipeg on the Nortii, a distance of 3000 miles. These horses are all of small stature, of the pony order ; but a very hardy and tough animal, being able to perform for tlib Indians a continual and essential service. They are taken with the laso, which is a long haltei or thong, made of raw-hide, of some fifteen or twenty yards in length, and which the Indians throw with great dexterity ; with a noose at one end of it, which drops over the head of the animal tliey wish to catch, whilst running at full speed — when the Indian dismounts from his own horse, and holding to the end of the laso, choaks the animal down, and afterwards tames and converts him to his own use. Scarcely a man in these regions is to be found, who is not the owner of one or more of these horses,; and in many instances of eight, ten, or even twenty, which he values as his own personal property. «li: one reaclm the all this region of e great object of suddenness and pid manner. As iviftest rate — and the swiftest ani- )ngside, within a ian has little use leans quite low rce, capable of 1 in the country. e described in a stance of a few , which is not alf feet. It can las little use or as it is very sel- ubt very much h that attained same weapon, without the use le most instan- ! can be found with the bow. ariably tiie wild and have, un- lich they were now range and lains of prairie >n the North, a re, of the pony perform for tlit I with the laso, fteen or twenty xterity ; with a iiinial tiiey wish [lismounts from tks the animal 3t the owner of It, ten. or even to I I \ (< J ^ 'i 1 the and enli ofti I enac villa in ni pleai amoi I 1 (PLA vary Ibel Be I liav the c more long long This ] men o most s victon lowing party, to eva( route t them t In tl while d weeks on the not knc their co could 1 count o during \ and we than th( and vali to see. with the 143 enl.glitened communities, is one of the most exciting «.! ""*"■" of the most extravagant modes of gambii!; ' ^"^-^-ents. and one I have been this day a spectator to scenes of this kind which h«v« i enacted n, abundance, on a course which they have, IT ba ic 'r .h" village; and although I never had the least tasfe for thCueluLm;': in my own country, yet, I must say, I have been not a hnl! ^'""'^ ^* pleased with the thrilling effect whi^h thes e king seen shaveT, "'^ amongst so wild and picturesque a group. ^ ^'' P'""''"""^ I have made a sicetch of the ground and the group, as near as I .„ m (PLATE 61): shewing the manner of " startine-" J7 o .. °"''^ vary a ,i«,e from the^customs of the ..::; 'IrM .:n::^ J^^ I believe, a horse-race is the same all the world over ^ ' I I,!'"!'' '^"'' "'"y ^^'' ''''" *''" amusements of this day to which avebeenaneye-w.tness; and since writing the above. I IL ,e"r 'ej the cause of th.s unusual expression of hilarity and mirth- whLl, more nor less than the safe return of a small war-parrv who h V'"' "' long out without any tidings having been rece.V:; rt L^I^tlt t. ey;:: long smce been looked upon as sacrificed to the fates of war and it Th.s party was made up of the most distinguished and despe ate vJ^t men of the tr.be who had sallied out against the Riccarees and ken Z victory They had wandered long and fiuth fully about the country M- lowmg the trails of their enemy; when they were attacked bv ^n 7' party, and lost several of their Ln and all their ho s'tthi Zl^Zn to evade the scrutiny of their enemy, who were closely investino:tI^ na2"i route to their village ; they took a circuitous range of ^rco ntfy to eni them to return with their lives, to their village. ^' In this plight, it seems. I had dropped my little canoe alongside of them while descending from the Mouth of Yellow Stone to this plac no trnaTv' wee s smce; where they had bivouacked or halted, to smol U o's't tie best and safest mode of procedure. At the time of meeting tl^. thir coTdln'tr'"" °V'"' '^"»"^^^' ^^'^y ^^'^ "-'^''^ ^« comm'u iS ould h. 7 ■"'; ''"'' """'^ P^^^'^'y ^^^^ ^^'^^^ to do so even if thev could have done .t, from apprehension that we might have given some ac OU.U of them to their enemies. I rested my canoe a'n hour of so w t the n" and we passed on our way, without further information of them or their dans han t e sketch that I there made (p.... 63), and which I shall p res e se:'7e^;°';^T7l^^'"^^^^"p^ ' ^^^^'^-^ hadthep^iz: : w"tl their r ."'''■ ^"^^'^ •■°'^^«. ^^^ich were spread upon the grass. w.th their respective weapons laying about them, and lighting their pipes at a , ,.,./ 144 little fire which was Icindlcd in the centre— the chief or leader of the party, with his arms stacked behind him, and his ione^ head-dress of war-engles' qnills and ermine falling down over his bark, whilst he sat in a contemplative and almost desponding mood, was surely one of the most striking and beautiful illustrations of a natural hero that I ever looked upon. These gallant fellows got safely home to their village, and the numerous expressions of joy for their return, which I have this day witnessed, have ao much fatigued me that 1 write brief, and close my Letter here. ider of the party, 88 of war-engles' n a contemplative lost itriking and upon. ind the numerous vitnegsed, have to ere. 146 ■♦4-"'f ^/•:tter-No. 21. ^"■^■^^'•■•^''''f-R MISSOURI. «'■•" Lis battle, pijt^ V T"°« » ""» " lii. tack tiuf r'r"'- 1" receive hi„ ""''""'■"'''-pa enter the ww„„ u ^""^ »»'' •"'"'! -of a Bruta. and ,|,e ,til,„oss ollZ t'l" !'*' ""'' "'"■ "■» ' ■" """"I "Mil the dark- ) ,i III 1 I! li till 146 npss of nit^lit l)mke upon thn solitarv sllllno.<: ii;. i i • . f"'" - "- .■"' .= in »,;■'£ ;;,'';::;, ™ :r;;' : ;::: : •"' and „nr.ol„l,, „, ,J.L:,..,J,: ' ' '"'"'• '""'""'-''-S. tomahawk, ove;':ri :;\f;it: :'Tu:::tc^^ as a tropl.y, and also as an ornament to his dress tIV \uT "''""' mmsm as a trophy- ,s in ZT ' ""'' ''°''"' ''"^^ ^^^^ scalp-locks, and ov I L U at les^ : ;'"■ "'"'".^■^""-^'''^^ »'''^^ '- had contended with ,,. ^' ' "'■'' ''I'^Peiate enemy n. open combat. its edoxs 1 i"'" "' ''"^'^ = "^ ^°^^^ '"''' t''« ^"^i" <^<' a pole-cat, and Z/o. was of bone, and as white and beautiful us ivory; over is back ^— ^" ess, wliicli was n very ^(1 of a sliiit or tunic, 'and quiver, hmce, cine-bag, tomahawk, iinsof the moimtairi- 8wliich rested upon iiid the other fidliug- icin, and they faiiit)^? r, and somewhat in ^"11 each arm from the widtli (and crossing ahroidered with por- •ms. To the lower I inch, were attaclied own hand from tlie which he thus wore 'ont and baclvofthc )rcupine quills and )resentations of the he dress was bound tils were suspended tifuUy dressed, and , and were fastened ike the shirt, had a lyes, passing down the whole length of Is. >8t every part with !nt, consisted of a ; forehead over tlie feet ; set the whole of the head, witii f the grizzly bear, :c the scalp-locks, id contended with nd hardened with of a pole-cat, and 'the antelope, ry ; over its back Ja (][ 1 f f 1 - J- i^H ll ' ' -\ 1 ■1 147 tvas laid, and firmly attached ,. i, |S;SzSsi?::::±: ";" • '"*:'"& rejected such truppin J ."h ^ ^^P'csented it i,H,is por- o ace and si„.p,ieity of the nZT il ""r"''^ "^ '"'----d with^uL V, and h,s brows crowned will, honours |||i It, Hi 148 that elevate him conspicuous above all of his nation. There is no man amongst the Mandans so generally loved, nor any one who wears a robe so justly famed and honourable as that of Mah-to-toh-pa. I said his robe was of the skin of a young buffalo bull, and that the battles of n.s hfe were emblazoned on it ; and on a former occasion, that he presented me a beautiful robe, containing all the battles of his life which he had spent two weeks' time in copying from his original one, which he wore on his shoulders. This robe, with his tracings on it, is the chart of his military life ; and when explamed, will tell more of Mah-to-toh-pa. Some days after this robe was presented, he called upon me with Mr Kipp the trader and interpreter for the Mandans, and gave me of each battle there pourtrayed the following history, which was interpreted by Mr. Kipp from his own lips, and written down by me, as we three sat upon the robe ' Mr K.pp, who is a gentleman of respectability and truth ; and who has lived with these people ten years, assured me, that nearly every one of these narrations were of events that had happened whilst he had lived with them, and had been familiarly known to him ; and that every word that he asserted was true And again, reader, in this country where, of all countries I ever was in men are the most jealous of rank and of standing ; and in a community so small also, that every man's deeds of honour and chivalry are familiarly known to all: it would not be reputable, or even safe to life, for a warrior to wear upon his back the representations of battles he never had fought- professing to have done what every child in the village would know he never had done. So then I take the records of battles on the robe of Mah-to-toh-pa to be matter of historical fact ; and I proceed to give them as I wrote them down from his own lips. Twelve battle-scenes are there represented, where he has contended with his enemy, and in which he has taken fourteen of their scalps. The groups are drawn according to his own rude ideas of the arts • and I proceed to describe them in turn, as they were explained to me. ROBE OF MAH-TO-TOH-PA (Plate 65). 1. Mah-to-toh-pa kills a Sioux chief-the three heads represent the three Riccarees, whom the Sioux chief had previously killed. The Sioux chief ,s seen with war-paint black on his face. Mah-to-toh-pa is seen with the scalp of the Sioux in one hand, and his knife in the other, with his bow and quiver lying behind him.* 2. A Shienne chief, who sent word to Mah-to-toh-pa that he wished to fight him-was killed by Mah-to-toh-pa with a lance, in presence of a large now hangs m the Inoian G.lle«v. and on the following ,.„ges, each group uambe ed.and delineated on a larger scale, which ^refacnmite, of the drawings on the robe There is no man a wears a robe so jU, and that the occasion, that he »f his life, which le, which he wore nilitary life ; and B with Mr. Kipp, each battle there Mr. Kipp, from the robe. Mr. ho has lived with ' these narrations 1 them, and had isserted was true s I ever was in, a community so ry are familiarly ife, for a warrior ^er had fought; would know he -to-toh-pa to be rote them down 2d, where he has )urteen of their eas of tiie arts ; led to me. i represent the id. The Sioux pa is seen with r, with his bow t he wished to lence of a large rious robe, which up numbered, and le robe I :! li!, ) ;i 1 ( ^llli! 'fill' ! ■" - ''i||l| J ■" ™ H ! l1 1 <,&11U 1 m II I i 1 ^Jl i i 'i m [/ yiCaditt J_ 7 D 1 5 \- 'III/' i « I m Y fl }| it sa la re ni( In cm da; liai as I nan villi cryi deal II liis 1 oppc Soillj frenj the b 149 party of Mandans and Shiennes iw i . . -th cag^e.,; ,.,,„ ,„ ,. '^""- Mah-to-toh-pa is here known by his ,a„ca J- A Shienne kilJcd bv M^u » . l ^- oiiienne chief with i fac.ng the enemy alone and killin^one "f m """i!^'''' '"s Lorse back represented with a beautiful head dresroF '"•. ^^'^h-to-toh-pa is here ^or.seV head of equal beautyT his s e , """"f ^' •^"'"«' ^^^ «'- on h 6. Ihe brother of Mah-to-tr,!. ../in T, ^^ horse tracks. >vith an arrow, and then runn.t"' \"^ ^^ ' ^''''''''' -^o shot him Mah-to.oh-pa was the Tst "fi ^, IWs'rtht' "f /'' ''''' '^^^ ' °'^- J;e drew the lance from the body kel it 1 """^ ^''^ '^' ''»"'=« '" it : '^s l^lacle, and then, according 1' htta Im ^^ ""'^ *''^ '^'-'1 ^ried on jar^e lance; the dead body of hU bro L f " '""'' "'"^'•^^ ^'^h the lance remaining i„ it, and the tra ks of ,. r' ' '''" ^'"''^ '^'^ ^"°^ «»d Tiie following was, perhaps one of M ''"' ' '^^ '» ''™nt. remarkable man's ii^e^nd!s;: ,\ ^M ^T'"^ ^''^'^'^^ ^^^^'^ men, who were living i„ the Mmir n ^ '' ^'^P' ""^^ several white ^" a skirmish, near th'e Man In ^V whS t '" '"^ °' '^^ °""-"- "-,es the Riccarees, the brotheSah ")''"''' ""' "^'^ ''^ ^''"'^ ays when Mah-to-toh-pa found tLbodrtT'T ""'^^'"^ ^«"^^«'-l 'andsome spear left piercing the bodv thrn^ '^^'^^^Sh mangled, and a by hun brought into the Mand^ vilhL T^ " '''"*■'• '^''^ ^P^^r was a«a famous weapon belong 'AyaIed"^"' ?^""°»"'^ ^^ --y name of Won-^a-tm ti • "* ^""^^^ °^ the Riccarees hv fi. vi"a.e by MahttlpaTlhtrbird "Tff'' ^'-^bT ^M £ "yng most Piteously.'anrsta L, "htt h ' n '" '"'^^ «" "'« ^'^^^X •^eath of hi, brother with the sir:^^^^^^^^^^ he would some day revenge thi' . " /« almost an incredible fact thatCl . .u- - w,gwam for the space of f^ur' year in t'h f T" "'^'^ ^''^^^ ^^^ '" opportumty to use it upon the breast' . ''''' expectation of an pi. .mpatient of further dLyt^.'rZ """V "'^" '"^ '"^'^^"^ f'-enzy and fury; he a* been kind to ,ne. and I 7. A Iliecaree killed bv Mil, f„ » i ■ - killed by a Uicx-aree'.,, 'l" tSe^'T""' 1 ''" '"'"'°''« -'"''-• «■'• Mah-to-toh-pa, orfour b e-n l t •"'' '' '''"''' ^'""-^ l-'^^vious. «ck with guns, until Mah-to-toh..' ''"'-i:"''"^'* ' ^''ey fought on hor.e. '""g'u with bows and ar ows „ 2,', J^""*^^';-'''"-" ^'^^ ^''ot away ; they then arrows, until the.r qu.vers were en.ptied, when they .t 162 IBI 'if iff dismounted and fougnt single-handed. The Shienne drew his knife, and Mah-to-toh-pa had left his; they struggled for the knife, which Mah-to-toh-pa wrested from tho Shienne, and killed him with it; in the struggle, the blade of the knife was several times drawi. through the hand of Mah-to-toh- pa, and the blood is seen running from the wound. This extraordinary occurrence also, was one which admits of, and deserves a more elaborate description, which I will here give as it was translated from his own lips, while he sat upon the robe, pointing to his painting of it; and at the same time brandishing the identical knife which he drew from his belt, as he was shewing how the fatal blow was given ; and exhibit- ing the wounds inflicted in his hand, as the blade of the knife was several times drawn through it before he wrested it from his antagonist. A party of about 150 Shienne warriors had made an assault upon the Mandan village at an early hour in the morning, and driven off a consider- able number of horses, and taken one scalp. Mah-to-toh-pa, who was then a young man, but famed as one of the most valiant of the Mandans, took the lead of a party of fifty warriors, all he could at that time muster, and went in pursuit of the enemy ; about noon of the second day, they came in sight of the Shiennes; and the Mandans seeing their enemy much more numerous than they had expected, were generally disposed to turn about and return without attacking them. They started to go back, when Mah-to-toh-pa galloped out in front upon the prairie, and plunged his lance into the ground ; the blade was driven into the earth to its hilt— he made another circuit around, and in that circuit tore from his breast his reddened sash, which he hung upon its handle as a flag, calling out to the Mandans, " What ! have we come to this ? we have dogged our enemy two days, and now when we have found them, are we to turn about and go back like cowards? Mah-to-toh-pa's lance, which is red with the blood of brave men, has led you to the sight of your enemy, and you have followed it; it now stands firm in the ground, where the earth will drink the blood of Mah- to-toh-pa ! you may all go back, and Mah-to-toh-pa will fight them alone!" During this manoeuvre, the Shiennes, who had discovered the Mandans behind them, had turned about and were gradually approaching, in order to give them battle ; the chief of the Shienne war-party seeing and under- standing the difficulty, and admiring the gallant conduct of Mah-to-toh-pa, galloped his horse forward within hailing distance, in front of the Mandans, and called out to know *' who he was who had stuck down his lance and defied the whole enemy alone ?" " I am Mah-to-toh-pa, second in command of the brave and valiant Mandans." " I have heard often of Mah-to-toh-pa, he is a great warrior— dares Mah-to-toh-pa to come forward and fight this battle with me alone, and our warriors will look on ?" " Is he a chief who speaks to Mah-to-toh-pa '" ew his knife, and ich Mah-to-toh-pa the struggle, the nd of Mah-to-toh- ts of, and deserves it was translated his painting of it; lich he drew from en; and exhibit- knife was several igonist. assault upon the en off a consider- ■toh-pa, who was of the Mandans, that time muster, second day, they ;heir enemy much disposed to turn to go back, when and plunged his th to its hilt— lie im his breast his ag, Galling out to logged our enemy ;urn about and £;o with the blood of I have followed it; the blood of Jlah- ight them alone!" red the Mandans ching, in order to !eing and under- )f Mah-to-toh-pa, of the Mandans, iwn his lance and )rave and valiant at warrior — dares ne alone, and our I c c M H bi ai th hi. Sii hit to ha\ fun his eart he J anta ensu right sever ever, Bj and a silenc •Jh vo 153 -th 2 7X Sst.d'tTetfr '" T^ '^"^'^ ''''^' -'d here is ,„v h " You have said enough •' '"""''"Sles tail ! " '« '"y 'ance PJumed chiefs, at full speej drove r' ^T''^""^ P^«'"«. «nd the two ful, '^f guns at the same moment Th°"''^ "P°" ''''^ «ther ! bo h fi "^ -d Wheeled when Mal^ttlp J'/^L'^hi "^' ^ ^^ ^ ''"'' '^^^^^^^^^^^^ also-d 7ht ^ T"""f '"" • ^' then threw it LM'^ " '° P'^'^^^ Ipft o . ^ '^'^ '^'O"' his quiver anrJ .„ "* •"■"' ^nd his gun left arm ! The Shienne instant y did 1 '"°^' '"'^ "'^ ^'^'^'d uponl i" and h,s gun was thrown into the ai/A ,%'',?' "" '^°'" ^^^ thrown off h^ bow drawn, and quick as ithl" h '"''^ '"'' ""'^''^^'^ ^n his arm-!.' deadly combat! Like two soalr •''"■' ^''^ ''^ '^' vvin/forT ---ts around, and the tw ng "of hf ^" *'^ "P^ -' 'J^ey -ad^^ ^r^u'^' '^ '^'y d-^J^ed by efh ot It ""'"^ '""^ "^^^ ''«ard. and th w, h the.r shields - Some lodged ^^'J' .^^'^^^S off the whizzing arrJw b"^ both protected their Sodiesl^S. ZwT If '"' "^^^^^ ■» ^^^e^^ arm and many were the shafts that fled t .^'^''" "^ ''""'« ^'de. Dead J the horse of Mah-to-toh-pa fel to 1 '^'" """rderous bows. At Ten! 5:«. "der sprang upon £ fe 1 1 't'T"' ""^ ^" ^"^ - ^^^ ^aft ' ^h.enne seeing his adversary dl?o2;H '° ''"^" **>« •'•°'"br.'; but the '- back, presented the face of ^"11^"^'™^" ''^ ''°^-' «^d dr ving earth 'and w^'r^rufhbgt^rgraTped^^^^^^ ''"'^''^ ^"^ 'l^'ver to the he had left it at home ! \~ bow wasln hi I' f' '"* '"^ ""'^ »>«d it no antagonist's blow and felled him to t j r^' ^"'' ""'""^b he parried his ensued for the knife^the blade of it w/'"""'^ '. ^ *^^^P^^«'^ ^trSggle 1^ nght hand of Mah-to-toh-pa inflictlr ""f ^'"^' ^^^-" through thi -verely wounded in several j^ts of th bod" i'"'*'"' wounds,whilehe w ever, m wresting it from his advers 'I ht/* "? 'V'"^"' ^""^^''^'^ h- and at the close of the battle, Mah-to-toh na^h Z "'" '""' ""^ '^'^' °'ber, ^■'-ce. the knife and scalp of the noU sle .fnf chT^^^ ^'^'^^ '" '^-diy • X 154 i 9. Several hundred Minatarrees and Mandans attacked by a party of Assinneboins — all fled but Mah-to-toh-pa, who stood his ground, tired, and killed one of the enemy, putting the rest of them to flight, and driving off sixty horses ! He is here seen with his lance and shield — foot-tracks of his enemy in front, and his own party's horse-tracks behind him, and a shower of bullets flying around his head ; here he got the name of "the four bears," as the Assinneboins said he rushed on like four bears. 10. Mah-to-toh-pa gets from his horse and kills two Ojibbeway women, and takes their scalps ; done by the side of an Ojibbeway village, where they went to the river for water. He is here seen with his lance in one hand and his knife in the other — an eagle's plume head-dress on his horse, and his shield left on his horse's back. I incurred his ill-will for awhile by asking him, whether it was manly to boast of taking the scalps of women ? and his pride prevented him from giving me any explanation or apology. The interpreter, however, explained to roe that he had secreted himself in the most daring manner, in full sight of the Ojibbeway village, seeking to revenge a murder, where he remained six days without sustenance, and then killed the two women in full view of the tribe, and made his escape, which entitled him to the credit of a victory, thouf;h his victims were women. 11. A large party of Assinneboins entrenched near the Mandan village attacked by the Mandans and Minatarrees, who were driven back — Mah- to-toh-pa rushes into the entrenchment alone — an Indian fires at him and burns his face with the muzzle of his gun, which burst — the indian retreats, leaving hi? exploded gun, and Mah-to-toh-pa shoots him ''irough the shoulders as he runs, and kills him with his tomahawk ; the gun of the Assinneboin is seen falling to the ground, and in front of him the heads of the Assinneboins in the entrenchment ; the horse of Mah-to-toh-pa is seen behind him. 12. Mab-to-toh-pa between his enemy the Sioux, and his own people, with an arrow shot through him, after standing the fire of the Sioux for a long time alone. In this battle he took no scalps, yet his valour was so ex- traordinary that the chiefs and braves awarded him the honour of a victory. This feat is seen ia the centre of the robe — head-dress of war-eagles' quills on his own and his horse's head —the tracks of his enemies' horses are seen in front of him, and bullets flying both ways all around him. With his whip in his hand, he is seen urging his horse forward, and an arrow is seen flying, and bloody, as it has passed through his body. For this wound, and the several others mentioned above, he bears the honourable scars on liis body, which he generally keeps covered with red paint. Such are the battles traced upon the robe of Mah-to-toh-pa or four bears, interpreted by J. Kipp from the words of the hero while sitting upon the robe, explaining each battle as represented. bangs in the Indian Gallery, with satisfactory certificates of its identity and its remnrk- able history, and an exact drawing of it and its scabbard can be seen in i>late 99, a. if 11(1 1 156 y letter-No. 22. MANDAN VILLAGE, VPPEH MISSOURI. ha2L:stri:tsf ::s;:,^'-^ cod. , , ov.. that i acted in this village; andrhTe^rnTf'"! '' "^' '^^ ^^ '- beent" Jtand it in .ost of its bearing ^L.^wrl^I^'r Tu *° "^ ^^ »° -de - for no whae man, in ail probabili v h», u '" ^ ''"^ '•^^'°» to expect- -^o|«e-/o.,. durin. thes'e »«: e'^a^klbTel^^^^^ '1^ "'•'"'"^^ *° " - Well and truly has it been said fK.f »i n. *PP*"'"g scenes, peculiar people; and most correc ,J ^ad it ^".'^"^ ^^^ ^ «'^«"&e and "«Portant and interesting scene bvthoJ ^f \'" °""ed, that this was an witnessed such parts of it as are transl " H ° h^' °" ''°™«'- °«asions 'nedicine-lodge. ''''"'*'''«d 0"^ «>f doors, and i„ front of the Since the date of mv last T^», t f;,r''""--'-''°-- iS^^^^^^ to have painted the ceremonies, who had meTular W il!r.^ f °' '^""ductor and who, on the morning when fh!!r ^ 1 "'"^ doctor or "medicine-" -need, took „e by the a'rm.td led mS it'T'' '"" ^^^'^"^^ -»- Fur Trader, Mr. Kipp, and his two cleTk, ""'^'^i^ie-lodge, where the dance for four days; all of us ^ „ troT'""' "^ '" ^'"^ ««^"- -turnrng again at sun-rise the neXnTn""" '^""'"^ «^ «-^-"' -d I took my sketch-book will, me J^i drawmgs of what we sav, and /ul^n'ote of .''' "I ""'"^ '""^ ^^''^^''"^ by the mterpreter; and since the lose of tL/??^ "' '^^"^'^^^^ to me wh,ch was a week ago or more, I have b en d T"' '"^ '"■^'^^^"' «^^"e. covered w.gwam, with a fine sU-lS over IT ^'"'""""^'^ '" ^" «"•'''' brushes, endeavouring faithfuliy^o put 1 1 l ^^i ^'''^ ""y Palette and anvass, which my companions 111 agLe to L".^^^^ o what we saw upon fidelity of which they have atfachp? H .""'^ally correct, and of the Pa.ntings. I ,.,,e mLe fou pi n Tf 1''"^ '' ^"^ '^^'^ °^ 'be everal hundred figures, representing the tran/'''"*^' '''''''' <=°"ta'"'ng '- to get them home, they w," b^e fou d T ""' '"'' '^^ ' ^"'^ '^ ^ '"terestmg. ^ ^^ *«""d to be exceedingly curious and 1 shudder at the relation, or even at fh« .k u , ' ''" ^' '''^ *'^°"Sbt of these barbarous and ;'i '3 r to "• l; ) 166 rruel scenes, and am alnnost ready to shrink from the task of reciting them after I have so long promised some account of them. I entered the medi- cine-house of these scenes, as I would have entered a cliurch, and expected to see something extraordinary and strange, but yet in the form of worship or devotion; but alas! little did I expect to see the interior of their holy temple turned into a slaughter-house, and its floor strewed with the blood of its fanatic devotees. Little did I think that I was entering a house of God, where His blinded worshippers were to pollute its sacred interior with their blood, and propitiatory suffering and tortures— surpassing, if possible, the cruelty of the rack or the inquisition ; but such the scene has been, and as such I will endeavour to describe it. The " Mandan religious ceremony" then, as I believe it is very justly deno- minated, is an annual transaction, held in their medicine-lodge once a year, as a great religious anniversary, and for several distinct objects, as I shall in a few minutes describe; during and after which, they look with implicit reliance for the justification and approval of the Great Spirit. All of the Indian tribes, as I have before observed, are religious— are worshipful— and many of them go to almost incredible lengths (as will be seen in the present instance, and many others J may recite) in worshipping the Great Spirit; denying and humbling themselves before Him for the same purpose, and in the same hope as we do, perhaps in a more rational and acceptable way. The tribes, so far as I have visited them, all distinctly believe in the existence of a Great (or Good) Spirit, an Evil (or Bad) Spirit, and also in a future existence and future accountability, according to their virtues and vices m this world. So far the North American Indians would seem to be one family, and such an unbroken theory amongst them ; yet with regard to the manner and form, and time and place of that accountability— to the constructions of virtues and vices, and the modes of appeasing and propitia- ting the Good and Evil Spirits, they are found with all the changes and variety which fortuitous circumstances, and fictions, and fables have wrought upon If from their superstitions and their ignorance, there are oftentimes ob- scurities and mysteries thrown over and around their system, yet these affect not the theory itself, which is everywhere essentially the same— and which if it be not correct, has this much to command the admiration of the en- lightened world, that they worship with great sincerity, and all according to one creed. The Mandans believe in the existence of a Great (or Good) Spirit, and also ot an Evil Spirit, who they say existed long before the Good Spirit, and IS far superior in power. They all believe also in a future state of existence, and a future administration of rewards and punishments, and (so do all other tribes that 1 have yet visited) tiiey believe those punishments are not eternal, but commensurate with their sins. 157 The latter they describe to be a countrTve^v far t ' 1'' "' "''^^° ^"^ "«" h.deou8 aspect, and covered with eterKow In """'« °'^«"«» «"d th.s freezmg place they describe as mo t exc^' ""'^ '""' J*^^ *°''"«"^ of suppose to be in a warmer and delightfriatitur h"^ ' T''"^' "«*^«» ^hey keenest enjoyment, and where tL co „t ! ^h T luxunes of life. TheGreat or Good S tLv h r ' -buffaloes and other place for the purpose of there meeting fhCwho h/ ^ ?"' '" *^' '°™^^ ■ngr the agony of their sufferings by beTn 1 ?/'^'"'''^ ''''" ' '"^reas- the penalties. The Bad or Evfl'spiiuhfv 7:.! '"""*' administering res.dc m Paradise, still tempting the Lppy Ld to "T u""' '"PP°«^ *» eg;ons of punishment they believe to be [o'rturl. ^"'"^""^ '« t''^ he .nount of their transgressions, and that thTv u '""' l^^PO^'oned to to the land of the happy where tlT ^ "''* ^•'^" *» be transferred ^He Evil Spirit. andl';:etr;Vn^:T^ur^ ^^^'^^ offences. "^^am at a future period for their new J^^ L t J'SIT Spirit-'""' r '" *» ""'P* o^ap- I!!*:;: '^' ^°"" -^ '"^'i Si t itr s: rs' settlmg of the waters.) ^*'''«-«ee-'-o-Aa-Aa-5Aa, (sinking down or coding of buffaloes to sup^^ ^.^'^^^^^^ f -hich they attribute Z Thirdly and lastly, for the nurolr.? '^°°^/"""& ^^e season ; and 'he tribe, as they annUlly a 2 ToThe ^''^"^ ^^' '" *'' ^""^ "^^ °^ of privation and torture, which whi^i^^ manhood, through an ordeal and prepare them for ex rime '£„ " T°^^ '' '^"''^" '^''" ">"-'- tors to the scene, to decide upon I' '^''' ^'^^ chiefs who are specta- ability to endure the extr me orivaf o T^T''' ^"''"y «'^«"gth and 'ots of Indian warriors ; and that "v" ' .'7'"^^ '"'-'' "^^^ ^^^ '^ the and best able to lead a war pa y „ elTf' .""' "''° '^ ^'^ ™««t ''-dy This part of the ceremony as hf '""' '"'^^"'^y- to behold, and will almost sta'gl the b!.' f TT''''^ "' '^ ^^"'^ ^''o^^k^'g ■t- The scene is too terr Kid ton f ""''^^ "'^^" ^''^^ ^^^ ° were it not an essential part of ato. T f ^. ^"^ ''^ seen or to be told, world, and therefore worth' thelk„otrng' "'"' "" '^ "^^ ^° ^'^^ -"-d "*'^""' ^"^ -^-^ «^^- P-o^ these ceremonies are exceed- 168 inply grotesque and amusing, and that part of them which has a relation to the Deluge is harmless and full of interest. In the centre of the Mandan village is an open, circular area of 150 feet diameter, kept always clear, as r. public ground, for the display of all their public feasts, parades, &c. and abound it are their wigwams placed as near to each other as they can well stand, their doors facing the centre of this public area. In the middle of this ground, which is trodden like a hard pavement is a curb (somewhat like a large hogshead standing on its end) made of planks (and bound with hoops), some eight or nine feet high, which they religiously preserve and protect from year to year, free from mark or scratch, and winch they call the" big canoe"-it is undoubtedly a symbolic representa- tion of a part of their traditional history of the Flood ; which it is very evident from this and numerous other features of this grand ceremony, they have in some way or other received, and are here endeavouring to perpetuate by vividly impressing it on the minds of the whole nation. This object of superstition, from its position, as the very centre of the village is the rallyin? point of the whole nation. To it their devotions are paid on various occasions of feasts and religious exercises during the year; and in this extraordinary scene it was often the nucleus of their mysteries and cruelties, as I shall shortly describe them, and becomes an object worth bearing in mind, and worthy of being understood. This exciting and appalling scene, then, which is familiarly (and no doubt correct y) called the " Mandan religious ceremony," commences, not on a particular day of the year, (for these people keep no record of days or weeks) but at a particular season, which is designated by the full expansion of the' willow leaves under the bank of the river; for according to their tradition " the twig that the bird brought home was a willow bough, and had full' grown leaves on it," and the bird to which they allude, is the mourning or tur- tle-dove, which they took great pains to point out to me, as it is often to be seen feeding on the sides of their earth-covered lodges, and which, being as they call it, a medicine-bird, is not to be destroyed or harmed by any one and even their dogs are instructed not to do it injury. ' On the morning on which this strange transaction commenced, I was sitting at breakfast in the house of the Trader, Mr. Kipp, when at sun-rise, we were suddenly startled by the shrieking and screaming, of the women, and bark- ing and howling of dogs, as if an enemy were actually storming their viJIa-e. " Now we have it !" (exclaimed mine host, as he sprang from the table,) the grand ceremony has commenced !-drop your knife and fork, Monsi. and get your sketch-book as soon as possible, that you may lose nothing, tor the very moment of commencing is as curious as anything else of this strange affair." I seized my sketch-book, and all hands of us were in an instant m front of the medicine-lodge, ready to see and to hear all that was to take place. Groups of women and children were gathered on the tops of 1> has a relation to 159 distant, a solitary individ.ml!^o i ^^'*' ^"^e^e was behelrl «» •?' i- -.■-■ ,i„e i:r:x:° "' » -- "■-'f. .nu «s/l: r; fo test their elasticitv—thpir , ^"'""'O" : ''ows were strung anrl fh 1 '•'7"e village-wa?riorltre'b[Xr T^)' "P°" ^"^ '-'"^^ "1' or t..e f dans:t ■fi-J.trctrit ^^^ ^''^^^ ^^ ^^e vi„a,e with a dignified step and in a II ,; " T ^T' '""''""^^ ^o approS "Pon h.n,, and he at length „,ade h aZ!""''"^' *''^ ^'"''^^^ all eye' wer hra'd'H^' ''''''''^' '-a'cls h^P;^ ^ "PPosit J) wit.I chiefs and braves stood ready to receivr^ °f /^^ "'"age, where all the "•anner, by shaking hands with him tr '^'.'"' ^'^'^'' ^bey did in a cordial and pronouncing hi name IZlZT:' I'' T'"" '''' '^^^^^^^^ 1 he body of this strange personage !tT""'^ (the first or only ixian/ white clay, so as to resemraTalule 'il!" '^''f -^ "^•'^^' -s painfed wl four white wolf skins falling back ov j h T' V^''' '"^" = ^e wore a robTlf 'P'endid head-dress made^f^wo ^.e;/';;" ''"^ ^"" "'"^ ''-d ''e had a cautiously carried a large pipe wl. Ih t ''/"'^ '" "^'^ '^^ hand he something of great importance Aft "'"""'^ *° '''''^ ^"^ guard as ■kem deoora.i„g iu side,, wid °a~ Z f ' "'" '" """"■ "^ ^•A in SrS^^^^^ preparations were making i«i hrough the village, stopping i„ froj ""'^ ^'^' ^''' !>' on'y man) travel! "nt.l the owner of the lodge fame ou T . 7 f '" ^ '°''^«' ^^^ <=ryi„g -as the matter ? to which helerd b/'reT r ''\'^ "'^^ ^'^ ^^««' -^ -''at ad happened on the earth's s rface'bv '""^ '^V'^ ^^'^^^^''P'- ^^^-^ ayng that -he was the only person saverff T^''"^'""^ °^ ^''« waters. ''« anded his big canoe on rSZ^ ^'" ^''^ ""'™' calamity ; tha '-des : that he had come to open thr J" ■'" *'" "^^'' -'^"^ ^e now -- ^ P-U Of some edged-S ^tom t ^ ^2^^^-;=::^- 160 It may be sacrificed to tlie water; for he says, "if this is not done, there will be anotlier flood, and no one will be saved, as it was with such tools that the big canoe was made." Having visited every lodge or wigwam in the village, during the day, and having received such a present at each, as a hatchet, a knife, &c. (which k undoubtedly always prepared and ready for the occasion), he returned at evening and deposited them in the medicine-lodye, where they remained until the afternoon of the last day of the ceremony, when, as the final or closing scene, they were thrown into the river in a deep place, from a bank thiriy feet high, and in presence of the whole village ; from whence they can never be recovered, and where they were, undoubtedly, sacrificed to the Spirit of the Water. During the first night of this strange character in the village, no one could tell where he slept ; and every person, both old and young, and dogs, and all living things were kept within doors, and dead silence reigned every where. On the next morning at sunrise, however, he made his appearance again, and entered the medicine-lodge; and at his heels (in " Indian Jih." i. e. single file, one following in another's tracks) all the young men wlio were candidates for the self-tortures which were to be inflicted, and for the honours that were to be bestowed by the chiefs on those who could most manfully endure them. There were on this occasion about fifty young men who entered the lists, and as they went into the sacred lodge, each one's body was chiefly naked, and covered with clay of different coloi.rs ; some were red, others were yellow, and some were covered with white clay, giving them the appearance of wliite men. Each one of them carried in his right hand his medicine-bag— on his left arm, his shield of the bull's hide- in his left hand, his bow and arrows, with his quiver slung on his back. When all had entered the lodge, they placed themselves in reclining pos- tures around its sides, and each one had suspended over his head liis respective weapons and medicine, presenting altogether, one of the most wild and picturesque scenes imaginable. Nu-mohk-muck-a-nah (the first or only man) was in the midst of them, and having lit and smoked his medicine-pipe for their success ; and havino' addressed them in a short speech, stimulating and encouraging them 'o trust to the Great Spirit for His protection during the severe ordeal they were about to pass through; he called into the lodge an old medicine or mystery-man, whose body was painted yellow, and whom he appointed master of ceremonies during this occasion, whom they denominated in their language 0-kee-pah Ka-se-kah (keeper or conductor of the ceremonies). He was appointed, and the authority passed by the presentation of the medicme-pipe, on which they considei hangs all the power of holding and conducting all these rites. After this delegated authority had thus passed over to the medicine- man ; Nu-mohk-muck-a-nah shook hands wrth him, and bade him good 161 ''ye» snyin? « thnt i,« V'I'age. fook" for .1 " *'"' °"^ "^ '^e lod.e Z ""''' '^ °I'«" ""-' f ™it !;; rcf-r rr ' -' ■"'°-^" ■'"• "- """^ '" *° '" '"« '•""d. crying to the Gro.V ^ '"'^-^' ^'"^ hi, medicine n i mentioned that III ^ll^^'^t one exhibits l^^ :::^ W.I^^.'^irS"' "r ^^^^"^« — , and mvl V ^°","^ '"•'" ^" ^^^''"■•n? a dTs r-'"^"^ '' '^'^^ "foment; 2 7r^^>'"^'y'^^«^«'-yi J^^^^^^ the conductor o just at this luncturp tho* i o''" tne ureat Spirit (pi at,, na\ . i had most luckily for mvooU magician or high-prLt. bu da^'nT'^- ' '"""'^"^^'^ P<^^trait of this .reat ceremonies (in which 1 had rLSn'te^h " '' ^ -'"-encen^ent of t e l"s mysteries), with which he had I. '" '''' P^'^rmance of sorne of -to„ished(as..he could see .'t'r ?7''"^'^ P'^^^ as veT as "P'"'on, deeply skilled i„ ma^ic ' , >• ^''^t I must needs be i„ hi, -pectable rank in the craftrto which I TT^'' ^"'^ "'^"-"^it^d o , unanimous voice of the doctors Ind V ? ^'" ^' °"« ^'^vated by the W tb this very honourable degree wh ir t ^°' ^^"''^ ^«'»'^'-- .«"'• my companions by my side '' .'"''""-''"^-'^dge early i„ the morniu " -o-tssacredinterior/wheV s'Z^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ro get a peep Jf ^oT ? ^"^fng us secrets, as I before desci 7*^ '^^^^"'onies, guarding and co - ^.th a firm professional affectrn b! ,1 """ °"' °' ^''^ 'J-'' -'■■ if!?- g ei sJ: of tl. tei oti (iic siin tiaii '1 and aftei toitc tliesc (lie V lidict J>crioi ivater Jrr iiitcip fibeial iiiiiner ", "iignt lave IiPo« *i «"*"" event or « , -"v "onaeiJu . ;«y«. to which tij;;';z:i "' "°"''"« •'"^ - « • y :n '? ^^'"^•'^^ ^o favourite Spirit or ess!^ ' F'"^'^' P^^uhar regard ^ ^ ""^ 'brings and '■*^«^"n that there is noth 1 '°' ''"''"& '"' " « suspended :--^erea,so;j:7T^'^^^"'--- ^^•''-inthe rL ,'a f" '''''^'"•-'-^. an ^Vf '^^^ ^eing con. ^^^^-•« quills applded '' '"""'■'^^ 'y'"I^ on t tt'°^''^'>" ^^^^^ to- tP'^dlikead'E fck ,'• " ' '"'■'=-'' eXnf'^f '"^ bunch of f these ceremonies sJ^"'f °" ''"■■'»' ^'th wl ch in "" ^^'"» ^ ^''^'k, t''^"- 'nystery-men ; . " '^"^ ^^'^». they are Zt' '" ^ ^"''sequent stage "^her articles of e.ll '''^' ^^'''^■h tf'oy "all /^^f '^'"''' ^''^^ '»y«- "" ^°™ of a Xd rT^"'"' ^^'"■'-''' 'hey'cal ^?'-'^!^-^«' -^ two 'lances. &c. "'''^'■^' '" "'o n.usic (or ather ' '"'^ "^^^^ ^^ ".e '^'»^«e four sacks of . '"''' «°"^ «"d rf.«) for their ""■'"'•^es con ::?;/"" °-^' '-e very ^tZS'""' ^'^ ''-'^-/..-IJ'' "'<■- -aters,;^ "•'•'-« f'o.n tl^four ':''"% '''''' " ''"ose fou.' "•0 waters!- ,; ""' '?"'^'"-' therein ever^ " °^ ^''^ ^vorld-tha '•^'^'°'' they had I' ' ■ ""^'"•'^ ™»W not even eJ '^'""'"" '''^•'''"^t so 164 medicine, and could not be sold for any consideration; so ( abandoned all thoughts of obtaining anything, except what I have done by the medicine operation of tny pencil, which was applied to everything, and even upon that they looked with decided distrust and apprehension, as a sort of theft or sacrilege. Such then was the group, and such the appearance of the interior of the medicine-lodge during the three first, and part of the fourth day also, of the Mandan religious ceremonies. The medicine-man with a group about him, of youiig aspirants who were under his sole controul, as was every article and implement to be used, and the sanctity of this solitary and gloomy looking place, which could not be trespassed upon by any man's presence Without his most sovereign permission. During the three first days of this solemn conclave, there were many very curious forms and amusements enacted in the open area in the middle of the village, and m front of the medicine-lodge, by other members of the com- munity, one of which formed a material part or link of these strange cere- monials. This very curious and exceedingly grotesque part of their perform- ancB, which they denominated Bel-lohck nah-pick (the bull-dance) of which 1 have before spoken, as one of the avowed objects for which they held this annual fete; and to the strictest observance of which they attribute the coming of buffaloes to supply them with food during the season-is repeated four times dunng the first day. eight times on the second day, twelve times on the third day and sixteen times on the fourth day ; and always around the curb, or " % canoe," of which I have before spoken. This subject I have selected for my second picture, and the principal actors initwere eight men, with the entire skins of buffaloes thrown over their backs, with the horns and hoofs and tails remaining- on ; their bodies in a horizontal position, enabling them to imitate the actions bf the buffalo, whdst they were looking out of its eyes as through a mask (plate 67). The bodies of these men were chiefly naked and all painted in the most extraordinary manner, with the nicest adherence to exact similarity; their hmbs bodies and faces, being in every part covered, either with black, red, or white pamt. Each one of these strange characters had also a lock of buffalo s ha,r fed around his ancles-in his right hand a rattle, and a slen- der white rod or staf six feet long, in the other; and carried on his back, a bunch of green willow boughs about the usual size of a bundle of straw! T^iese eight men, being divided into (bur pairs, took their positions on the fou different sides of the curb or big canoe, representing^ thereby the four cardinal points; and between each group of them, with the back turned to with thr^'iV""' "m'^'' "P""'' '''^''^"^ '" ^''^ ^^'"^ d^"^'^. '^'^eping step with them, with a similar staff or wand in one hand and a rattle in the other' am (being four ,n number) answering again to the four cardinal points. The bodie of these four young men were chiefly naked, with no other dress upon them than a beautiful kelt (or quartz-quaw), around the waist, made of eagles so I abandoned all le by the medicine ig, and even upon , as a sort of theft the interior of tiie th day also, of the I group about him, 13 was every article alitary and gloomy ny man's presence re were many very I the middle of the libers of the com- lese strange cere- t of their perform- U-dance) of which lich they held tliis ;hey attribute the !ason — is repeated day, twelve times id always around fie principal actors thrown over tiieir their bodies in a IS bf the buffalo, (plate 67). nted in the most similarity; their r with black, red, lad also a lock of attle, and a slen- ied on his back, bundle of straw, positions on the thereby the four ! back turned to ice, keeping step ittle in the other, Jinal points. The other dress upon t, made of eagles , ^ h- i < ( a c Ci (c C£ cr be l0( tlu till the all nun fi/te sion tane prol: lodg all I sidiil n spect 165 ^--e, whom theytalld r'" fi """'^ ""'^'^ ^'^C nd 7""^''''^^''' «Pots which weredotted al In r'"'"* ^' "'ght," and "h '^ '''*^'^°'*^ a"d ;-o were painted from he j to 7 "" ''''''■^«' ^'''y ^au'S '« f "",?''''^"» ^^ite ^^•7 «aid represented the daJ ""T^^ «' vermilion eo„ld It' , ^^'^ °'''«r and do^n over their hodt 'we"e 'S^ T'"^ ^'^^^''^ "'^ ^ Te e' 1^/^^ cftasmg away." ' ^^'« ' ghosts which th.^ ^ P^'"*ed up . These twelve are the onlv '"^ '^^^ ^«re ^ ^'-'1 endeavour to po"nt n ^^ ?'"'^^'' ^^^ange an 1 l^fil •' u?""' ^"^^^ »"« --sir S ?"°-rs- 1 S° "--5 •cardinal point,, ,'„S''^''^." " '^"'^-''««^^ "Is Le„ ^ ^° ^' ^''^^^ de- On the second day W t """'"^" «'"'"^«^« s'le in'^K '° ^"^'^ «^ ^^« a"d/««.,,-^„ JJ''7^ o each: Mr.. ,;;„,, /'P';" ^^ose directions. ^"-aracters (a, we ^a, t"h 'T""' ^« ^ --gna for tt T ''' '''"' ^^^ --monies/with th Zit^^^r'''} '° asseile .£ ^j t"'"^ ^"^ '''''- (or rather crying) fonhJ^'^^ '" ^'and, dances o.!t .f\uT' """'ter of '^anoe, againit which hel '""^ P'"'""' Ja,nent^ n il ^ '''' '°^^^' ''■"^•"? "y- At this instant f '' ^^''^'^ ^''^ P'"pe i" hi h „ ,^^^T'^^'' ^^e big ^"dies are paint d red "T T^ ^^^^ and pat ia eh, ^'"^ continues to '°d.-, enter' it and brtrA"^ ''^^^ '^^^ ^" Xg h^f '"^ '"'^"' -ho^e ; - •^'•^canoe, where f;:lf,?^'^--cks of wal r! ttJ^f'T «^ ^^^ t'"'mp,ng on them withTv. '^'"selves by the side of / ^ P''*'^^ "^ar ^'"^"'^ and another brVr r"''^ '' drumsticks whl,'''" T^ '°'"'"^"^« a" ""ite to them their ■'"''^^ "'^ ^''^'<- the tj '!' ''^^^ "^^'^ '-Ving on "'"^'■'^ for the b^lll \''''''^ ^« the hi-hes Xf' °''''«'-Kand «'''eo„ minutes or mo"e f "'r' '^ t*"^" com,"e„crd t T"'"''' ^^ '''« faneous, the whole nario ""^ ''°P' ^hich are alwT .'"' ""^"""'■«- P^bation ; the If /""^ *''« ^'"^'^a •' and x j'^^J^^.P'^^'ectly «{,„„,. '-'5?e,andth oldn; "^ '"''"^'^^'^^^ danc ' . ^t """^ ^''°"' ofap- •^" -«tasbl ^^"^-totheirronne Xe S 'V'" '"^•^--- «""ilar action. ' ""' ''^ '^'^ «ame method,' toy \r ''•''' '^ ''''''' '"^ T'^esuoernun.eranesoroH . "^ '"^ ^^-" -)W| int, , ~> - --■■■- ■i=i.;~r,tsr;: i big canoe arc seen two men with the skins of grizzly bears thrown over them, usmg the skins as a mask, over their heads. These ravenous animals are continually growling and threatening to devour everything before them and interfering with the forms of their religious ceremony. To apoease rhem, the women are continually bringing and placing before them dishes of meat, which are as often snatched up and carried to the prairie, by two men whose bodies are painted black and their heads while, whom they call bald eagles, who are darting by them and grasping their food from before them as they pass. These are again chased upon the plains by a hundred or more small boys, who are naked, with their bodies painted yellow and their heads white whom they call Cabris or antelopes; who at length get the ood away from them and devour it; thereby inculcating (perhaps) the beautiful moral, that by the dispensations of Providence, his bountiful ..ifts will tall at last to the hands of the innocent. " During the intervals between these dances, all these characters, except those from the medicine-Iodge. retire to a wigwam close by, which tiiey uTe on he occasion also as a sacred place, being occupied exclusively by them :;^:r Se:in;:t:i::^" '- ''- "-- «^-"^'- -^ —-^-^ During each and every one of these dances, the old men who beat upon rir* ?r ''"!''■■' '"'■"''^'y"^'"^'"^ forth their supplications to the Oreat bpiri , for the continuation of his influence in sending them buffaloes mirtituTr;;''"' ^unng the year; they are administering courage ( at Sni S ^T^ "'" '" ^''^ '°^^^' ^y ''^'""^ *'>^™' that " the ibou T °'''"''^. '" '"' '" '^''" l^'^'^^'f-that the very atmosphere all about them is peace-thut their women and children can hold the mouth of he grizzly bear-that they have invoked from day to day O-ke-hee-de t.e Evil Sp,r,t)-thac they are still challenging him to , ome, and yet he iuis not dared to make his appearance !" ^ thet" mirth'.!;!/'" '"'' 1 T" ''""''' "" '^' '""'"'^ ^'y^ '" '^' ^'^^^' ^t all their mirth and joy, and about noon, and in the height of all the«e exulta- uons, an instant scream burst forth from the tops of the lodges !-men, trrfixed'fh ^ '"' ^'^'^"f ,r^"""y ^° ''"^^' ""d «'-d^- -•' alarm, u they hxed their glaring eye-balls upon the prairie bluff, about a mile in the vest, down the side of which a man was seen descending at full speed •owards the village ! This strange character darted about in a zig-zag co'u r n all directions on the prairie, like a boy in pursuit of a butterfly, until he approached the piquets of the village, when it was discovered that his body "as entirely naked, and painted as black as a negro, with pounded charcoal and bears grease; his body was therefore everywhere of a shining black except occasionally white Hugs of an inch or mofe in diai.eter, whfch we e mar ed ere and t ere all ...r him ; and frightful indentures of ;hite around his mouth, resembling r..nne teeth. Added to his hideous appeara.ce, he gave the most (r.^htf-l .l.neks and sc.oams as he dashed tiirough the vni;... bears thrown over se ravenous animals ytliing before them (lony. To appease :fore them dishes of prairie, by two men lom they call bald from before them 3 by a hundred or ;d yellow and their at length get the ing (perhaps) the his bountiful gifts characters, except y, which they use xclusively by them ; and ornamenting in the midst of ail all these exuita- le lodges ! — men, er with alarm, as out a mile in the ing at full speed 1 a zig-zag course utterfly, until he cd that his body lounded charcoal a shining black, eter, which were of white around appearance, iiu 167 ;"^.^-madeatfp:r,Xf T ''' ^^'^ "ere nt^d""'^ ^'■'''^^'^' Section as thev werp I, i *""'''»'''^s the women whn "P°" '»im, -h other as tl;:tr^^^^ ^^'-*'- -d Ta, i,;;"'"' ''' P™' -'^J^eneral terror ^anddS'"^'°^^^ °"'«f''is rear iT"" "P°" g^ve the fema s an on '"' '"'""'"^•^^^'^ "n I r\ "T *'' -*-P^>t free from therda„" Tt^ ""''^ '" ^'' «"t of h eac, ? ^'""^ '^^'^ "->t. their alLm soon T^ ''" ''^^^'« ^^^t yet ^ t, """" ^'^^ ^^^^^ si'outs of an,r ''°°''^'^ ''o^^" 'nto the m / . '^ '"^tant excite- f^y his side, wiU ,i '"*^«'°PP«' and held The old "''^ ""'' ^''^''^"'^"^ P'>heldi;rmti7c?'"^f'^""» '---nU face wh^ '^K '""'^ ^^'■«' "Has magical wTn ^ "' '^'^ '^«'««''^ Maiestv nn '''" medicine- these two individuals did ? "7 P''^^^"'^^ ^ -"ore Tr kinl '"'""" ' direst mutual hatred ^ ^ '^"^ moments with tl, ^ '^^"P ^''«n -lying on thpt:'"^o?v"'°^''^'= ^'^^'^ s^uSUt: r'*^"^ ^^^ '■« «"th his body nail ^u'''''™"'''"^'ne or mysterv^^^V^^ ''' supremacy, «able maje ty^ ^r*^^ ^''If^, representing (o rather"^'^'^ '" '^''^^' "''"'■"..ion ^,^7':""'' ""-"lou, a„7 Vi^r-"" W„,e,. *mon of terror InV T ^"'""Md to gi.e „7,,, ,' f™ 'ks tolWr «.™o„; '"""= '«""<■■ ™<1 ""clcus of 17 fi"rH ""'■""«''»*" r". r' iWi 16'8 Then, to proceed : I said that tliis strange personage's body was naked— was painted jet black witli ciiarcoal and bear's grease, with a wand in hi^ hands of eight feet in length with a red ball at the end of it, which he was rubbing about on the ground in front Of him as he ran. In addition lo this he had— M«^ gee ah tvaheea notch,t oheks tcha, ung gee an ung hutch tow a tow ah dies menny. Ung gee ah to to wun nee, ahkst to wan ec eigh' s ta w. In this plight, in which I have not dared fully to represent hmi in the picture, he pursued the groups of females, spreading dismay and alarm wherever he went, and consequently producing the awkward and exceedingly laughable predicament in which he was placed by the sudden check from the medicine-pipe, as I have above stated, when all eyes were intently fixed upon him, and all joined in rounds of applause for the success of the magic spell that was placed upon him ; all voices were raised in shouts of satisfac- tion at his defeat, and all eyes gazed upon him ; of chiefs and of warriors- matrons and even of their tender-aged and timid daughters, whose education had taught them to receive the moral of these scenes without the shock of impropriety, that would have startled a more fastidious and consequently sensual-thinking people. After repeated attempts thus made, and thus defeated in several parts of the crowd, this blackened monster was retreating over the ground where the buffalo-dance was going on. and having (apparently, par accident) swag- gered against one of the men placed under the skin of a buffalo and engagwl in the " bull dance," lie started back, and placing himself in the attitude of a buffalo, — hi ung ee a wuhkstia, chee a nahk s tammee ung s towa ; ee ung ee aht gwaht ee o nunghths tcha ho a, tummee oxt no ah, ughstono uh hi en en ah nuhxt givi aht gahtch gun ne. Gwee en on doatcht chee en aht gunne how how en ahxst tchu ! After this he paid his visits to three others of the eight, in. succession, receiving as before the deaf( n.ng shouts of approbation which pealed from every mouth in the multitude, who were all praying to the Great Spirit to send them buffaloes to supply them with food during the season, and who attribute the coming of buffaloes for this purpose entirely to the strict and critical observance of this ridiculous and disgusting part of the ceremonies. During the half hour or so that he had been jostled about amongst man and beasts, to the great amusement and satisfaction of the lookers-on, he seemed to have become exceedingly exhausted, and anxiously lookin<^ out for some feasible mode of escape. " In this awkward predicament he became the laughing-stock and butt for the women, who being no longer afraid of him, were gathering in groups around, to tease and tantalize him; and in the midst of this dilemma, which soon became a very sad one— one of the women, who stole up behind him with both hands full of yellow dirt— dashed it into his face and eyes, and ■A\ "^«rtl,e middle of tLmf= ""•""° "- l-uvi ^ .' ?'"' •"'^'•'"^'' :^V--..d nights, ad:l'^^t^'■?"'^^'''•-'i".^ and wa i 7:":; "'T' h's Jiands and feet or Zt '^ ^'"^^ "^"'^ Jodi-o -u., ?'i . '""'y '^'"" operation, where .'o u "'""''' ''' ^'^^ «"ited fo. tVo '""""'^ '"■"'^''"■"" >^" '"Oh o- a^^rlo Z:T '' "'^ "-'t'es i he olio """"^^ ''' "- between the th mh ' , ^'^ °" *^^^'^ «ho"'der, or each k"""^' "'"""^^ =- ''««d ; and the k • :. w. T'" "^^ '^"^ "^ - o h! j 'thrr;" '^''^" "P hacked and note, d 'w^h tt U ^"" ^*°""'^ «''-P n iAd'' '" '"'^ ^'^'*' P«in as possible w'J' , '.^'"'^^ "^ a"«ther, to rnaLT f '' ''"'' "^^n were fastened tnH ^ "^ "^ *''° 'o^ge outside ? \. ^ °' *'"^ '"''ffe '"■'» up het ^^^'^■T''"^^ or skewers, and t'v i' , ' .''"'"P"^'^)' ^'"ieh ^'^ra.iJ::,'::^':,::;::-^' '^'°- ♦•>" et;:,er1h^^'^^''^'''- -'e^tqr:! r^^^- ^'-d.:£rf r^^^^^ o„ the ,ro.,nd ''- '>o™« on it, wl a ^eh d to eaol 7"' '"'''''''''' ^'^ « ">' o" bS?""*^ conis, iMitii ,|,„ , ". , '^'^^ «" adjusted, each nno .„ "^ ^ """8" "P. "' ""--- :r:f ^ ^"r^-^^^'-'-^x g:;ri ''^'^^ '''^'' «t once beca; aon- I "^^''^ ^'^^ "^"^^ ^'-e ground t' IT"^ '"'^ '''-'^■'' wei^l-t of th Tbo'^^^ "^ ""^ '"^'■^''tf"' to look uZt: fl . " J'"^'''' '^^y '!• *: llli H)9 At the mo,nc...t of thia signal victory, and when all eyes lost siirht of lum as he disappeared over the bluffs, the whole vilh..e „„il Jt. • shouts of satisf-iPtmn TU„ u I. I 7 ^"'"ije united their voices m Thatm the midst of tlieir relii^ious ceremonies, the Evil Spirit (0-kee ^ wc;;:; "rt '-^ ''] ^.t-' t''''"' -^'^^'^'^^ -^ '"^^^^^ U.eir wo.ship-tha he was held in check, and defeated by the sune- r. .nfluence and virtue of the n.di.ue.pipe, and at last, driven' i dis we smfcd bv ht . ' ^''f "8«ccne. preparations were made, as above Slated, by he re urn of the master of ceremonies and musicians to the rfXwt't^'r' •"'" ^^" ^''"'""^ '' ''' -- time ::::..;.: : 0, and decide upon, the comparative degree of fortitude, with which the CSiri""'"' '"7'r '" '''' ™°^' ^"^-"^^ -'^ -""-ting ordeal ■ r 4d th Lh ''''"* head-dresses-the band of mus^ic seate.i and mvwolaceT ''.r" ""f'"' ^'''''' "'"' '^'' °'^ •"'^^^er of ceremonies ti , Ti, T •'"'" T *'""' °* '^ "'"^" ^^^ '" *'^« «"t^« of tin. lodge, rrl r the purpose, le ran on the fl stories, and ng from their li bluffs, from : sight of hun heir voices in )arationH were were to take ist transpired, spirit (0-keo- of disturbing >y the supe- n in disgrace ime to abuse, de, as above icians to the a number of :!d ; and also bear witness h which the ating ordeal , drcssc f < I I c n i\ C( fr, an CO wh tin ear icst \ tiir/i leav is cl ntely groin striki fully In lilOdo- will pi is Jowc t'lc tw '"■"">?'' an this h„rr d If' ""^ »" 'ook at their fn, f """"'• '"^^«''nff ''"f np tl,rou.l. .hcfl, „ "^'r'''^'' •"« i" the eyM f^T' ''">"''""^' '>"» -'"Ihis struoX,"l''''^''''^^''te8t relief, „nt^^^^^^^^^ ""•P«e •' When " ''' •""' ''« i'a.iLS . ^ "'"'- '"'« voice /alto.r ^^hen brought to this ,,"'*:''" '^as they tern, it^.- /'""^^'-'''^^'J. ;; f '«'-^'ecJ fron, 4^^' «"' . and a,>parent/y Ji,t"f ' ^^^fe-■- out, IS lowered to tU ''''' '"'" to ffet n,. .. 7 . '^f"""' ^''"m he tn,.f- iLu lo the trrnmi/i ii o "P and W'lli- imsts 7 "■■H pt tlierel.y disen- ;'agiii!j ' "wi I 'l'Mi i ' i '»iiiji,S£' i ; '""•'•rmriii-nii ,:u* 172 Iiim from the cords by wliicli he has been hung; up ; but leavino' all the others with their weights, &c. hanging to his flesh. In this condition he lies for six or eight minutes, until he gets strength to rise and move himself, for no one is allowed to assist or offer him aid, as he is here enjoying the most valued privilege which a Mandan can boast of, that of " trusting his life to the keeping of the Great Spirit," in this time of extreme peril. As soon as he is seen to get strength enough to rise on his hands and feet, and drag his body around the lodge, he crawls with the weights still hanging to his body, to another part of the lodge, where there is another Indian sitting with a liatchet in his hand, and a dried buffalo skull before him ; and here, in the most earnest and humble manner, by holding up the little finger of his left hand to the Great Spirit, he expresses to Him, in a speech of a few words, his willingness to give it as a sacrifice ; when he lays it on the dried buffalo skull, where the other chops it off" near the hand, with a blow of the hatchet ! Nearly all of the young men whom I saw passing this horrid ordeal, gave in the above manner, the little finger of the left hand ; and I saw also several, who immediately afterwards (and apparently with very little concern or emotion), with a similar speech, extended in the same way, the /ore- finger of the same hand, and '.hat too was struck ofl'; leaving on the left hand oidy the two middle fingers and the thumb; all which they deem absolutely essential for holding the bow, the only weapon for the left hand. One would think that this mutilation had thus been carried quite far enough ; but I have since examined several of the head chiefs and digni- taries of the tribe, who have also given, in this manner, the little finger ot the riglit hand, which is considered by them to be a much greater sacrifice than both of the others; and I have found also a number of their most famous men, who furnish me incontestible proof, by five or six correspon- "''. and stoo „ ''/''^''«"t tying it . , / ?':''r"S: a broad learhn •""«t correctly n.mel r '." '''e spectator lookt ' '"^"■""^'-/^''■^ (the ,^" this condition thol\ , "' ""^>' ^«"W ^' b'ood, until -d ' ^ '''< P'-^'e and gha.tlv r . Bll^^ 174 drapr^ing oh tlie ground, and his furious conductors by his side, who hurry h.m forward by the wrists, struggles in the desperate emulation to run lon-er without «'dy.ng" (as they call it) than his comrades, who are faintiiig around him and sinking down, like himself, where their bodies are drag-ed with all possible speed, and often with their faces in the dirt. In the com- mencement of this dance or race they all start at a moderate pace, and their speed being gradually increased, the pain becomes so excruciating that their languid and exhausted frames give out, and they are dragged by their wrists until they are disengaged from the weights that were attached to their flesh, and this must be done by such violent force as to tear the flesh out with the splmt which (as (hey say) can never be pulled out endwise, without greatly offending the Great Spirit and defeating the object for which they have thus tar suttered. The splints or skewers which are put through the breast and the shoulders, take up a part of the pectoral or trapezius muscle, which is necessary for the support of the great weight of their bodies, and which, as I have before mentioned, are withdrawn as soon as he is lowered down- but all the others, on the legs and arms, seem to be very ingeniously passed .rough the flesh and integuments without taking up the muscle, and even the^e, to be broken out, require so strong and so violent a force that most ot the poor fellows fainted under the operation, and when they were freed from the last of the buffalo skulls and other weights, (which was often done by some of the bystanders throwing the weight of their bodies on to them us they were dragg.-.g on the ground) they were in every instance dropped by the persons who dragged them, and their bodies were left, appeariiV^ like nothing but a mangled and a loathsome corpse! At this strange and ni,.!it-
    ), who wa he flesh on one of his legs,-sever.l iV f "" "^ «" «"* ''^"'S''"^^ 'o o-- the splint was under he sW ''; ' .-T''" "'"" ''' ^''' '« "o effL, •'■•'igg'ng beca.ne every insfLt m "'' '""'^' "°^ ''^ broken 7 ,1' :7s /or the poor r^H^JTl^ ^^^ ClT '"'^'" ^"^ ^"^ ^^-' " "P for h.m by the multitude aro'^r.nd'.M TT"' '^°"' "''^'^'^ -as th h.s medicine-pipe in his hand, a id' hdj H "' ''' '"^^-'•— nn ran, was dropped and left upon the grou id wit. , '." "^''"^' ^''"^" ''^^ ^'"^y Tlie boy, who was an extremelv i,r V ' '''"" y*^* ^angin.. to it -covered his senses and h? . "'1 I'i,'^"^' ff-'-^-^ y-Uh. " '''ceclmg Innbs ; and also with the n^ost 2. ' '^'^'^^''^y «t his torn and •n-stortune which had now fallen "^1;! ""' '""'^ «f defiance, „p., ,„c crowd (instead of walking, wh,,' I '"*' "^^^'^'^ "'-"»-'' «h.ch for the distance of half a mile no ^ '" P'*^'™'' ''"d over attendant where he laid three rt; 1?"^"^ ^'-'' -thout any 'ood, and praying to the Great Sri ,'' "''''' '''' ^''S^'' -''-"' 7"Hl, 'ind by the decayi,... of | ' fl ."''''"""*'°" '^"'^ P'^'ce m the ' c^plint also, which he'dare not ext£ L " ""'f^ ^^''-^^ '"'I'P^^. --d ;" ^'"%'"'' ^-rawled back to the viltTo '• T'^T "^>'- ^^ '''« end '•''">"Hien,aci,u.M,owalk,andbeSforV'^ /""'^ "'^' '^"-^' being- s'^: ir:.;: ^ ;'-"ces the yo^lul;^; ^t" ^^T^' ^"'^ ^ '^^ *"- '" -h '^'--''-"'-wayasheC;:^:^;^;:--^^^^^^^^^^ ^ 176 far more exlmordinary than (he one which I have just named. Several of the Traders, wlio have been tor a number of years in tiie habit of seeing this part of the ceremony, have told me that tvvo years since, when they^were lookmg on, there was one whose flesh on the arms was so strong that tiie weights could not be left, and he dragged them wiili his body to the river by the side of the village, where he set a stake fast in the ground on the top of the bank, and fastening cords to it, he let himself . half-way down a perpendicular wall of rock, of twenty-five or thirty feet, where the weight of his body was suspended by the two cords attached to the flesh of his arms. In this awful condition he hung for several davs, equi-distani (rom the top of the rock and the deep water below, into which he at last dropped and saved himself by swinnniug ashore ! I need record no more of these shocking and disgusting instances, of whicli I have already given onou-rh to convince the world of the correct- ness of the established fiict of the Indian's superior stoicism and power of endurance, although some recent writers have, from motives of envy, from Ignorance, or something else, taken great pains to cut the poor Indian' short m everythmg, and in this, even as if it were a virtue. I am ready to accord to them in this particular, tlie palm; the credit of outdoing anything and everybody,and of enduring more than civilized man ever aspned to or ever thought of. My heart has sickened also with disgust for so abominable and ignorant a custom, and still I stand ready with all my heart, to excuse and forgive them for adhering so strictly to an ancient celebratior., founded in superstitions and mvsteries, of whi.j, they know not the origin, and constituting a material part and feature m the code and forms of their religion. Reader, I will return with yon a i^oment to the medicine-lod-c, which is just to be closed, and then we will indulge in some general reflections upon what has passed, and in what, and for what purposes this strange batch oi .nysteries has been instituted and perpetuated. After these young men, who had for the last four days occupied the mc- dicme-lodge, had been operate", 'V^~5^i • /n" r- -.*■' ,f^H!M^/X, 'i th 8(1 all bifi of full Nu. ^pp cum ciina Ti myst even come of re.' (iid a. vo 177 The reader will f„r„i„g ,„^ ^ , W? hereby cerHfn n * " J. ^^Pv, Agent Amcr Fu,. n , The stranfye country that 7 om • ■ incidents which starUn '"~""s excitements— ,><. . • . veryeJaborat H °"" '' '''"°^* every momen~ "'' '"^ ^''d .^.™:« l:i- ,;■" ■"« '^- Xr:i;is r^ '"''" '"'°" '• -^ f«ll leaf of '.r i" ■'""" *" 'l'« d«u,w ; °'i "". ""'"'■■'> «Jeb,aiio„ 'I A i' 1 178 ihis man's body is reproscntcd— that he wore a robe of four white wolfskins —Ills head-dress was made of two raven's skins— and in his left hand was a hue:c pipe. lie said, " he was at one time the only man— he told them of the destruction of every tiiin- on the earth's surface by water— that he stopped in Ins bir/ canoe on a high mountain in the West, where he landed and was saved." "That the Mandans, and all other people were bound to make yearly sacnhces of some edged-tools to the water, for of such things the big canoe was made. That he instructed the Mandans how to build their medicine- lodge, and taught them also the forms of these annual ceremonies ; and told them that as long as they made these sacrifices, and performed their rites to the full letter, they m.ght be assured of the fact, that they would be the favourite people ot tile Almighty, and would always have enough to eat and drink • and that so soon as they should depart in one tittle from these forms, they might be assured, that their race would decrease, and finally run out; and that they might date their nation's calamity to that omission or ne