Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-07-19

and about Is feet in diameter. Inside
were two rows ofberths, lastly got up,
and although the inhabitants had car
ried off the principle part Of their bed
ding they still left enough to convince
us that they lived in much comfort and
no little style
Attached to each residence, and i'm
mediaiely in the rear, was another
building Of smaller dimensions the low
er part OF which was evidently used as
a corn crib and storage house. In
these buildings we found a quantity oil
corn and pumpkins besides finely cut
red venison, antelope and buffalo meat.
Above the corn crib was species Of
bolcony, although without railing,
and this led into a small room in the
second story if I may so call it. One Of
the company said that this room was
the sleeping apartment Of tho young
and morriageable squaws of the family,
aud that their mother kepta ladder for
them to climb up TO it at night and al
90 to let them down in the morning.
This story may be true or may not
| tell il as il was told me.
Near by musical instrument was
found made Of cane, and somewhat re-
sombling fife only that it was much
longer. Ii had FIVE holes for the fingers
besides a mouth-piece something after
the fashion Of clarionet. The tones
Of the instrument were "a soft as those
Of aageolet, the workmanship ex-
tremely neat and eyincing not only
ingenuity but taste, and after hearing
the story related above | could not
help thinking that same instrument had
while in the hands Of some Indian
Romeo dlscoursed most eloquent mu-
sic TO some belle ofthe tribe, who like
Juliet, would step out on her balcony
and pour forth her love and fealty to
her souls idol in return. He would
then tell Of his burning, flaming and
unextinguishable passion-recount TO
her his perilous' scapes in the chase
talk Of buffalo hunts, mustangs, war
paths, bear fights, corn dances ard
scalps while she, eagerly devoUring
each word, would throw back volumes
offender affeclion-tell what she would
do for him, where she would 60 for him
how she was willing TO pack meat, hoe
corn and do outdoor work generally
besides setting up Of nights for his
sake, and for no other persons sake
would she do thing. He would then,
very probably, drop upon one knee,
lay down his lutte, and conjure her TO
fly-instanlly fly with him TO the prai-
ries-hy any where, every where, so
tina: she was with him and only him.
With beating heart and lip trembling
with emotion she would tell him that
her mother had carried off the ladder,
and that she did not dare even for his
sake, run the risk ofbreaking her neck
by clambering or jumping down.
Little skilled am | in the vocabulary
ofan Indian girls pledges Of love;but
as in these affairs between parties in
civilized life each one makes out IS
loug catalogue as possible Of what
he or she intends 10 do in order 10
make the other completely happy, it
IS more than probable that the case is
the same among the uncivilized chill
dren OF the prairies. Love is a very
pretty theme for poets to dwell upon,
and many Gthem have been known to
lire upon it in the abserce Of more
substantial food-but there is far more
OF matter-of-fact even in this same love
than your sentimentalists would make
us believe,and nine tenIhs Of those at.
Hlcted with it have a decided prefer
eEce for mush and mutton over moon
beams or moss banks, especially whel
they are blessed with good appetite
and requires real nourishment.-So it i
IN cities, in towns and in villages,
II is in the lodges of the untutored saw
age tribes oflhe West, or am muc
mistaken.
Butte return 10 M narrative. W.
spent several hours in this pleasar
village, examining the houses, tool.
manner Of cultivating the land, Sc
Every thing denoted a nearer approac
to civilization than can be found in an
Indian tribe in America, not even eS
cepting the Cherokees and others VIII
have had the advantage Of close pros
unity to the whites. Up to the tim
of our visit the Wakoe village WE
unknown to the WILTSHIRE foots
the red men alone had trod as beaut
full walks. Quiet had reigned theI
perhaps for centuries. The Wakoc
are strong and warIike people, neitI
er corrupted by association with III
whites nor rendered weak effemina
Ly the introduction Of alcohol. Lik
the Camanches and Pawneea the wa
riors are always on horseback, but the
are every way the superiors of tho.
tribes not only as regards person
strength and bravery but in their moo
of live and the advancement they ha,
made towards civilization. In the ear
history Of Texas they were at pea,
with the inhabitants Of that Republi
Large hunting parties were frequent
seen within her limits and every THU
went on i'm harp,opv until an info