The central gazette. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1820-1827, 1825-08-27

''tes', STU wei Proporttoned IN err
eooetenences were pleasing, With aqueline noses,
and Beautifully white aud re ular teeth rhe brffa
losupplies them with food, and also hing.
The skin was the principal, and almose lily ar
'ice Of dress they wore, and wrapped round
them, or worn tastefully over their shoulders like
the Highland plaids; the dresses of some of them
were r1nscd with human hair, taken from the scalps
OF their enemies ; and their casns, or shoes,
were neatly ornanen,ed with porcupine quills-
ihey are notorious horse stcaers, and often make
predatory excursions to the Mandan villages on the
banks Of the Missouri to steal them. They some
times&ieH the Red River for this purpose and bay
swept oft nearly the whole of horses from the
settlement Such, indeed, is their propensity for
this species o theft, that they have fred upon and
killed the comPany's servants close to the forts for
these useful animals. They the buffalo with
them IN the summer, and fasten them TO sledges
which they drag over the snow when they travel ia
the winter; while the dogs carry burdens upon their
backs, like packs upon the pack horse. 1t does no,
appear that chastity Is much regarded among them
ihev take as many wives as they please, and part
win them Tor season, or permit others to cohabit
with them i'll their own lodges for time, Tor gun
Morse or some article they may wish to possess
they are known, however. to kill the woman or
cut OFT her nose, il she be unai,hu without
ihc'r knowledge or permission. All the lowest and
hioH' Is imposed upon her, and
she is not permitted eat till after her lord has fin
i'hed his meal, who, amidst the burdensome toll OF
life and desultory and precarious existence will
only condescend to carry his gun, take care OF his
morse and hunt as want may compel him. During
the time the interpreter with these Indians the
meas cs prevailed, and carried off great numbers OF
them, in different tribes. They often expressed to
him very low opinion Of the white people who in
trod"ced this disease amongst them, and threatened
10 XII them all, at the same time observing, tina
they would not hurt him, but send him home down
The Missouri When their relations or children. OF
whom they arc Passonatcly fond, were sick, tbey
were almost constantly addressing their maniton.
drumming, andmaking a great noise and at the
same time they sprinkIed them with water where
they complained of pain and when the interpreter
was sick, they W ere perpetuauy wanting to drum
and coniure him wsa He spoke to them of that
God and Saviour whom white people adole but
they called him fool saying that he never came to
were they in their magfnations, and their foolish
hearts ware darkened."
The winter is extremely severe in these attitudes
eve are suffering, says the author great pri.
pations at the settlement. Very little buffaloe
has been obtained from the plains, and principal
subsistence is from grain boiled into soup Few
have either pepper, salt, -four vegetables. One
Of The Swiss lately frozen to death the plains
and Meuron settler returning to the colony with al
horse sedge Of provisions persisted also from the
verify Of the wintcr.
&c Feb IA Times do not wear more favorable
aspect and most Of the settlers are upon an allow
ance OF pint of wheat each day Sometimes a few
fish are taken with nets, from under the ice, which
are put down by making holes at the distance of a
bout fifteen twenty feet from each other, and at
x ct lin to off hv .,b; IT
the net is drawn in the water from opening to
the other, till it is easily The fish that are
caught arc pike, and for which exorbitant price
IS frequently paid. The northern Indians angle for
FISH IN winter, by cutting round holes in the ice a
bout foot or two in diameter, and letting down
baited hook. This is always kept in motion to pre-
vent the water from freezing, and to attract the fish
to the spot. Immediately after they take fish, they
scoop out the eyes and walow them, thinking them
as great delicacy the Europesn does the oyster
"The Sioux, like the Tartars, sometimes offer
water as symbol OF peace and safety TO stranger,
or pardon to offender, which strongly corrobo-
rates tho idea that they were originally from Asia
Some time ago was informed by officer, who
had numbers of them under his influence in the A
merican war, that Sioux Indian was doomed to
die for an offence which he had committed, and tax
ing his station before The tribe, and drawing his
blanket his face in expectation Of the fatal shot
the Chief stepped forward and presented some water
to him token OF pardon, when he was permitted
again 10 join the party.
Z" 1t does not appear that cannibasm is practised
by any Of the North American indians on the co n
trary, the eating Of human flesh is held in great ab
horrence by them and when they driven TO eat
it, through dire necessity, they generally sbun
ned by other Indiars who know it, and who often
take their lives secretly. IL is moi an uncommon
practice, however, for them to flesh from their
osp,ives, and, when cook ed, to small bits as
well as to give some TO their children with little OF
their blood doubt under the idea that will give
them courage, and spirit Of hatred and revenge
against their enemies What can ca I'm these Zero
cious feelings and curb this savage fury Of the pas
sioDs in the tourous destruction OF Gcfenceess wo
and sucking Infants what, but the introduc
ton and influence Of Christianity, the best civzer
Of the wepderipg natives ofthese dresry wids, and
the most prpyebie means Of fixing them in the pur
suit of agrfeasore, and Of those social advantage
and privileges to which they at present strangers
"Our fears" he continues, e" were kept alive
however. to the safety Of the settlement by being
informed Of another horrid -four hunters
woman, and little girl, the plains near Pembi
ma, by the Sioux Indians. Their bodies were dread