Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-06-26

bound up in form resembling the cone Of an
ancient helmet, and plume of the bald eagle
floated from the long scalp locks of the princi-
pal warriors
Some few wore necklaces of the claws of the
grizzly bear, which hung down upon their
with buffalo robes, or the skin of the white
wolf; but the most of them wore no cover
ing. save a thick coat of paint which they had
profusely smeared over their bodies and arms,
and which many had even bestowed upon
the heads and limbs Of their horses. After
dashing around us for some time, the chief wav-
ed his hand, and the turmoil ceased: the war
rors sprung from their horses, and seating
themselves around in large circle, awaited
the arrival of the Chief of the Grand Pawnees,
who in few moments advanced to meet Mr..
F., accompanied by the different chiefs of
Tappaye Pawnee, Pawnee Republican, and
Pawnee Loup villages
He was a'tall powerful Indian; fillet made
from the skin of the grizzly bear, and ornament
ed with feathers, was bound around his head:
over his shoulders was thrown large mantle,
made from the skin of the white wolf, also adorn-
ed with feathers: his legs were caSed in black
leggings of dressed buffalo hide, worked with
beads, and fringed with long locks of human
hair,which he had taken from the scalps ofthose
who had fallen beneath his arms in his various
war expeditions, and which now hung down
he strobe up to the party.
He first advanced and welcomed Mr.. E., and
afterwards the rest. The chiefs ofthe three diff
fcrent villages were then introduced, and re-
peated the words of welcome uttered by the first
This ceremony was scarcely finished, when a
movement was observed among the crowd, and
in moment after, powerful roam horse, noun
ted by an armed Indian, bounded forward to
the middle Of the circle, where the rider sprung
from his back. he was stranger among the
tribe, and spoke not their language;* Cuyway
Indian, from the borders of Mexico-a member
of those wild tribes, the Arabs Of the West who
are continually on the wing, sweeping those i'm
mense plains, and carrying destruction to all
who are not strong enough to resist them, hav-
ing no home but the prairie, no trade but war,
no property save the horse that bears them, the
arms which they WELD, and the plumber which
they strip from their victims. After pcusinP
and looking around him for moment, with a
glance that seemed to challenge any opposition
from the assembled warriors, he walked up to
Mr.. e. He was slig INT and beautifully formed
Indian, but there fire in his eye, a swell OF
the nostril, and proud curve of the lip, which
showed a spirit that brooked no opposition,
stunned no danger and which could only be
quenched by the chill Of the grave
His long black hair, which trailed beilint. hil.l
upon the ground, was plated together, and Or
namented with about twenty plates CT massiv,
silver; band ofsilver was fastened around hic
throit, and several large medals OF the same ne
tai hung down upon his breast; upon his arms
were several lands of silver, and rings Of til
same upon his fingers; hisleggings, though more
finely wrought like those Of the other chiefs,
were finged with scalps; and scalp consist
ing Of the entire upper part of human head,
hung from the bit of his fiery horse.
Upon coming up, he offered his nand to M.
E., and in succession to the rest; and ahcY
| and Sl0,f
with some curiosity, he sprung upon his horse
md riding through the circle, vas lost behind
the more distant crowd of warriors.
After the introduction Of the various Chiefs
had been performed, from among the mass OF
grim beings which hemmed us m, and who were
now seated upon the ground like SO many dar,:
forms Of statuary, without voice and without
motion, several arose, and coming towards Mr..
E., and Major D, the United Stat2r
Agent for the Pawnee Indians, extended the
stem of their pipes to the lips of each, and H.
stantly retiring, resumed their station il. The
crowd. By this action, we afterwards learned,
that each had pledged himsefto present d hors-
to the person to whom he had extended lis
pipe. In the meanwhile, two old men, who HAD
assembled with the rest, and had no horses tC
lose by the free indulgence of liberal feelings
rose up, and by loud and vehement harancues
endeavored to excite the liberaty of the res. D.
Boosting of the number they would bestoy, Il
they but had them, and recounting the acts Of
generosity which they had performed in thei.
youth, and which, as that youth far bac.-
beyond the memory of the Oldest inhabitant,
there was but little possibility of conrradictino.
after they had Finished the Wild Hors>, 4
do not recollect his Indian name) the principal
warrior of the nation, stood up and haranCued
The assembled multitude, launching out il
| long panegyric upon the whites, which was t;e-
livered with warmth of expression nc Gorb,
greatly increased by the sight of the rregons
loaded with presents, which accompanied the
party, and which are always necessary to The
successful accomplishment of en- indian '4a-
| ty.
This warrior was one OF the mot singular,
as well as ferocous Of the tribe; and many were
| the tales of his war expeditions afterwards re-
lated to us by the trappers when we assembled
around our night fires after long days ira
vel across the praries His height could have
been but little short Of seven feet and every
! limb of his frame was proportional in size and
strength to his giant height Unlike the rest OF
his tribe, his hair remained unshaven, and hung
in long tangled locks which reached nearly to
| nc nd IL, i