Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-05-25


& discustinply inhuman acts. tits under the intu-
ence ofh;s feeling that he becomes what among In
d,auss is called foolish-thatis perfectly reckless
ofl;fe II is singular but nevertheless true, that
the Indians should look with such utter contempt
uaon every thing, like effeminacy, and still be
al much under the influence of their squaws.-
No greater term of reproach can be bestowed by
them upon an individual than to call hima squaw.
II sirni6es that he is beast of burden. Squaws
almost never approach the council, the feast, or
the Dance" that is, or national medicine dance
They follow and obey their lords and masters
apparently in silence. Humility and obedience
are. with health and industry, the only recon-
mendations ola wife. Still, these very women,
as among us, manage to govern in every thing
they wish. They do it by appearing not todolt
The Indian always appears the master, and, sat
isfed with the appearance. suffers himself to be
mastered. Here might call the attention OF
some of our females, whose ambition to become
.. the better horse" leads them some times to
overshoot the mark; but as advice unaSked, is
generally suspected | leave them to make their
own comments
Indians are the most desperate gamblers IN
the world, considering their means. One wouid
be a,tonished to witness their stakes. have
seen them sit successive hours, and sometimes
DAYS, at their games, alternately winning and
losing. until one Of them rose stripped OF all his
wealth. horses, gun, and every thing but the rag,
as we might say, of modesty. This would be
called ruin by the civilized world. but 1t causes
no despair or suicide with them, and all that an
observer would perceive is perhaps little mort-
fed pride at his defeat. The young squaws. having
more leisure. are more constant gamblers than
the men. / have seen young squaw pull orna-
ment after ornament from her arm, beads after
beads from her neck, and breach after breach
from her bosom, until she had lost the whole, and
then probably pawn her clothes for another game.
The greatest game that have ever heard of,
however, was between Crow s. Cheyenne. Itwas
told me as well known fact by man residing
among the Grows, and confirmed by the Crows
themselves through an interpreter About four
years since, the Crows and Chayennes were, as
they have almost always been, at war. In fact,
do not know that they ever met peaceably ex-
cept in the single instance am about to relate.
In state of hostility of course, war parties we're
continually roaming in search Of favorable OPP
portunties to strike with success, and with as lit
tie risk as possible, it happened that two hostile
parties we're encamped, without the knowledge
of either, near each other. They had both been
out long time. and had seen no ''signs" of an
enemy, and of course became considerably dis
couraged. After little reflection. and within
day or two of the same time, both parties resolv-
ed to return to their respective tribes 1t hap
pened also, that one of each party refused (pled-
ged BY an oath, or afraid of the ridicule of some
iavOrite squaw) to return. This is very common
among them, and it excites no surprize, even af-
ter success, that one or two should separate from
the main party and go forth alone, sometimes for
definite object, and sometimes not. These
two men were left by their respective comrades
IN the mountains, near Powder river, and for the
two following days they remained near where
they were left. On the third, and near nightfaIl,
they had selected their lodging places near each
other, still ignorant of their vicinity. The Chav-
enne was going down, and the Grow up, ravine
that gradually descended at that place, towards
the river. The former laid himself down among
the rocks in the bottom of the rayine, but the lat
ter, thinking from the appearance of the sky that
it would rain, and knowing how the water rush
ed In torrents down these rayines, Crawled up its
side, and there, under the shelter of friendly
rock, arranged himself for repose. As the Crow
expected, one of those sudden and tremendous
showers common to the country came on; he how
ever, lay unmOlested by 1t.
Not so with the Cheyenne; hearing the roar of
tue coming torrent. ne ndStene0 10 secure nnSelI
from being washed away or dashed to death a
gainst the rocks. by cropping out passage up the
side, hardly Knowing, in the dark, whether he
was going to safety or destruction. After feel
ing around, and managing to get about one hum
dred yards from where the water had driven him.
he came accidentally to the rock which sheltered
the Crow. In endeavoring 10 ascertain its position
with the ground, he placed his hand upon the
bare shoulder Of his enemy. As it may be ex-
pected they both started, the one back and the
other up with their usual exclamation of surprise
-" Wah." said they, as they stood gazing, and
lighting up their gaze with the fire of TIER own
eyeballs. What is very unusual among Indians
on war party, they were both taken by surprise
both unprepared, and both, too, searching for en-
emies. The night was very dark, the ground
precipitous and uneven, and both were hesitating
what to do, not knowing but each had friends
close at hand. At length the Chayenne made
signs that he would lie down for the night. and
that in the morning they should try their prowess
1t was arranged, and two brave and mortal foes, |
until that instant, lay down side by side under
the same rock Iquestion if either slept, still !
they continued in their recumbent posture until |
morning. Morning came. and both, assured of