Tah-koo wah-kań : or, The gospel among the Dakotas

Front matter

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FORT SNELLING.

Chapter I. Thb Land And The People

The name of these Indians. — Supposed origin of the name Sioux, — Dakota their real name. — Divided into many bands. — The Dakota country. — Probable number of the tribe

CHAPTER n.

THE DAKOTA lANGUAOE.

Different bands of the Dakotas speak substantially the same language.— Not heretofore written. — Story of Hennepin. — Reduced to a written form by the missionaries. — Dakota grammar and dictionary. — Language defective in some things. — Names of places and persons ; how formed. — Language not unusually diSBcult of acquisition. — The Dakota tongue enriched and elevated by the Bible

CHAPTER ni.

DAKOTA BVEKT-DAT LIFE.

The teepee or wigwam. — How pitched and furnished. — Wigwamcooking.— Digging teepsinna. — Division of labor. — Summer houses. — Smoking the pipe. — Trip of Mr. G. H. Pond. — Camp living. — Nothing to eat. — Crossing streams. — How they cook turtles. — How they wipe dishes. — A goose for supper. — Camp on a lake shore. — Sabbath moving. — Mr. Pond stays behind. — Has a muskrat for breakfast. — Cold weather. — The ducks disappear. — Eating dead fish. — The camp separates. — Three families remain. — The Ojihwas come. — They are feasted by the Dakotas. — The three families killed. —

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Burying the slaughtered ones. — All start for Lacquiparle. —

Two weary weeks. — The great wailing. — Begging in tlie name of the first-born. — A hard life. — The Indian mother’s lament. 15

CHAPTER IV

DAKOTA AMUSEMENTS.

Amusements of children in the line of the life-work. — Girls dressing dolls. — Learning to dress skins and carry burdens. — Boys’ plays. — The bow and arrow. — Killing the first bird — Fishing. — IVmter sports. — Rude sled. — Shooting-sticks. — Drumming. — Games of chance. — Shooting plum-stones. — Hiding in the moccasin. — The ball play. — The tah'-pa and ball-club. — Betting. — Dances. — The sun dance. — The .sacred dance. — The circle dance. — The begging dance. — The no-flight dance. — The scalp-dance. — Coming home from the war-path. — Their blankets taken from them. — The scalp ; how prepared. — Men and women dance. — The immorality and wrong of the scalp-dance 36

CHAPTER V.

THE DAKOTA TA-KOO WA-KAN.

Hindrances to the introduction of the gospel. — Evidences of the Ta-koo Wa-kan, or supernatural, everywhere. — How this affects the untutored Indian. — The Dakota gods : 1. The Oon-ktay-he. — Their form and origin. — 2. The thunder. — The appearance of the thunder birds. — Their dwelling-place. —

3. The god of motion. — His attributes. — 4. The stone god. —

The manner of its worship. — 5. The Ila-yo'-ka or anti-natural god. — Its appearance. — Its nature. — 6. The sun and moon.

— 7. The armor god. — Its form and influence. — 8. The spirit of the medicine sack. — Household gods. — 9. Wakan'tanka or the Great Spirit. — Ilis place in the Dakota family of divinities.— Probably the “ unknown god” — the god of white men, 54

CHAPTER VI.

DAKOTA WOnSHIP.

Rites of worship. — Sacrifices. — Paint. — The pipe. — The sacred feast. — Wc/-hdoo-za. — Self-immolation. — The sun dance. — Purification. — The vapor-bath. — Feast of the first fruits. — Feast of raw fish. — The IVa-kau men or sorcerers. — The

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Dakota religion national. — The order of the sacred dance. — Ceremonies. — Rules of conduct and promises. — Initiation into the order. — General characteristics of the Dakota worship. — The worship of demons. — Witchcraft. — Jugglery. —

Spirit seeking. — Modern spiritualism much like the older forms. — Phases of the older forms. — Of the soul and a future state. — The number of souls a man has, and what becomes of them after death. — The Dakota religion unsatisfying 78

CHAPTER TII.

THE DAKOTA MISSION.

Exploring visit of Dr. Williamson. — Dr. Williamson, Mr. Stevens, and others, reach Fort Snelling. — The Messrs. Pond had preceded them. — The cabin at Lake Calhoun. — Personal notices of the laborers. — Formation of a church at Fort Snelling. — Selection of mission stations. — Mr. Stevens builds at Lake Harriet. — Description of places. — Fort Snelling. — Falls of St. Anthony. — Minnehaha. — The group of lakes. — Dr. Williamson goes to Lacquiparle. — Up the Minnesota. — Across the prairies. — Mda-e-ya'-dan or Lacquiparle. — Welcomed by Mr. Renville. — Mr. Riggs joins the mission. — Mr. G. H. Pond married. — Native church at Lacquiparle 104

CHAPTER Vm.

PERILS BY THE HEATHEN.

Winter Journey of Mr. S. W. Pond to Lacquiparle. — Travels on foot. — Deep snows. — Indian camps. — Reaches Traverse des Sioux. — Stops with LeBIanc. — The old man’s accounts. — Comes to Little Rock with Canadians. — Travels without food.

— Scarcity at Mr. Moer’s. — Ma'-ma his guide to Lacquiparle.

— Provisions eaten up. — More snow-storms. — Magma’s eyes become sore. — He refuses to go on. — Mr. Pond’s eyes sore. —

He puts snow on them. — Deeper snows. — Blowing snow. —

They wander. — Five days without food. — Mr. Pond sick. — Suffering for water. — MaAma ugly. — Mr. Pond apprehensive.

— He leaves his guide. — He finds a horse and reaches the mission. — Another experience. — Mission party. — Signs of enemies. — Hastening to the river. — A war-party seen. — Two men killed. — Great excitement. — A horse shot. — Hard walk.

— Sleepy Eyes’ horse. — His nephew shoots it. — The whizzing arrow. — The guard-house. — Young man released. — Nice venison hams 118

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Contents.

CHATPER IX.

EARLY LABORS .

Success of the first years. — Lacquiparle church to 1843. — The Spirit’s witness. — The reaction. — Spirit water. — New stations. — Ka-pc/-sia and Prairieville. — Indians more reasonable. — Encouragements. — More laborers. — Mr. Adams, Mr. Alton, Mr. Hancock, and Mr. Potter

CHAPTER X.

JOSEPH RENVILLE.

His childhood. — Taken to Canada. — Paddles his own canoe. — Interpreter for Gen. Pike. — Pike’s letter to Wilkinson. — Renville a captain in the British army. — A trader of the Hudson’s Bay company. — Transferred to the American. — His character, by Rev. E. D. Neill. — The tribute of Nicollet. — His connection with the mission at Lacquiparle as interpreter and translator. — Mr. Renville’s hymns. — His translations of Mark and John. — Proeess of translation. — Tribute of Dr. Williamson. — Mr. Renville’s French Bible. — Mrs. Renville. — Her profession of faith. — Her Christian death. — Mr. Renville a ruling elder. — His sickness and death. — Dr. Williamson’s account of it. — His son Joseph

CHAPTER XI.

BELIEVING WOMEN.

Among the Dakotas the idea of home is wanting. — Girls not welcomed in the family. — Wives purchased. — Women the burden-bearers.— Women raise the corn. — Hard lot in life. — This lot accepted by them. — Reasons why women were more ready to change their religion than men. — Christianized women. — Mrs. Renville. — Catharine. — Rcbekah and Amanda. — Mrs. Pettijohn. — Mrs. Titus. — Sarah Ilopldns. — Ha'- panna. — Ite'-wa-kau-hdi-win. — Na-wang'^-ma-ne-win. — Jenny Simon

CHAPTER XII.

PERSECUTION.

The first reception of the gospei by the Dakotas. — Their own religion antagonistic. — Mm must not become Christians. — Opposition to Bchoois and Sabbath worship. — Taking “ the

Contents.

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Bpoiling of goods.” — Killed by witchcraft. — Case of Simon.

— His former standing. — Changes bis dress and habits of life. — Form of persecution — “the man that made himself a woman.” — New form of trial. — Honors and temptations. —

Spirit water. — Simon falls. — Repents, and falls again. — “Simon wiU yet return.” — Muchashamed. — Simon restored.

— His record in the outbreak 197

CHAPTER Xin.

GREAT SORROWS.

Mission party. — Toiling up the Minnesota. — Thomas t. Lougley.

— Reaching the traverse. — Bread stolen. — Building a log-cabin. — Going to bathe. — Mr. Longley drowned. — Buried under an oak. — Stricken hearts. — Black Eagle's sympathy. — Robert Hopkins. — Another great sorrow. — Gathering to make a treaty. — Fourth of July. — Mr. Hopkins drowned. — The body found. — Oaks of weeping. — Mrs. Hopkins returns to Ohio. — Mr. Hopkins’ youth. — Efforts to obtain ap education.

— Teaching colored children. — His mental characteristics. — Desire to do good. — The third great sorrow. — Stations at Pay-zhe-hoc/-ta-ze and Hazelwood. — The ides of March. — Smith Burgess WiUiamson. — His Bible reading. — Is crushed under an oE-sled. — God makes no mistakes 207

CHAPTER XIV.

LESSER TRIALS.

Trials. — Unreasonable demands. — Indian begging. — War parties.

— Eagle Help. — Killing mission cattle. — Station commenced at Traverse des Sioux. — Sleepy Eyes and Big Walker. — Opposition. — Cattle killed. — Drunkenness. — Missionary remonstrance. — Grey Leaf’s reply. — Drunken visitors. — Opposition at Lacquiparle. — School stopped. — More cattle killed. — Trials from apostasy. — New station at Yellow Medicine. — Hard times. — Mr. Hunter and Mr. Jacques. — Winter journey. — Terrible snow-storms. — Frozen feet. — Every thing left. — Reaching home. — Childlike trust. — Help from Lacquiparle.

— Mls.sion buildings burned. — Native Christiana help kindly — Proofs of sympathy. — Hon. George Grinncll’s letter. —

So He causeth to triumph

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CHAPTER XV

Enlargement of the mission. — Encouragement at Lacquiparle. — Opposition elsewhere. — Influence of the so-called school-fund.

— Dark pictures. — Mr. Potter’s impressions. — Prospects more hopeful. — A new treaty talked of. — Mr. Hopkins’ difficulty. — Treaties of 1851. — Deaths in the mission. — Others withdraw from the service. — Influence of the mission on the white settlements.— Michel Renville. — Dr. Williamson removes to Pay-zhe-hoo^ -ta-ze. — New station at Hazelwood. — Station at the Lower Agency. — Mission chapels 243

CHAPTER XVI.

SPIRIT LAKE TROUBLES.

The value of missions. — Spirit Lake settlement. — Scarlet End and his band. — Deep snows, and game scarce. — Quarrel with the white people. — The massacre. — Four women taken captive. —

They go to the westward. — Mrs. Marble purchased by Spirit Walker’s sons. — Brought to the mission stations. — Mrs. Noble and Miss Gardner stUl in the hands of their captors. — Paul and John Otherday sent for them. — Sirs. Noble killed. — Miss Gardner delivered. — More trouble. — Great fear. — Scarlet Emi’s son killed. — Sherman’s battery arrives. — Great gathering of Indians. — Dakotas required to punish Scarlet End. —

A soldier stabbed. — The Indian prisoner escapes. — War expected. — A party sent out to find the Spirit Lake murderers.

— The report of the Prudential Committee 262

CHAPTER XVn.

THE DARK nOUR.

Communion Sabbath at Hazelwood. — August 18th, 1862. — The massacre at Red Wood. — The news carried to Yellow Medicine.

— Indian council. — John Otherday delivers a party of white people. — Indians offer to protect the missions. — The missionaries leave. — Houses locked up. — On the island. — The several families get together. — The final departure. — A wounded m.an. — Dreary nights. — Mr. and Mrs. Moore. — Out of food.

— Killing a cow. — Having the picture taken. — Dangers unknown. — Starting for Fort Ridgley. — Seeing Indians. — A dead boy — The garrison in distress. — The party turn out and

XV go around the fort. — A night of fear. — Situation of Ridgley — The circuit made successfully . — Four men leave to go to New Uhn. — All are killed. — Forsaken houses. — Provisions found in them. — The Lord delivered those who trusted in Him.

— Keeping the Sabbath. — Otherday reaches Saint Paul. — His reception and testimony. — Mr. Mattock’s testimony 279

The Sioux outbreak. — Its extent. — The opposing forces. — Indians still successful. — Birch Coolie. — The captives. — Simon brings Mrs. Newman and children. — Lorenzo brings Mrs. DeCamp and others. — The church Bible. — Hope for tbe other captives. — Wood Lake Battle. — Burned mission buildings. — Camp Release. — A hundred white women and children. — Tears of joy. — Mrs. Huggins cared for by Walking Spirit. — Patient waiting. — Starting for Red River. — The party of rescue ; Enos, Lazarus, Robert, and Daniel. — Glad deliverance.

— Counter revolution. — John RenvUle. — Paul, the President of the Hazelwood Republic. — The Christian Indians. — Mr.

. Pond’s statement. — Rewards of government 304

CHAPTER XIX.

CAUSE AND CONSEQUENCE.

The uprising. — Trouble at Yellow Medicine. — Agent Galbraith.

— Breaking open the warehouse. — Difficulty adjusted. — Soldiers’ lodge. — Causes of the outbreak. — Bad faith. — Changing annuities. — Southern war. — Incidental and direct influences. — Enlisting soldiers. — Heathenism against Christianity — Consequences. — Condemned to be hung. — Hurried trials.

— False principles. — Excited state of feeling. — The path of righteousness. — Wicked wish. — False philanthropy. — Justice beautiful. — Vengeance is God’s. — The gospel extended 323

CHAPTER XX.

THE MORNING LIGHT.

White man against the Indian. — The gospel against heathenism.

— God conquers. — Education desired. — The prison a school-room.— Great progress. — The camp at Fort Snelling. — Demand for books. — Twenty-five years’ work. — Change of

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Conte7its, religion. — Robert Hopkins. — His previous record. — Misapprehended testimony. — His condemnation. — God’s plan. — Hopkins becomes the religious teacher. — Round Wind reprieved.— The influence of the executions. — Dr. Williamson.

— G. H. Pond. — God’s wonderful work 341

CHAPTER XXI.

THE ADVANCINO DAT.

Sympathy between the camp and the prison. — Women most disposed to receive the gospel. — The incomprehensible. — John P. Williamson. — His moral heroism. — His labors in the camp.

— The good work of the Lord. — Bishop Whipple and the Episcopal mission. — The Lord’s Supper in prison. — Three things prayed for. — That chain. — The prisoners taken to Davenport.— Singing Old Hundred. — The penitential Psalm 365

CHAPTER XXII

DAVENPORT AND FORT THOMPSON.

Three years of trial The scouts’ camp church. — Crow Creek

agency. — Dry summers. — Work and temptation. — The gospel progressing. — Elders class-leaders. — Mr. Williamson’s church. — Mr. Pond teacher. — The prisoners at Camp McClellan. — How treated. — Escape meditated. — Hopkins prevents it. — The prisoners make trinkets. — Education continued. — Religious services. — Hopkins released. — The prison a theological school. — A test question. — Native doctoring. — Cause of disease. — Conjuring, or powwowing ; is it consistent with

Christianity? — The opinion of the mission. — The question discussed. — Reasons for continuing it. — Many sick. — Christ healed the sick. — Question submitted to the elders. — Their decision. — Belief in the power of prayer 364

CHAPTER XXIII.

CIVILIZATION.

Influence of the mission. — Mr. Lynd’s testimony. — The Bible the great civilizer. — Condition of the Dakotas as regards civilization.— Stone knives. — The plough and the hoe. — Missionaries worked. — Indians build cabins. — Women taught to spin, knit, and weave. — First weaving done in Minnesota. — Untoward circumstances. — Influence of “ the Dakota friend.”

Co7iients, xvii

— Seed long sown germinates. — Gov'Tnment influence. — Progress in cirilization. — Nucleus of ciTilization. — The Hazelwood republic. — The Constitution. — The first signers. — Building a chapei. — Advance in agriculture. — More houses built. — Government aid. — Brick houses. — Another civilized band. — Labor lost in the outbreak. — God gathers up the fragments, and prepares for higher deveiopments. — A government of law needed. — Indians can be civilized 384

CHAPTER XXIV.

EDUCATION.

Schools. — The place of education in the mission work — The missionaries generally engaged in teaching. — A goodly list. — Teaching in the vernacular ; also in English. — School at Lacquiparle. — Boarding-schools at Lake Harriet and Hazelwood.

— Native teachers tried. — Preparation for schools. — Educa^ tiou carried on by their own efforts. — High School at the Santee agency. — Lessons learned by our experience : 1. Learning to read in Dakota easy. — 2. Reading Dakota a step in education.— 3. Its great advantage as a preparation for learning English. — 4. English hoarding-schools- not the best means to accomplish the great ends. — 5. Teaching the vernacular necessary to evangelization — 6. A people should be elevated together by common schools The government plan defective.

— Thought education needed. — Books already printed in the Dakota language 401

CHAPTER XXV.

EVANGELIZATION.

Release of Davenport prisoners. — Taken to Niobrara. — Meeting their friends. — Visit of Dr. Williamson and Mr. Riggs. — Re-organization of the church. — John B. Renville licensed and ord.ained. — Incident at Mankato. — Artemas and Titus licensed. — Their ordination. — Others licensed — Simon. Peter, Robert Hopkins, and .Solomon. — Louis at Fort Wadsworth. — Kettle Lakes church organized, and Louis licensed. — Camp-meeting at Dry Wood Lake. — Daniel Renville licensed. —

Churches of Asccn.sion, Dry Wood Lake, and Long Hollow

Gathering at Buflalo Lake. — Solomon ordained. — Missionary tour among the wild bands of Dakotas. — What means this preparation but the nation’s evangelization ? 417

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Appendix

DAKOTA MEDICINE.

Spirits the cause of diseases. — Conjurers first find out what spirit causes the sickness. — Casting out spirits. — Use of the rattlesnake’s rattles. — Character of the conjurers. — Many of them partly idiotic. — Some give medicines alone. — Kind of medicines used. — Methods of nursing. — Bloodletting. — Tomiting and purging. — The use of a species of euphorbium, and its effects. — IIow to promote appetite. — The process cf sweating.

— Ansesthesia and anaesthetics. — Their practice of surgery and treatment of wounds. — Treatment of swellings and bums, 435

DAKOTA SONGS AND MUSIC.

A people’s songs the key to their life. — IVar songs. — Love songs.

— Giving the ring. — Songs of medicine and magic. — Songs of sacred mysteries. — Song of “Sounding Cloud.” — Its interpretation.— Song of Oon-ktay'-he. — Social songs. — Dakota poetry. — The sacred language. — Dakota music. — The minor key the favorite. — Two Dakota melodies. — Musical instruments. — The drum. — The rattle. — The Chc/-tan-ka. — IIow made. — Power of savage song. — Christian hymns. — Dakotas love to sing. — The Dakota hymn-book 451

LABORS OF OTUER MISSIONARY SOCIETIES

1, The Swiss mission. — 2. The Methodist mission. — 3. The Ro' man Catholic mission. — 4. The Episcopal mission.

INTEODUCTION.

A SIGNIFICANT feature of the recent Exposition at Paris was the Mission House, in which different Protestant societies submitted the proofs of their success in heathen lands. The American Board sent thither specimens of the Christian literature which it had developed in twenty-five different languages, as also sundry articles illustrating the great change which had been wrought at the Sandwich Islands. The Queen ’of Holland was pleased to honor this collection with her notice ; and it occurred to her to say to the gentleman having it in charge, “ What have you done for the Indians ? ” He replied by pointing to a map which exhibited the stations which the Board had commenced among the various tribes, and by saying, “ Madam, here are the missions of one of the several American societies, a glance at which may convince you that, if the’ Government of the United States has at times been guilty in its conduct toward the In-

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