Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-06-26
INDIAN CEREMONIES.
rFrom the New York Americana

The night previous TO our ARRIVAL at the raw
nee Village was spent by US upon the borders of
the Platte River, at about nine miles distance
from the town. During the evening, several
half breeds who had been sent out by the Com
missioner to gain information of the probable
reception which awaited us, came dropping in,
and all bearing with them promises OF friend
ly welcome from the different Pawnee Chiefs.
At sunrise the next morning the tents were
struck and placed in the heavy baggage wa
CONS; and a more than usual hustle and note of
preparation was heard in the camp, (if two
tents accommodating ten persons deserve that
nancy The soldiers were seated around up
on the grass, examining and preparing their
arms for service, in case such service might be
required; and about twenty Otoe Indians, who
had accompanied us across the praries, a hum
dred miles from their village, either from mo-
tives ofcuriosity or from sheer stlessness, car
ing little where or how they spent their time,
were now busily engaged in Ornamenting them
selves for the meeting Some had spread their
blankets out upon the prairie, and Were anX-
iously employed in tracing out various figures
in vermillion upon their woolly surfaces: some
were eagerly bending over the small pools of
still water, which were left in the dry bed Of the
River, painting their faces with the vermiion
which they had obtained from the whites and
manifesting all the interest and anxiety in the
choice of ornaments, which in civilized life
might be expected from young girl in prepar-
ing for the first ball. Paint was placed on and
rubbed off; faces were striped first in one di-
rection, then in another; and the advice of
those who were sitting around was asked and
given with all the gravity BETTING so impor-
tant an operation. In the meantime, two or
three who had finished their toilets seated them
selves off at a short distance to serve as mo-
dels for the rest and several who had acquired
some reputation for their skill in this art were
busily engaged in painting up the less gifted of
= bair i1ctt VIA on in
one quarter, in another, five or six Indians,
who either had no paint or cared not about
the opinion of those whom they intended to Wis
if, had stretched themselves at full length on the
grass, and were keeping up ain incessant drum
ming upon their breasts with their two fists in
exact time to a chaunt, which they were letting
out at the top of their lungs, and which they
always wound up with a loud yell, by way of
chorus.
But there must be an end of all things, and
in due time there was an end OF the preparations.
The tents were packed the Indians were pain
ted and striped to resemble any thing but men;
the soldiers had examined their arms the hors-
es were saddled; the oxen We're secured before
the heavy baggage wagons, and the party COM
menced slowly moving onward towards the
village.
1t was fine sunny morning in October the
clumps of trees which clustered on the low
banks of the river, the numberless small islands
which dotted the surface of its broad shallow
water, were alive with woodpeckers Of every
size and hue, who were darling among the tall
dead trees which oVerhung the dark and mud
dy stream, and making their trunks resound
with the lnceSsant hammering OF their small but
powerful beaks; large flocks of gay plumed
parroquets whirled screaming past US with a sur
passing velocity, darted like lightning among
the branches of the trees which skirted the
banks of the river.
for or rtU had fra
raj miles across the prairie, aud our vicinity to
the village was becoming more perceptible.
Mounted Indians, who had been sent out to
watch for our approach, were seen here end
there flying across the hills in the direction of
the village, to give notice of the arrival to theii'
Chiefs. At distance could perceive Sc
veral bands of Indians in pursuit of large droves
of their wild and fiery horses, which they We're
urging forward at a headlong speed in the di-
rection of the town, and in another quarter, on
the tops of a ridge of small hills, groups of FIVE
or six were standing, intently watching the mo-
tons Of the party, which, from the jaded state
of the oxen were necessarily slow. The sol
diers who had been laZily lounging along across
the prairie, were now called in and formed in a
compact body around the baggage wagons in
case of danger; and an hour more brought us
in sight of the village.
Upon our nearer approach, we could perceive
that the hills which surrounded the place were
black with the living mass OF mounted warriors
which swarmed upon their tops to the number
of several thousands, and who now stood 81
lently watching the approach of the Mission.
At length single horseman detached himself
from the mass, and came galloping down the
hill and over the prairie to meet u.s. AS he APP
preached nearer, the wild free air of the rider,
and the ease with which he governed his gigan-
tic black horse, could not but raise the thought
that if the rest OF these warriors were Of the
same mould, any resistance of our band, how
ever desperate, would have avaied but lutte
against the attack of these proud rulers of the
prairie.
Upon reaching the party, he sprung from his
horse, and after shaking hands with Mr. E.,
he gave directions Through the Interpreter
that the band should be drawn up in as small a
compass as possible, to avoid all contact with
his warriors, and after spending some time in
completing his arrangements, he galloped back
and gave the signal to the rest
| Imam instant, the hills were deserted, and the
whole mass of warriors were rushing towards
us across the broad bosom of the prairie. 1t
was a moment Of intense and fearful expecta-