Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1846-04-25
Jan. 90, 1886
Extract

Extract
From 1.-THE Wilderness and the War.path," by
James Hall.
The Arab and his graceful courser, are not
more constant companions than the Flathead
and his steed, in whose services he finds safety
and convenience. "Snufing the approach Of
danger in every tainted Breeze" he throws him
self on the back Of his horse, on the slightest a.
larm, and flies with the speed Of q wild antelope
Of the praires. He is fearless ia horsemanship,
and manages that noble animal with surprising
grace and skill, even without the aid of rein or
saddle, which he uses for convenience rather.
than necessity.
Among the exercises with which these Ind!-
ans while away the few and far distant inter-
walls Of security, which may be devoted TO man.
ly sports, feats of horsemanship hold the high
est rank. On such occasions it is not uncou >
mon for young Indian to exhibit his addrssa,
by mounting on untamed steet, just captured u
pom the plains where these noble animals run
wild The horse perhaps the noble spirited lea
der of herd, whose strength and speed has
long enabled him to set all pursuit at defiance is
brought to the starting place properly boucd,
but withou. saddle or bride. The rider roants
on the bare nerveless animal, holding in one
hand small a,g attached to short staff, and
in the other hoop covered with dried skin,
somewhat in the fashion of tamborne. When
firmly seated, the animal is turned looee, and
dashing off, endeavors, by desperate punges. to
disengage himself from the desperate savage,
who, clinging By his legs to the furious steed,
retains his place in spite Of every effort of the
cnraged animal to dislodee him. II in this con-
test Of physical activity, the horse seems likely
to gain the advantage, the rider throws the flag
over his eyes, and tames his spirit by deprving
him OF light, at the same time terrifying the blind.
ed animal, by striking him on the head with the
sonorous hoop. When the latter he also chan.
ges the course of the horse by striking one side
of the head or the other, and by skilful use Of
both these simple aids, the subdued animal is
brought back to the starting. place. and again
made to traverse the plain in any giving drec-
ton until worn down by fatigue and terror, he
submits to the weaker but more intelligent be-
| iug, WHO 10 ocetHcu W ucCotnc ltS
Such is the tribe to whom the pale-faced stran-
ger, in his pride, has given a name. not known
TO those who bear it, nor descriptive of any per.
sonal peculiarly existing among them for the
heads Of the Flatheads are not hatter than those
of their neighbors, neither have the Blackfeet,
blacker feet than other Indians We use these
names, however, as we fiud them.
A LAWYER on his death bed willed all his
property 70 the Lunatic Asyldm, giving, as a
reason for 60 doing. that he wished his property
to return to the same liberal class of people who
patronized him.
ASuBsrASrivr AND SH-6osne young Sher-
idsn says. "Mr. Choste drives = substantive and
six" The following sentence in his argument
in the Tirrel! cass may illustrate: "Dosting.
Cioatlng' t0n' euaEored. bewildered, fascina'
ted. S..Ol that 10 was"-Bss,os Post.