Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-11-23
INSTANTANEOUS
| From the New York Commercial Advcr,iser1
THE UPPER MISSOURI.
MANDAN VILLAGE, Upper Missouri,

August 9Th, 1892
Dear SirSoon after the date of NV last letter from the
mouth OF Yellow Stone, descended the river in skin TO
this place where have resided about two weeks quest
in this subtcuan"ous citythc srangest place in the world
where one sees in the most rap succession, which
force him TO mirihto pity and compassion admiration
TO dsgust-tO fear and establishment. Here are subjects
and worthy Of the pens Irving, Cooper rich
in legends and romanccs which would require no aid of the
Imagination for picture.
The M"ndans. or (See ka-nu ka .kee people of
the pheasants, they call themselves, are perhaps one
OF the most ancient tribes OF Indians country They
take great pride in relating their traditions with regard TO
their ogi-conending that thew were the first nconlc
created earth. Their village is undoubtedly OF very
ancient origin, and from what could learn OF the radi-
tons, they have, at former period, been very
Tous and powerful nation but by the continual wars
which have existed between them and their neighbors
they have been reduced to the number 10 or 1900 souls
Their village is situated on the bank, in one of the
most beautiful valleys on The river The ground which
it is built admirably selected for defence beinp
bank forty fifty feet above the bed of the RI
ver The greater part OF this bank nearly perpendcu-
lar and of lid rock The river suddenly CHANGING its
course to right angle protects sides of the viii
lage which is built upon this promonory or ange tev
have therefore, but side protect, which is eli
fectualy done by strong pquet and ditch inside of it,
OF three or four feet in depth They are undoubtedly Sc
in their village from the attacks of any Indian ma
ton, and have nothing to fear except when they meet
their enemies on the prairie. Their village has most
strange appearance to the eye OF strangers their lodges
are closely grouped oeher, leaving just enough
for walking and riding between them. They ,appear
IRON without TO be built entirely of dirt but one is
surprised, when he enters them, TO the neaness
comfort, ami spacious dimensions OF these earh-c cred
dwellings. They all have 4 circular FORM aud ar, from
fifty sixty feet diameter Their roofs ar. formed nj
poles OF SIX or eightiuches in diameter with the butt end
IN the ground, and placed thick TO touch each other
the points nearly meeting at the top, leaving All aper-
ture oil four or ivc Ieei IN diameter answering chin
ney and sky-lght at the time. These poles arc
supported III the middle by large beams and over their
tops is laid close mat OF willows which protects them
from the dampness OF the earth, with which they CO.
vered of about foot thickness. The floors of these
dwellings are OF earth but hardened and sweep so clean
mat they have bright polish, and would soil the
der hp
skyght, is the fire placea hole four or five feet i'm
diameter OF circular or sunk foot or more beo, the
surface and curbe around the stonc this are the
family group reclining ia ali the picturesque All.
tudes anu groups resting their buffalo robes and beau
uiul mats OF willow These cabins spacious that
they contain from ID TO 20 PERSONA family aud all their
connexions They all sleep bedseads similar i'm form TO
ours but generally not quite high; they are made of
rounu Po'eS' rudey framed together buffalo skin is
strained across like sdckng bottom, which they place
number OF buffalo robes, making the finest bed ia the
world Their beds all covered with dressed skins
strained over the frame in the form OF curtains leaving
square hole to get into and Of thgr beds. Some OF
these ngcd and otherwise beautifully orna
mened The Mandans have nothing in their personal an
Pearance or deneanor TO distinguish them in any consi.
derable degree from the neghborng Indians excepting
the singular appearance OF their hair la this particular
mey are different, believe, from all Indians in the world
Their hair has all the shades variety of coors at are
70 De seen amongst white society Many children, male
anu emale at the age OF 10 or 10 years, seen with
lecily white.
Many of the young women are comcly and some of them
extremely beautiful They marry at a very early age
ana whilst young and unmarried they dress with mucl,
edess ana practise more pure, native mOdcsty, their
dress and dcmcanOr, than any female society that ever
was IN III mOdcsy be virtue 1t would be- we'll il 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 sudiousy
Termed TO hang loose their bodies without showing
any ming O the shapes OF the person; instead Of drawing
and cordhg themselves up into angles and proubcranccs
as our lair ladies' DO, 10 attract the gaze and admiration
the world.
Their dresses are made Of The skins Of the mountain
to oil I,;,
softer, Oi iner texture, and much lighter These skins
are 50 ngcniOusy dressed that they leave around the
neck down the sides, aud around the bottom, border OF
lhe SKIN with The hair which is into kind Of fringe
having very much the appearance Of ennine. They are
ornamencd In great variety Of ways with porcupine
After becoming mairOns that blushing molesty in grea,
uegFeo disappears and tcy dress made of elk skin
cOiFser material shorter and better calculated Tor the
aboHous duties they have perform as slaves 10 their
lords " ~
Perhaps nothing ever more completely asionisbeI
these people tan tho operations Of my brush Soon az
ter arriving IN their village invited and painted the IA,
principal chiei" in very few minutes after having ex-
mOited them, % seemed 81 the whole village were
cfOwding upon me 10 see them. / was Obliged 10 stop
painting, and place them high, n conspicuous place.
where al could them. The likenesses were recoe-
others crying The ncNt curiosity was to see me- and 70
great was lie rush upon me, a In danger Of sui.
locauOn ne eager curiosity AID expression Of astOns.
men, WIN winch they giled upon me, plainly showed
Wa' Wey considered nee some strange being they soon
resolved mat WIS ihe greatest Uiediciue man i'm the
Wolo' Tor they said Chat bod uade living beings
Wey could see them laugh, ani 10 they could laugh tlcy
could speak, &c. and must be- alive The squstyq soon
raised cry against in the village saving that was