Our wild Indians; thirty-three years' personal experience among the red men of the great West

Front matter

MO N

IV/ 77/ AN ///TROD /JgT/O //l/b Y

D

Preface

written on the Indian. I therefore procured the works of Catlin, Schoolcraft, and many other " lesser lights,” and studied them assiduously, comparing their ideas with my own. For many years past I have been most fortunately situated for such study, hav¬ ing been stationed directly among the wild tribes^ whose characteristics have always been of most in¬ terest to me. Whenever I have found that my ideas differed from those of " an authority,” I have taken the case directly to the Indians themselves. My position as commanding officer — "Big Chief” — enabled me always to get a hearing and an answer on any sub¬ ject; and my well-known friendship for the race caused the Indians to give me more frank confidence than a white man usually obtains. I have thus been enabled to get at facts; to correct the errors of my previous desultory writings, as well as errors of accepted Indian " authorities.”

For two ‘years past I have been importuned by friends whose opinions I value most highly, to give to the world the result of my observations and labors. I have consented to do so, not without hesitation, because having previously written on the same sub¬ ject, I must occasionally repeat myself, or commit the affectation of clothing the same ideas in different words. My friends have overruled this objection, and I present in this volume a detailed account of the characteristics, habits, and, — what I particularly desire to invite attention to, — a minute and careful study of the social or inner life of the wild Indian of the present day.

List of Illustrations

STEEL AND WOOD.

ENGRAVINGS ON STEEL .

X. PORTRAIT OP THE AUTHOR . Frontispiece.

From a photograph taken expressly for this work, by Brady, Washington, D. C., and Engraved on Steel by J. J. Cade, New York.

2. GENERAL GEORGE CROOK ....

3. GENERAL NELSON A. MILES . . .

4. GENERAL GEORGE A. CUSTER . . .

5. GENERAL RANALD S. MACKENZIE,

Famous Indian Fighters. To face p. 492

Taken from photographs, and Engraved on Steel by J. A. J. Wilcox, Boston, Mass.

ENGRAVINGS ON WOOD.

1. Peace oe War?— An Indian Council— j

Spotted Tail’s Speech . J

2. Spotted Tail Assassinating Big Mouth,

a Rival Chief .

3. Hoch-e-a-Yum— The Great Medicine

Dance .

6. Our Stealthy Foes— The Attack on the Wagon Train .

ABTIST. ENGRAVER. PAGE

Ernest Griset. Pannemaker. To face 70

James E. Taylor. John Karst ... 86

James E. Taylor. Charles Speigle . 138

Ernest Griset. A. Bellinger ... 182

ril

4. Indian Self-Torture— Endurance and ) , _ _ , . ,

DEFIANCE OF PAIN . \ Jame$E- Tayl0r- ***** • • •

6. The Last Resting-Place of the In- 1 dians — A Cemetery Among the Trees I

on Medicine Lodge Creek, Indian [ Ernest Griset. A. Bellinger . . . Territory . J

LIST OF ILLUSTKATIONS.

7. Fate of Lieut. Kidder a

ENGRAVER.

Command— Discovery of their Bodies ) James E. Taylor. John Karst ,

*1

8. Gen. Custer’s Surprise of an Indian "j

Camp of over Two Thousand War- J- James E. Taylor. John Karst riors .

Ernest Griset. Pannemalcer .

11. Surrounded— Desperate Charge of 7

Gen. Crook’s Cavalry at the Bat- l James E. Taylor. John Karst . tle of the Rosebud . J

13. Winter on the Plains— A Terrible")

Experience in the Teeth of a J- James E. Taylor. Charles Speigle “Norther” . J

14. Sam Cherry’s Last Shot . James E. Taylor. Charles Speigle

15. At the Mercy of Savage Captors — ) t

Torture by Slow Fires . J JameS E‘ Taylor‘ Charles Spetgle

16. A Sudden Surprise— The Attack on )

the United States Mail Coach . .\ J' Lange- G Laplante "

17. Rescuing a Wounded Comrade— He- 1

roic Exploit of Amos Chapman . . . )

James E. Taylor. Charles Speigle

LIST

OF

Chromo - Lithograph Plates,

©ascriptions anti Explanations.

Note by the Publishers. — These chromo-lithograph plates are extremely accu¬ rate in drawing and coloring, no expense or pains having been spared to distinguish them in these respects for their fidelity to the objects they represent. Each group was first photographed to the proper size, thus insuring fulness of detail and perfect accuracy, and at the same time preserving the relative size of one object to another. The original objects and the photographs were then placed in the hands of a skilful artist, who exercised the most painstaking care in painting the photograph of each article directly from the object itself. These painted photographs were then transferred to stone, from which the plates herewith presented were printed. Each plate requires no less than fifteen printings to produce the various colors and tints absolutely necessary to a faith¬ ful representation of the objects shown, thus requiring ninety engraved stones to produce these six plates. The engraving and printing were done by Messrs. Bingham, Doth! & Co., Hartford, Conn.

Plate I. PA0E 128.

Red Cloud’s War Bonnet— Douglas’s Tobacco Pouch — Famous Pipes, &c.

1. War Bonnet of Red Cloud, Principal Chief of the Sioux.

2. TJte Beaded Tobacco Pouch.

3. Sioux War Club.

4. Water Jar, made of Grass and Lined with Pitch.

Once belonging to Chipeta, wife of Ouray, head chief of the TTtes.

5. Sioux Gourd Rattle.

6. Beaded Tobacco Pouch.

Formerly owned by Douglass, the chief of TJtes who murdered the Meeker family.

7. Tobacco Pipe of the Shoshones, or Snakes.

8. Tall Bull’s Tobacco Pipe, ornamented with Feathers and Scalp-Locks.

Tall Bull was chief of a band of outlaw Cheyennes and Sioux. He was killed at the battle of Summit Springs, Colorado. His wife, who was captured at the time, said the scalps attached to the pipe were those of white settlers on the Salina River, Kansas, taken only two weeks previously. Seventy-two savages were killed at the battle of Summit Springs.

J Sioux Tobacco Pipes.

11. A Famous Peace Pipe.

This pipe was used at the grand council held at Red Cloud Agency when the question of the surrender of the Black Hills to the United States was discussed.

ix

X

LIST OP CHIIOMO-LITHOGKAPH PLATES.

Plate II. page 256.

Sioux War Shirt— Apache Caps— Moccasins from the Battle-Field of Gen. Custer’s Death— Totems, &c.

1. Apache Cap.

Made of red flannel, and ornamented with feathers and buttons.

2. Apache Cap.

Ornamented with turkey-feathers and buttons. .

3. A Pair op Sioux Moccasins.

Found on the battle-field of Gen. Custer’s death.

4. A Sioux War Shirt.

This elaborate war shirt is made of flne-dressed buckskin. It is ornamented with beads and skins, and fringed with many scalp-locks.

6. Totem, made of a Turtle-Shell.

Worn suspended from the neck.

6 Tobacco Pouch, elaborately Beaded.

7. Totem, made op a Beaver-Skin.

8. Tobacco Pouch, beautifully Beaded.

9. Medicine Bag, made of the Skin of a Bear’s Foot.

Plate III. page 3o6.

Squaw’s Dress, Bow-Case and Quiver— Musi¬ cal Instruments— Cradle— Rattles, &c.

2 | Ute Bow and Arrows.

3. Sioux Flageolet, or Flute.

4. Cheyenne Flute.

5. Sioux Rattle.

Made of the ends of buffalo-toes.

6. A Pair of Cheyenne Moccasins.

Beautifully embroidered with beads.

7. Bow-Case and Quiver, made of a Panther-Skin.

This once belonged to the wife of Yellow Bear, a prominent chief of the Cheyennes.

8. A Cheyenne Tobacco Pouch.

9. A Cheyenne Squaw Dress.

This elaborate and valuable dress is ornamented with the eye-teeth of Elk. Each pair of teeth represents one Elk. The Indians valued the dress at eight ponies, or about two hundred dollars.

10. A Cheyenne Rattle.

Made of the ends of Buffalo-toes.

11. A Cheyenne Beaded Cradle.

This once belonged to the wife of a prominent chief. It is most elaborately embroidered with beads, and had cradled an Indian baby a year, before coming into possession of the author.

LIST OF CHROMO-LITHOGRAPH PLATES.

XI

Plate TV.

Fac-Similes of Indian Drawings.

(Drawn with colored pencils, by Big Back, a Cheyenne Indian.)

(A) Indian Courting Scenes.

(1) The Approach. (2) The Couple wrapped in one Blanket.

(B) General Mackenzie’s Fight with the Cheyennes, and Death of Lieut.

McKinney.

. Only prominent chiefs who were killed at this fight are represented on the Indian

side, and the fatal wound of each is indicated by blood flowing from it, or — in some cases — from the mouth. The names of the chiefs thus shown in this picture are: (1) High Bull; (2) Walking Calf ; (3) Whirlwind; (4) White Face Bull ; (5) Bull Hump; (6) Old Bull. Short lines with a dot at one end repre¬ sent flying bullets. The bullet passing through Lieut. McKinney’s body (7) indicates the manner of his death.

Plate V. _ Page 422.

Indian Weapons — Tomahawks, War Shield, Clubs, Bows, Arrows, &c.

1. Comanche Tomahawk.

Ornamented with red flannel, scalp-locks; and feathers.

2. Ute Tomahawk Pipe.

I' | Siou^ War Clubs.

6. > Sioux Bows and Arrows.

8. Comanche War Shield.

Ornamented with feathers, and the tail of a horse. This shield is proof against rifle bullets.

9. Bow-Case and Quiver of the Bannock Indians.

Made of very line buckskin, and elaborately embroidered with beads.

J Sioux War Clubs.

12. Tomahawk Pipe.

Once belonging to Little Bear, a prominent chief of the Northern Apaches.

13. Kiowa War Club.

14. Comanche Tomahawk Pipe.

LIST OF CKROMO-LITHOGHAPH PLATES.

xii

Plate VI. PAGE514.

Objects of Interest and Curiosity: Scalps of Indians and White People— Ornaments made of Human Skin and Bones, &c.

1. Kiowa Medicine Rattle.

2. Sheath of Scalping Knife (Sioux).

3. Sheath of Scalping Knife (Cheyenne).

4. Scalping Knives.

5. Scalps of Two White Men, arranged on a Wand fob the Scalp Dance.

6. Scalp of a Sioux Indian.

Elaborately ornamented with feathers and beads.

7. Scalp of a Sioux Indian, taken entire.

8. Scalp of a Little White Girl.

This scalp was taken from the Comanches. The little girl was about nine years old.

9. Ute Match Safe, Beaded.

10. Ute Needle Case, Beaded.

11. Ute Necklace, with “Medicine.”

Made of shells from the Gulf of California, passed in barter from tribe to tribe.

12. Cheyenne Squaw’s Gambling Implement.

Made of the bones of a bear’s foot.

13. Northern Cheyenne Necklace.

Made of the first joints of human fingers.

14. Gambling Bones, and Beaded Case.

15. Belt made of Human Skin.

This was taken from a Tonkaway Indian, who had made it from the skin of a Comanche.

Contents

Introduction-, by Gen. William T. Sherman. . Page xxxv

Chapter I

MY EARLY LIFE — FIRST EXPERIENCES WITH INDIANS — AD VEN¬ TURES AMONG THE COMANCHES.

My Early Home — First Sight of Warriors — A Thrill of Horror Re¬ called — Sudden Transformation of My Views — A Beardless Lieu¬ tenant — The Texan Frontier — Nights with the Comanches — Their Cunning and Treachery — The Sleepless Foe — A Fatal Stumble — On a Cavalry Scout — Adventurous Pursuit — Surprising an Indian Camp — Invited to be the Guest of an Indian Chief — Warned of Danger — Outbreak of Hostilities — Young Warriors with “ Bad Hearts ” — The Bandera Pass — An Exciting Adventure — Separated from My Command — Making the Best of It — Ruined Ammuni¬ tion — On the Edge of Peril — Reconnoitring the Indian Camp — My Flight and Pursuit — The Race for Life — My Escape — Rejoin¬ ing My Command — Thirty Years of Indian Warfare, . Page 29

Chapter II

BEYOND THE MISSISSIPPI — THE LANGUAGE, NUMBERS, HABITS, ETC., OF THE INDIANS OF THE GREAT WEST.

Origin of the American Indians — The Defect of Writers on the Indians

— Wonderful Diversity of the Indian Language — Curious Facts and Tendencies — The Effect of War — Stupendous Vanity — Invention of Dialects — The Passion for War — The Crafty and Bloodthirsty Apaches — The Cheyennes and Arrapahoes — A Marvellous Alliance

— The Sign Language — Estimates of Population — Superstitious Dread of being Counted — Indian Extermination — Nomadic Pro¬ clivities — The Winter Encampment — Home Attachments — Love for an Old Encampment — Cherished Memories ■ — “ Home Sickness ”

— Mental Peculiarities — Acute Perceptions — Ill-Directed Efforts — Indian Schools — Indian Orators — How they Rehearse their Speeches

— Swaying a Savage Audience, . 42

XIV

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER in.

WELD LIFE ON THE PLAINS — INDIAN CHARACTER, TRAITS, AND PECULIARITIES.

The Country of the “Plains Indians” — The Dream of an Enthusiast — The Indian as he is — His Conduct in the Presence of Strangers — Clothes Only for Show — His Conduct in his Own Camp — A Rollick¬ ing Miscreant — Night Scenes in an Indian Camp — The Disgrace of being Surprised — A Pair of Climbing Boots — The Hero of the Tele¬ graph Pole — How a Lady Excited Surprise and Admiration — A Comical Incident — The Story of a Wooden Leg — Carrying a Joke too Far — A Summary Ejectment — Endurance of Pain — Patience, an Indian Virtue — Blowing his Own Trumpet — Extravagant Self- Praise — An Indian’s Idea of Modesty — Honor among Thieves — Kicked Out of Camp — Early Lessons in Stealing — Apt Pupils — A Flagrant Case — A Fair Field and No Favor — Differences of Opinion, . . 52

Chapter IV

INDIAN CHIEFS AND RULERS -TRIBAL GOVERNMENT - HOW PLACE AND POWER ARE WON.

Powers of the Head Chief — The Avengers of Blood — The Death Penalty — Deadly Hostility — Sitting Bull’s Indomitable Band — Ouray’s Lost Prestige — Little Robe and Little Raven — Two Tribes that are Firm Friends — Disobeying Spotted Tail’s Orders — Fate of Deserting Warriors — Severe Punishment — A Secret Society — The “Picked Corps” of Warriors — The Chief’s Body Guard — Expiating a Sin — A Noted Comanche Chief : His Courage and Daring — Death from a Broken Heart — Red Cloud’s Career — War to the Knife — A Thrill¬ ing Episode — Rival Suitors — Spotted Tail’s Duel — Locked in Death’s Embrace — Big Mouth’s Assassination, . . . .68

CHAPTER Y.

SWINDLING AND ROBBING THE INDIANS -MY OWN OBSERVA¬ TIONS.

The “ Treaty System ” — Its Absurdity — Stipulations that cannot be Kept — How Indians are Swindled and Robbed — “Wards of the Nation” — Modoc Jack — General Canby’s Murderers — Expiation

CONTENTS.

XV on the Gallows — The “ Indian Agent” — His Absolute Power — How Massacres are Invited — Poor old Mr. Meeker — Our “Indian Policy”

— Forcible Contrasts — My Own Observations — What I Have Seen

— Unexampled Scoundrelism — Stone Calf’s Daughter — The Flower

of the Wigwam — An Ill-fated Journey — Concealed in a Thicket — Threatened with Instant Death — Escape to a Friendly Teepe — The Old Chief’s Agony — A Heart-broken Warrior — My Inability to Help Him — Praying for the “ White Man’s Road,” . . . .87

Chapter VI

RELIGION OF THE INDIAN— A STRANGE FAITH— THE GREAT MYSTERY OF INDIAN “MEDICINE.”

The Indian Idea of God — The Good God — The Bad God — The Per¬ petual Struggle between Them — “The Happy Hunting Grounds”

— How the Indian Soul is Excluded from Paradise — Horror of Being Scalped — Desperate Efforts to Save a Friend’s Soul — How the Soul Escapes from the Body — The Indian Idea of Hell — “Good Med¬ icine ” versus “ Bad Medicine ” — Ridiculous Superstition — How “ Medicine ” is Made — Its Great Mystery — A Sacred Secret — De¬ ciding on the Ingredients — Appeasing the Wrath of the Bad God

— Sacred Ponies — Driving a Sharp Bargain with the Devil — Stick¬

ing to the Faith of their Fathers — Spotted Tail’s Argument with Captain Randall — “ Black Beard ” — My Talk with an Aged Chief — Who Made the World ? — Fetichism — Digger Indians, . . 96

Chapter VII

THE MEDICINE CHIEF — IIIS GREAT POWER AND INFLUENCE — AN OFFICE WON BY RECKLESS DARING.

The Medicine Chief — His Power and Standing in the Tribe — How the Office is Won — Proving His Own Medicine — A First-Class Aristo¬ crat — The Idol of the Squaws — An Indian Physician — His knowl¬ edge of Herbs — No Cure no Pay — A Pandemonium of Howls — Incantations Over the Sick — A Remedy Worse than the Disease — Heroic Treatment — My Reception in an Indian Camp — Black, Beady Eyes — An Aspirant for Fame — Sitting Bull — Medicine Arrow — A Favorite of Fortune — The Most Remarkable Chief of His Time — His Famous Arrows — Arrows for Ponies and Ponies for Rum — End of a Strange Career — Splendid Types of Courage — . The Charge on Forsythe’s Rifle Pits — Indian Quacks, . .114

T

Xvi CONTENTS.

Chapter VIII

SECRET RITES AND RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES — AN INDIAN MYS¬ TERY— THE SACRED “SOMETHING.”

The Sacred Conclave — How One of My Officers Gained Admittance — What He Saw There — Curious Solemnities — Sacred Mysteries — The Medicine Pipe — How an Indian Smokes a Cigar — A Blazing Stub — How the Pipe is Used for Casting Lots — How the Fatal Signal is Determined — Secret Societies, Pass Words, and Grips — Medicine Arrow’s Great Influence — The Sacred “Something” — What is it? — An Object of Awe' and Veneration — Capture of the Sacred Symbol by the Pawnees — A Pious Fraud — The Utes and the Squat Stone — Its Capture by a Hostile Tribe — Their Flight with It — Consternation at its Loss — Wild Pursuit and Vengeance — Burial of the Sacred Insignia — The Lost Treasure — Sitting Bull’s “Med¬ icine,” . . 124

Chapter IX

HOCII-fi-A-YUM — THE GREAT MEDICINE DANCE— SUFFERING AND ENDURANCE OF THE DANCERS.

The Cotton Wood Lodge — The Medicine Dance — Preparations for the Ceremony — Extent of the Suffering Involved — In the Circle — The Spectators — Selection of Warriors for the Dance — Death the Penalty of Failure — Stripped for the Struggle — Eyes Fixed — The Sus¬ pended Image — Wild Enthusiasm — The Dance of Endurance — The Weary Round — Shouts of Encouragement — Wail of the Squaws — An Exhausted Dancer — Dragged from the Fatal Arena — The Victim — Death of the Dqncer — The Furies of Hell Let Loose — Fleeing From Wrath — Rallying the Bands — Four Days’ of Suffer¬ ing — Sticking it Out to the Bitter End — Recognition and Reward — Rushing in at the Eleventh Hour — Carrying off the Prize, . 134

Chapter X. Indian Methods Of Self-torture— Endurance And Defiance Of Pain

The W arrior’s Ordeal — Panting for the Knife — How Suffering is Courted — Stalwart Endurance of Pain — The Greatest of Indian Virtues — Remarkable Religious Fervor — Indian Pride in Self-Torture — Prep¬ arations for the Trying Ordeal — Fasting, Silence, and Meditation —

CONTENTS.

XVII

The Candidates Brought before the Medicine Chief — Deciding on the Kind and Amount of Torture — The Merciless Thrust of the Knife — Inserting Horsehair Ropes — The Wounded Devotee — Muscles Torn from the Breast — Incredible Suffering — The Victim’s Tragic Efforts to Break Loose — Suspended in Mid-air — Indescribable Agonies — Lips that Never Murmur — Dressing the Wounds — The Consequences of Flinching under the Knife — The “ Sun Dance ’’ of the Sioux — Expiation of Crime — Exasperating Forms of Tor¬ ture, . 146

CHAPTER XL

THE INDIAN’S LAST RESTING-PLACE -BURIAL OF THE DEAD.

The Excitement Caused by a Death in Camp — An Indian Cemetery — Depositing the Body in a Tree — The Burial Case — How the Body is Dressed — My Horrible Discovery — Following the Trail — Another Discovery — The Dead Body of the Comanche War Chief — How He Died — Treating His Body with Indignity — Comical Epitaph — Stealing a Body for Dissection — The Body-Snatchers at Work — The Midnight Foray — Unexpected Arrival of Squaws — Consterna¬ tion of the Thieves — Terror and Flight of the Women — What I saw in a Deserted Ute Camp — Graves Safe from Mortal Eyes — Secrets Betrayed by Human Bones — Ouray’s Death — His Secret Burial — Discovery of His Grave, . 153

Chapter XII. Mourning For The Dead— How Indians Feel And Show Their Grief

In “ Sackcloth and Ashes ” — The Mark of God’s Displeasure — Parental Anguish — The Death of a Son — A Warrior’s Tearless Eyes — Real Grief — Mourning for a Dead Wife — What Happens at the Death of a Chief — How the Squaws Mourn — A Chorus of Howls from the “Blessed Sex” — Self-Mutilation — Inflicting Horrible Wounds — A “ Good Cry ” versus a “ Good Howl ” — Inconsolable Widows — Midnight Wails — Letting off Superfluous Unhappiness — Joining in the Howl — The “ Luxury of Grief” — Vigorous Lamentation

— How an Indian Makes his Will — Scene at Ouray’s Death Bed

— His Will — Clamoring for the Destruction of his Property — A

Narrow Escape — The Sacrifice of Seventeen Horses — Firing the Pyre . 167

CONTENTS.

xviii

Chapter XIII

THE FUTURE LIFE — THE INDIAN’S IDEA OF HEAVEN— THE HAPPY HUNTING GROUNDS.

Conceptions of the Hereafter — Indian Horror of Being Strangled or Scalped Explained — An Eternity of Green Fields and Pastures

— Equipped for the Long Journey — Death Overcome — Touching Traits of Character — Complete Outfit for the Dead — The War¬ rior’s Grave — Starvation and Death Preferred to Robbing the Dead

— How Physical Defects are Carried into the Next- World — Fate of an Emaciated Form — Mutilations of the Body — Transfixed with Arrows — A Dismal Superstition — Why Indians Rarely Make Night Attacks — The Effect of Being Killed in the Dark — Crawling into Camp — Stealth and Cunning — Avenging the Slain — Incident of the Campaign of 1873 — Fate of a Band of Surveyors, . 175

Chapter XIV. Childhood And Youth— Life And Training Of Indian Boys And Girls

The Redskin Baby — An Original Outfit — Feathers and Fur — A Real “Nest of Comfort ” — Tossed into a Corner — “ In the Tree Top ” — Learning to Ride — Stopping the Baby’s Cry — A Novel Method — Rough Schooling — Adoption of Captive Children — The Comanche Women — A Coveted Baby — Ready to Swap or Buy — An Inter¬ esting Experience — The Warrior’s Pride — A Touching Story — Bound to the Stake — The Old Chief’s Sacrifice — Childhood Sports — Freedom of the Lodge — Trained for the Chase — Roaming at Large

— Cold-Blooded Atrocities — Daring Attacks — In Pursuit of Fame

— A Momentous Hour — What I saw at an Indian Dance — Matri¬

monial Hankerings — Mamed at Sixteen — Old Age at Thirty-five, . . 181

Chapter XV. Love-making In An Indian Camp— Courtship And Marriage

Indian Lovers — Suitors for a Maiden’s Hand — Going to “See His Girl ” — At His Inamorata’s Lodge — “ The Old Folks at Home ” — Indian Match-Makers — The First Real Meeting — Picturesque Re¬ luctance and a Pretty Surrender — Tete-k-Tete — Engaged at Last —

CONTENTS.

XIX

Appearance of Rivals — An Indian Flirt — A Dozen Lovers at Her Feet — Competition the Life of Trade — Plans for the Wedding — How Paternal Consent is Obtained — Indian Elopements — Love De¬ fiant of Locks and Bars — Escape from the Lodge — Flight and Pursuit — Assessing the Damages — The Girl’s Market Value — A White Admirer’s Perfidy — Gushing Frankness — An Unfortunate Dilemma — “So Glad You Asked Me” — A Widow’s Pathetic Ap¬ peal, . 190

Chapter XVI. Indian Women— Their Virtues And Vices — Life In An Indian Lodge

The Life of an Indian Woman — Where the Bead and Feather Work Comes From — A “ Model ” Wife — A Squaw’s Right — Seeking a New Husband — How the Custom Originated — The Go-Between — Secret Conferences — Winning the Affections of Another Man’s Wife — Scandal in the Camp — The Old Warrior’s Darling — Flight with a Youthful Admirer — The Honey-Moon — Housekeeping in a Friendly Teepe — A Dark Day — A Terrible Punishment — Tickling a Girl’s Vanity — Liaisons Among the Arrapahoes — Curious Safeguards — The Story of Powder Face — A Notable Couple — A Precocious Young Rascal — First-Class Sensation — Madmen and Idiots — A Professional Tramp — His Capture by Hostile Sioux, .... 200

Chapter XVII

INDIAN NAMES, TITLES, AND EPITHETS — THEIR MEANING AND SIGNIFICANCE.— THE TOTEM.

Indian Idea of their Origin — Traditions — The Family Coat of Arms — The Totem, and What It Is — Surnames — Pet Names — Titles — Nicknames — Palpable Hits — The Original “ Punch ” — Odd Traits and Fancies Indicated by Names — Why Indians Name Themselves — Curious Titles — “"White Eagle” — “Lone Wolf ” — “ Yellow Bear ” — “ Powder Face ” — “ Man-Afraid-of-His-Horses ” — Loafing “Jims” and Indolent “Tonys" — Unblushing Beggary — Effect of Incident and Adventure — An Ill-Fated Expedition — An Unsolved Mystery — The Place of Lost Souls — The “ Great American Bull- Whacker” — The “Picketwire” — Indian Nicknames of Army Offi¬ cers — Ridiculous Appellations — Gray Beard — General Crook’s Indian Name— Why they Call Him “The Gray Fox,” . 216

XX

CONTENTS.

Chapter XVIII

EVERYDAY INDIAN LIFE — SIGHTS AND SCENES IN INDIAN HOMES, TEEPES, AND WINTER CAMPS.

An Indian Teepe — How it is Made — The “Wicky-Up” — Its Con¬ struction — Teepe Furnishings — Beds that are Never “ Made Up ” — Meal Hours — The Luxury of Baker’s Bread — Indian Hospitality — The First Chance at the Pot — Scenting a Dinner from Afar — Enter¬ taining You To-day and Taking Your Scalp To-morrow — How Indians Select a Camping-Place — Looking Out for Danger — The * “ Public Square ” and Crier — Selecting a Site for the Winter Camp — An Indian Village — General Custer’s Exploit — His Fortunate Escape — A Cold-Blooded Ruffian — Paid “ by the Scalp ” — Two Hundred and Fifty Scalps at One Fight — Days and Nights of Feasting and Revelry — "Love Rules the Camp” — Sketches from Life . 224

Chapter XIX. Indian Skill And Handiwork - Occupations Of Camp And Lodge

In Winter Quarters — Preparations for War and the Chase — How Indian Saddles and Bridles are made — The Mexican Device — Fancy Reins — The Art of Plaiting Horsehair — The Lariat and the -Lasso — How They are Made — A Winter’s Task — The Great Fall Hunt — Scenes of Joy and Excitement — Preserved Buffalo — Real Indian Bread — Skill in Dressing Skins — Family Heirlooms — The Elkhorn Handle — A Priceless Treasure — A Suit of Deer-skin — Original Needlework — Spending a Year on a Single Garment — Bead Work — Beautiful Ornamentation — Behind the Plough — The ■ Indian Maiden of Fiction — Wrestling with the Sportive Hoe — A Square Day’s W ork — The Chopping Match — Startling Facts, 250

Chapter XX. Trade And Barter— The Victims And Prey Of Indian “ Traders.”

Systems of Barter — “ Sold Out ” — Fleeced and Victimized by the “Trader” — Indian Wants and Necessities — The Charm of Nov¬ elty— An Incident at Fort Sedgwick — The Ornamented Buffalo

CONTENTS.

xxi

Robe — A Warrior with a Sweet Tooth — The First Lot of Matches — An Astonished Indian — Curiosity Aroused — A Wonderful Box — Testing the Matches One by One — Scorched Fingers — My Treasures from the Ute Campaign — Blanket of Rare Beauty and Design — A Dishonored Statute — The Trapper Thirty Years Ago — Domiciled with Savages — A Wild Free Life — Admitted to the Indian Brother¬ hood — Sharing Hairbreadth Eseapes — The Gaming Table — The Trader’s Grip on the Red Man’s Throat — Barefaced Swindling — An Open and Shut Game — Hobson’s Choice — The Traders’ Prey, 261

Chapter XXI

INDIAN COOKS AND COOKING— FAVORITE FOOD AND ODD DISHES — AMUSING EXPERIENCES.

Indian Cooks — Teepe Manners — “Fingers before Forks” — The “ Tonish ” Thing in Serving — How Indians Cook for Themselves — An Off-Hand Roast — The Marrow-Bones — The Choicest Bonne Bouche — Enormous Feeders — Eating Twenty Pounds at One Meal — Gluttony of the Red Skins — The Call for More — Cunning and Strategy — Accumulated Breakfasts — An Astonishing Appetite — Job’s Turkey — A Tough One — An Abandoned Fowl — An Odd Superstition — Unblushing Cheek — Eating Ten Feet of Marrow Guts — The Use of Salt — Red Pepper and Black — Selection of the Entrails — The Indian’s Most Delicious Morsel — My Invitation to Dine with the Pawnee Chief — A Disgusting Repast — Dog Flesh — Fat Puppy — Skunk — My Interview with Stone Calf, . . 271

Chapter XXII

THE BUFFALO AND ITS DESTRUCTION— THE INDIAN’S GREAT FALL HUNT— EXCITING ADVENTURES.

The Indian and the Buffalo — The Old Days of Plenty — Habits and Instincts — Immense Herds — A Column Fifty Miles Wide, and of Unknown Depth — A Thrilling Adventure at Pawnee Rock — Danger from a Stampeded Herd — “Splitting” the Column — Safe at Last — Scenes of Wild Animation — Mistaken Ideas of Old Plains¬ men — How the Indians Hunt Buffalo — The “Surround” — Closing In for the Attack — The Signal — Wild Onset of Wan-iors — Desperate Resistance — The Slaughter — The Sioux Plan — My Camp on Big Coon Creek — My Adventure with a Panic-stricken Herd — A Camp Aroused at Midnight — Hairbreadth Escape — The Extinction of the Buffalo — Wanton Slaughter — Barbarous Practices, . . 282