, 1843-01-14
sacs and Foxcs--Indian Festivals.

"'~ 'S"ty 'ii"hiuS COuNcll !
between Governor Chambers and the
Sacs and Foxes, and in a late paper
has an article on the subject, from
which we extract the following:
The Sacs and Foxes are perhaps
the finest looking Indians on the globe
of large, athletic, and perfect form,
and most graceful carriage; and a
brave. and high-minded. and honora-
bic set Of fellows. There are few
men in this world equal to the cele-
brated Keokuk, whose commanding
oratory raised him. even in his youth
from the common ranks of his tribe,
and placed him. without hereditary
right, and in spite OF all competition,
at the head of his nation. Many states.
men in our Government might learn
useful lessons in diplomacy, and many
OF our best orators receive proitabl.
instructions, from this gifted In
dian. The younger son of Black
Hawk is tbs Adohi> Of his tribe, and
is probably the handsomest mar in
the world. He is six feet three or
four inches high. graceful and elegant
in his manner; and, although weigh
ing, Derhaps, two hundred. he treads
as lightly as an infant. Kis-ke-kosh, a
chief Of much'disiinction among them
is also a talented and ine-looking
man; and, though as brave rs Caesar,
he isa regular built Brummel exquis-
lite. He usually sports an ebony cane,
with a glorious large and bright brass
head, which he twiIs in his fingers in
The most eIegan, style imaginable. and
when sitting, rests his chin and lips
upon the brilliant ornament, q Ia "lhc
fine old English gentleman" He is
a Smiling chap, and celebrated as n
gallant, as your smiling gentlemen
usually are. II was rather amusing
10 witness his efforts to come The po-
lite thing over his brother savages.
Every night ,hesIndian camp was
converted into Il vast hall room; and
every variety of dances known n
mong them. from the .'cloihing of the
dead to the fiat boat double SHUTTLE"
WAS performed by them. The squaws
have no part IL these amusements,
and usually manifest but little c%uriosi.
ty to witness their performances. Ii
, is anything but dancing, according TO
ournotions, consisting. as it does, of wi
olent stamping uponthe g'ound to the
measured beats of adrum-a regular
tearing up Of the earth, or, as the Mis-.
>issippi indictment expressed it, "kick-
ing up 4 fuss generalIy"--though
. there is system in it and we noticed
that the dancers preserved excellent
time. The chiefs and braves are the
, principal performers in these scenes.
In addition TO the beating of the drum.
the dancers arc enlivened by perhaps
the widest and most hideous ycIls
=, that ever issued Enm the threats OF
, human beings; and, although a good
Christian might think that all Pande-
, monium had been turned loose upon
our prairIes. yet, strange 10 say, there
is music in the horrid compound.
), When all things are put into full
:, blast the drum beating-the dan.
: GERS moving-and the singers yelling
!, hundreds of Indian dogs join in
!, the delightful chorus, and it is then
! that the air is made redoIent with
savage sounds which make the listen.
er quake while he laughs at tho super.
: latively ridiculous character Of the
: whole scene before him. The young
members of the tribe amuse them
{ selves, some by aping the dancers al
u a respectful distance and others by
{ wrestling, foot races. &c. Most o.
these young rascals have horses o.
u their own; and it was ~laughable, while
! pitiablc, to see them abuse the pool
{ animals by running them from NOR
ming I'LL night, sometimes in races
i and at others without any apparent
motive but to "cut a plunge"
This is the only thing we have a
gainst the Sacs and Foxes; they have
no mercy on horses. The abuse o
these noble animals is the meanest sir
(which any one, white, red, OF black
Z can commit. 1t is a great mistake
: that Indians are %stoics, misanthropes
or anything of the kind. A more so
'" ciable, communicative, happy set o
" fellows than the Sacs and Foxes, DE-
{ not exist any where. But we believe
. il not only impolite, but impossible Il
" ~civilize them.
n UNloNoF THE ATLANTIC AND Pacific
The company Chartered BY thu
government of New GRANADA TO con