Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-12-21
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE
From the New H0rk American. J
AN INDIAN TALE.
Br 4 vouse OFFICER OF THE AMERICAN Ann,

AN INDIAN EALE.
Br 4 YouSe 0FrIcks OF TIE AMERICAN ARnr
Dug pa. ton ga, or the - Big Elk," was the
great chief Of the O-na-has, whose village lies on
the Elk Horn, which pours its waters into the
La Platte, ar, as it is called BY the aborigines,
=" the broad river of sandy paths" Near the
lodge Of the 5. war-chief' stood tall pole,
painted red, on which shield was suspended,
embisxoned with two bloody hands, and neck.
lace Of the claws Of the grisIy bear Of the Falls
Of the Missouri. These were the only tokens
which distinguished his abode from those of the
other "braves" Of his tribe; but, as he truly
said, the leap of the Elk was sure. and fatal
were the blows Of it's hoofs; and naDv pros.
trate foe, andsmany q weeping dansel Of the
Dab .co-tahs remembered the Big Fix of the
Prairies. Stern as was the chief, there {" welt
beneath his roof his only child, a daughter, All
ma va. .dah. or the Spritchild, the darling
Of her warlike parent. Often as at meeting of
the chiefs, the Biz Elk pointed with exultat,on
to the scalps suspended in his lodge, and pro.
missed h.may-ya con dab TO the successful war
rior. she ould shrink from sight. and conceal
herself beneath her couch Of skins
Many a youthful =" brave" struck the post.
proclaimed his prowess, and sent the bloody
s.ap to All may-ya-con dab. Still was the
danssl deaf M,ny q S'"spless night and
ma vas passed sht q to Onds were borne
on midnight az; y - Isht SUI g''n''
mered in her lodge. and the strains of the one
and the trophies Of the other we're alike disre-
sardcd The 6rrcest warrior SCARED his flesh,
and the mos, active hunter gave the products OF
his toll in vain. To any other Of the Omaha
maiAcns, these attentions would have been ire
s,st,b!e; hot so with Ahms ya-cOn dab. The
warlike spirit OF her father was unknown to the
Indan giri The Elk wss the bravest Of his
tribe; vet when scalp was b be hung up to his
roof uee, the daughter was always absent from
the ceremony; but when a wounded captive was
introduced, none were SO active as she In tend.
ing his necessities. and curing his wounds. Re-
sembliny the other dimScis other nation, Ah.may.
va. con dab Was rather above the middle height;
but unlike them her eyes of darkest JET we're saad.
ed by >i!ken iashes, hose fringes, when upitted,
revealed the moonlight radiance of her glance:
the law forehead aud high cheek bones showed
the characteristic. nf the Indian visage; but the
eloquent blond courslng through her veins, and
the ever ready blush mantiing IN her cheeks, more
than atonrG tor the lmperiectlon OF her features,
and then her swan.iike neck. O'er clustered BY
her ebon tresscs, the prary teeth roseae lips,
completed the portrait Of beauty adoFed by her
tribe. Being chieftaln's daughter, she was tar
elevated bv the other maidens, yet clad IN SIM
pie tunic Of lk.skins. adorned With the pulls oil
the porcupine. 1.-THE habit cummon To them ally
and her rank only shown by the bl"e spot on her
forehead, she had not their envy, and knew but
their love. Such is an imperfect description OF
the Spirit-child of the Oma-has. We that are
civilized NAV not think her beautiful, but so
thought not the young braves, as she held her
fathers s,rrup, tearIaIiy begglns him not to 90
y al, III nd ars
were fruitless: the war party left the village on
il. blonlv errand. Ii consisted of a hundred
warriors. the Biz Elk at their head. Before him
was horne the Great Medicine" of the tribe,
consisting of the teeth. heart and horns OF the
Elk, placed above the skin ard fangs of a wolf.
! The priest of the nation bure the talisman, and
often cbant.d in low tones, that 1.-THE Elk would
conouer the Pawnco. L"ups, the wolves OF the
pra,,ir" HIS prediction was not IN vain Al
the close of long DAYS march, they deserted
the trail Of their enemies; and at two hours be-
fore dawn, attacked them. Long and bravely
the Pawnpes fought, and we'll did they maintain
their fame; bu, the conquest was too unequal;
and If ftty warriors, twenty we're killed, and
but one taken prisoner; that one fought with des-
ppration; until at length spear thrust from the
Biz Elk disabled him. The next day the U ma.
ha chief learnt with exultation that his captive
bore no ianuble name; that lie vas the Pawnee
Brave, the young Wa.nu,n- pe.a.a. or the .'Wh'te
Plume" son of the Head Warrior OF the Paw
nee Loups. The victorious party soon returned
10 their village, taking with them many scaiPs,
and the wounded young Pawnee chief.
The village Of the Oma-has Is neared. ana
tbe ul,Jsome whoops of the war party announce
victory. Young and old run forth I" meet
them With songs and dances; the aged sNuaw
and superaunaated warrior alike 'ot'sr fort h.
eager to hear the tale of blond. and feast their
ewes with the sight Of the seaps OF their her.d''
tary foes--ali but Ah-may-.a.eon dan. who sal
mourning alone. fearing that her father, scalp
hume in the lodge Of a wolf Of the La Platte.
and that she was left an orphan; but her gre,
was turned to JOS, when she saw him alive ana
,hc chief smiled when his warriors sung, that
m.nv pa xnee scalps were taken. and the young
ed red bv the golius horn Of the Bounding Elk
of the O.ma- has
The wal feast is spread-tae flesh OF the bull
.,o and the beaver are in abundance, and the
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