Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1832-11-29
From ths NJ y. COmsasrrsal AdDsetissr.
UPPER MISSOURI. s.


MaRdaR Viliage, " NJ. Dig. s. 1SSs.
Dear Sir.--SO0n after the date OF my last
letter from the mouth Of Yellow StOnas de-
Seeudrd the river In skid to this place,
Vheve have resided about two weeks.
The Mandaus, Tor See-pohs-ka-nu-k a-kee,
20 ueoDle Of the peasants,' as they call them
selves, are perhaps one Of the most ancient |
tribes Of Indians in our country. They take |
great pride in relating their traditions with
regard To their origin--c0 that they
we're the FIRST people created on earth. BY
tho continual wars which have existed be-
tween them and their neighbors, they have
been reduced 10 the number Of 16 or 1900
souls.
Their village 10 situated on the Bank, in
one Of the most beautiful valleys on the Riv-
er. The ground on which 1t Is built was adj
mirahly selected for defence, being on bank
forty or ffty feet above the he'd OF the river.
The greater part Of this bank is nearly perpen
Slicnlar, and Of solid rock. The river sudden
" changing It's course to a right angle, pro-
tects two sides of the village. which is built
upon this prOmontory or angle; they have
therefore but one side to protect, which is eff
fectually done by.a strong piquet and ditch
inside Of it, Of three or fOnrsf feet in depth.
They are undoubtedly secure 10 their village
frona 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 appearances to the eye OF
a stranger; their lodges are closely grouped
together, leaving bot just room enough for
walking and riding between them. They APP
pear from without to be built entirely OF dirt,
but one " surprised, when he enters them, to
see the neatness, comfort and spacious di-
mansions of these earth-covered dwellings.
They all have circular form, and are from
fifty to sixty feet in diameter. Their roofs
are formed Of poles Of 6 or 8 inches in diam
eter. with the butt end in the ground, and
placed so thick AZ to touch each other-the
points nearly meeting at the top, leaving an
spertMrc Of four or five feet in diameter, an-
swering for chimney and a sky-light at the
same time. These poles ara supported In the
middle by large heams, and over their tops 10
laid close mat Of willows. which protects
them from the dampness of the earth, with
which they are covered. of about foot in
thickness. The floors of these dwellings are
of earth, but SO hardened, and swept SO clean.
that they have bright polish, and would not
soil the whitest liner. In the centre, and
immediately under the sky flight, il the fire.
place--a hole Of dor feet in diameter, Of
circular form, sunk a foot or more below the
surface, and cMrbed around with stone around
thisssare the family group, reclining.in, all the
most picturesque attitudes and groups, resting |
on their buffalo robes and beautiful mats Of !
willow. These cabins are 90 spacious that |
they contain from rs TO go persons--a family |
and all their connexions. They al sleep on 7
bedsteads similar III form to ours, but gene
rally not quite as high; they are made OF +
round poles, rudely framed together. "A But.
falo skin is strained acrOss like sackng bot.
tom, on which they placaa number Of Buffa-
70 robes, making the finest bed ia the world. !
Their beds are all covered with dressed skins,
strained over the frame, ia the form Of cur
talns, leaving square h0ls to get into and out
OF their beds. Sumo of these curtains are I
fringed and Otherwise beautifully ornarnented.
,The Mandans have nothing in their personal
appearance or demeanor to distinguish them
~ any considerable degree from the neigh.
boring Indians. excepting the angular appear
ance Of their hair. In this particular, they
are different. / believe, from all Indians in
the world. Their hair has all the shades and |
variety OF coiors that are to be seen amongst |
whife society. Many children, male and fl. |
male. at the age Of 10 or rs years, are seen
with their hair Of bright silvery grey, and /
sor:e almost perfectly white.
Many OF the young women are comely and
some ofthem extremely beaulifnl. They mar
w at very early age. and whilst y0ung and n
unmarried they dress with much neatness 8, and
practice more pure, native n1odesty Ia their
dress and denean0r, than any female society /,
that ever was in. If modesty be virtue. \
y would be well ifsoma of our fashionable Ia
dies could study from these simple models.
Their beautiful white skin dresses extend
from their chins down, quite othe ground, Il
and are stndionsly formed to hang loose over
their bodies Without showing anything OF the
shapes Of the person, instead OF drawing and
cording themselves up into angles and protu-,
oefances. ~ our fair ladies do, to attract the
gazs and admiration of the world. Thein
dresses are made of the skins OF the noun.
tain sheep, which they consider preferable to !
AIt0iners, being softer, Of Aner texture. and !
snnch lighter. These skins are 50 Ingenious.
IF dressed that they leave around he neck. |
the sides. and around the bottom, 4 bor-
der OF the skin with the hair on, which i cut
into = kind Of fringe having very muci, The 40
pearance Of ernnine. They are crnamentetll
jusa great variety Of ways with rorcupjne
quilts, beads OF different colOrs, elk's teeth.
aud shells. Alter becoming matrOns they
weat dress made of elk skin, i coarser ma
tefiaI. shorter and better calculated for the
laborious duties they have to perform, ais
slaves to their lords. S
Perhaps nothing ever more completely as
tonlshsd these people than the Operations of
my brush. Soon after arriving Ia their village,
atasaed aud paiGted the two principal chiefs
90 very few minutes alter having exhibited
them, Il seemed No if the whole VILLAGE WAS
Gf0Ev0lng UDOn ma On 49, a. =. Se5. n $3.50.