The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-11-28

West TO the ed tors Of the .Neto York CONNER
If ciaL .4duertiScr, dated
u MANDAN VILLAGE, Upper Missouri
- August s. 1882 (
/ TIE MANDANs.
The Mandans, or See pohs ka -ka kee.
:, "peoplr Of the pheasants") AS they call
: themselves. are perhaps one of the most
ancient tribes OF Indians in our country.
They take great pride in relating their ira
= dltions with regard TO their oriIin-con-
tending they were the first peo; .created or
earth. Their village is undoubtedly Of very
ancient origin, and from what could learn
OF Their traditions, they have, at former
period, heen very numerous and powerful
nation; but by the continual wars which
have existed between them and their neigh
hors, they have been reduced to the num-
her of 10 or 1900 souls.
| Their village is situated on the Bank. i'm
one OF the most beautiful valleys on the
River. The ground on which it is built
was admirably selected for defence, being
on a bank forty or fifty feet above the bed oc
the River. The greater part OF this bank is
nearly perpendicular, and of solid rock.
The River suddenly changing its course to
Il right angle. protects two sides of the vii
lage, which is built upon this ptomontory
or angle; they have therefore hut one side
to protect, which is effectually done 10y IL
strong plquet and ditch inside of it, of
three or four feet in depth. They are un-
donhtedly secure in their village from the
attacks Of any Indian nation, and have
nothing TO fear except when they meet
their enemies on the prairie. Their village
has most strange appearance to the eye
! OF IA stranger; their lodges are closely
grouped together, leaving but Just room
enough for walking and riding between
them. They appear from without to be |
built entirely Of dirt but one is surprised,
when he enters them, to see the neatness,
comfort, and spacious dimensions of these
earth-covered dwellings. They all have
circular form. and are from fifty to sixty
feet in diameter. Their roofs a1e formed of
poles of six or eight inches in diameter,
with the butt end in the ground, and placed
so thick as to touch each other-lhe points
nearly meeting at the top, leaving an aper-
ture of four or five feet in diameter, answer
ing for a chimney and sky-light at the [
same tune. These poles are supported in
the middle by large beams, and over their
tops is laid Il close mat Of willows, which
protects them from the dampncss of the
earth, with which they are covered, Of.
about a foot 10 thickness. The floors of
these dwellings are of earth, bat 50 harden !
ed, and swept so clean, that they have
bright polish, and will not soil the whitest
linen. In the centre. and Immediately I'M
der the skyllght, is the fire. place-a hole |
Of four or five feet in diameter, of a circular
form, sunk foot or more below the surface.
and curbed around with stone AROUND this
are The family group, reclining in all the
most picturesque attitudes and groups, rest
ing on their Buffalo robes and beautiful
mats of willow. These cabins are so sDa-
cious that they contain from Is to 30 persons
"A family and all their connections. They
all sleep on hedsteads similar in form to
ours, but generally not quite as high; they
are made Of round poles, rudely framed to-
getheT. A Buffalo skin is strained across
like Il sacking bottom, on which they place
a number Of Buffalo robes, making the finest
bed in the world. Their beds are all COW
cred with dressed skins strained over
the frame, in the form of curtains, leav-
ing ii square hole 10 get into and ont of
their beds. Some of these curtains are
fringed and otherwise beautifully ornament
ed. The Mandans have nothing in their
personal appearance or demeanor to distn- :
gulsh them in any considerable degree from
the neighboring Indians, excepting the sin
guar appearance oftheir hair. In this par
teular, they are different. believe, from all
! Indians ~ the world. Their hair has all
the shades and variety of cools that are to
| be seen amongst white society. MANY
children male and female, at the age of 10
or Is years, are seen with their hair of n
bright silvery grey, and some almost per-
| iectly white.
/ Is 81 81,
and some of them extremely beautiful
They marry at a very early age, and whilst
Young and unmarried they dress with much
neatness, and practice more pure, native
modesty, in their dress and demeanor, than
any female society that | ever was in. IF
modesty be virtue, it would be well if some
of our fashionable ladies could study from
these simple models Their beautiful white
skin dresses extend from their chns down,
quite to the ground and are studiousiy formed
TO hang loose over their bodies without
showing any thing of the shapes of the
person; instead of drawing and cording
themselves up into angles and protuher-
ances, us our fair ladies' do to attract the
gaze and admiration of the world. Their
dresses are made of the skins of the noun
tain sheep, which they consider preferable
W All OlHcIS, pSluH oOllClS VI uuCl 'CAtuIG,
and much lighter. These skins are so in
geniously dressed that they leave, around
the neck, down the sides, and around the
bottom, border of the skin with the hair
on, which is cut into kind Of fringe having
very much the appearance of ermlne. They
are oinamented IN great variety Of WAYS
with porcupine quilts, beads of different
colors, clk's teeth, and shells. After he
coming matrons, that bushng modesty in a
great degree disappears. and they wear n
dress made Of elk skin, coarscr material,
shorter and better calculated for the lahori-
Gus duties they have to perform, as slaves
to their lords.
SCENE OF WONDER.
Perhaps nothing ever more completely as
;onished these people than the operations
: of my brush. Soon after arriving in their
; village, invited and painted the two princi-
' pal chiefs; in a few minutes after hav-
ing exhibited them, it seemed as if the
whole village was crowding upon me to see
r them. | was obliged to stop painting, and
place them high in conspicuous place,
C where all could see them. The likenesses
I were recognized, and some commenced vel
2 ling, some singing, and others crying. The
next curiosity was to see me, and SO great
was the rush upon me that | was i'll danger
- of suffocation. The eager curiosity and
expression Of astonishment with which they
, gnzed upon me, plainly showed that the,