Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-03-08
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For the Palladium.
r.,xsps' SHAWNEE SCHOOL,
y I.d;Sn Territory, 2nd mo. 4, lo4oS
r,;e.ds Holloway T. Darts: We have
- . remarkable winter here. | mention
ed in my last that we had had long
.soellr Of dry weather. and since wrote.
!, has been equally dry. We have had
h.,e lit,le rain since last summer, and but
o.e snow this winter, worth naming. which
f.ll on the 9Th ult., TO the depth Of about
nix inches, and on the following morning
the mercury stood for short time, at IL
below zero, which was much the coolest
= weather we have had during the winter;
but moi quite so cold as ] see it reported
10 have been in your "diggns" about the
same time. The weather moderated inn
mediately here, and in few days the snow
had disappeared. During much Of the
present winter the weather has presented
all the lovelines. ofcarly spring, the thick
cts rcsounding with the merry songs the
fca,hcred tribe, and some appearance of
vegetation, and already our pillow has been
turning the fruitful soil. ! think we have
much more sunny weather here, especially
in winter, than in our Gown Indiana"
for even at this season Of the year, day
without sun shine is rare occurrence.
Our roads are very dry and smooth.
There arc ffly.eiyht children now in
our school, twenty-eight cfwhosn arc boys,
end thirty girls. Eleven are Wyandotts;
three are Stockbridges; one is Delaware;
four are Ottoways, and the remainder are
Shawnees. Many Of them are making
rapid progress in learning. especially in
acquiring a knowledge Of the English
language. One instance l will mention: .
little boy about six years old was brought
here last spring, who was then entirely ig-
norant Of our language, he continued at
school about three months, when he was
taken away and was absent about as long;
he now speaks English fuently. Other
instances equally remarkable might be
given. The facility with which they ac-
quirc knowledge Of our language, will
appear more remarkable, when we con-
slider the disadv antagcs under which they
labor, for the children at school. use their
own language mostly in speaking to one
another. We are at present blessed with
pretty good health, there are a few cases
Of chills among the children, but nothing
Of . serious nature.
We have been much Infested with
wolves this winter. They have been un-
commonly bold, and at several different
evenings have been chased away Gfh the
doors of,he house before bed time. They
have made frequent depredations on our
pigs and sheep. having destroyed six OF
the latter since last spring. Wolf cha
sing is favorite amusement with the In
dams, several Of them keep packs o.
hounds for this purpose. and they have
caught several lately, and now the "var-
minis" do not trouble Us.
There are several hundred ofthe Kansas
or kaw Indians now encamped in this
neighborhood. They are almost entirely
without cultivation, and present the Indian
nearly in a savage state. The men wear
decr-skin leggins which reach to Their hips,
spiccc Of the same material encloses the
hips, and this generally comprises the
whole of their body dress; but they mostly
wear blankets, which render them rather
more comedy to the sight. Their ears are
literally '.cut up" with preforations, tc
which are appended large lunches o.
beads and other ornaments. They shave
their heads leaving a small tutt of hair OH
the crown, to which is attached some or
nament. Their heads and faces are pain
ted and tattooed in a singular manner, the
men are as noble human figures as ever
behcld, but the women, who are abject
slaves, are diminutive in size, and look
care worn and detected. In their habits
they are filthy beyond calculation, eating
whatever comes in their way. that teeth
can masticate, asking no questions for de-
cency's sake.
They are most importunate bcggars
and it requires some firmness to withstand
their opportunities; but it will not do te
give to them, for if We feed one he viii
soon return with 4 number, and so con.
tinue. They are said to be in a starving
condition Al present. Though 10 us, they
are the most friendly Indians We meet
vet towards the Pawnees they have been
warlkc from time immemorial. They
have lately been engaged in a fight with
them. during which one hundred and eigh
Pawnees were killed.
Yours, truly,
RICHARD MENDENHALL.
WOMEN IN THE ARNY.-Official docu
mt ct Al -