Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-09-20

was not good, his name was bad, and j,
kept off the rain The next was Om-pal
| (the Elk y on his head the raven was seen
who flies above the storm, and he failed
War-rah-pa 1.-THE Beaver was the next, my
friends the beaver lies under the wafer
and he never wants it to rain. My friends
l see you are in great distress, and nothing
has yet been done this shield belonged to
my father the White Buffalo; and the light
ming you see on it is red; it was taken from
a black cloud, and that cloud will come
over US to-day. / am the White Bufralo's
Hair, and am the son of my father"
In this manner hourished and manoeu-
vred Wak-a-dah-ha-hee, (thc White Buffa-
los Hairy alternately addressing the audi
ence and the heavens; and holding con-
verse with the winds and the "je-bi" (spir-
its) that are floating about in them; stamp
ing his foot over the heads of the magi, who
were involved in mysteries beneath him, and
to send rain, to gladden. the hearts of the
Mandans.
1t happened on this memorable day, about
noon, that the steamboat Yellow Stone, on
her first trip up the Missouri river approach
ed and landed at the Mandan village. was
lucky enough to be passenger OH this boat
and helped to fire a salute of twenty guns,
of twelve pounds caibre, when we first
came in sight of the village, some three or
four miles below. These guns introduced
new sound into this strange country which
the Mandans at first supposed to be thun-
der; and the young man upon the lodge,
who turned it to good account, was gather
ing fame in rounds of applause, which we're
repeated aud echoed through the whole viii
lage; all eyes were centred upon him
chiefs envied hiin-mother's hearts were
beating high whilst they were decorating
and leading up their fair daughters to offer
him in marriage on his signal success. The
out to beslow. upon him the envied title of
medlcine-man," or DOCTOR" which he
had SO deservedly won; wreaths were pre-
pared to decorate his brows, and the eagles
plumes and caumets were in readiness for
him; his friends were all rejoiced his en-
emles wore on their faces a silent gloom and
hatred and his old sweethearts, who had
formerly cast him off, gazed intensely upon
him, as they glowed with the burning fever
of repentance.
During all this excitement Wak-a-dah-
ha-hee kept his position, assuming the most
commanding and threatening attitudes
brandishing his shield in the direction OF
the thunder, although there was not cloud
to be seen, until he, poor fellow, being ele-
waited above the rest of the village, espied
to his inexpressible Amusement, the steam
boat ploughing its way up the windngs of
the river below; putting her steam from her
pipes, and sending forth the thunder from
twelve FOUNDER on her deck
The White Buf1alo's Hair stood motion
less and turned pale; he looked awhile, and
turned to the chief and to the multitude,
and addressed them with trembling lip
My friends, we will get no rain There
are, you see, no clouds; but my medicine
is great have brought a thunder-boat !!
look and see it The thunder you hear is
out of her mouth, and the lightning which
you see is on the waters !"
At this intelligence the whole village
flew to the top of their wigwams, or to the
bank of the river, from whence the steamer
was in full view, and ploughing along, to
their utmost dismay and confusion.
In this promiscuous throng of chiefs,
doctors, women, children and dogs, was
mingled Wak-a-dah-ha-he (the White Buff
falo's Hairy having descended from his high
place to mingle with the frighted throng.
Dismayed at the approach of so strange
and unaccountable an object, the Mandans
stood their ground but few moments, when
by an order of the chiefs, all hands were
ensconced within the piquets of their vii
lage, and all the warriors armed for des-
perate defence. A few moments brought
the boat in front of the village, and all was
still and quiet as death; not Mandan was
to be seen upon the banks. The steamer
was moored, and three or four of the chiefs
soon after walked boldly down the bank
and on to her deck, with spear in one
hand, and the calumet or pipe of peace in
the other. The moment they stepped on
board, they met to their great surprise and
joy, their old friend, Major Stanford, their
agent, which circumstance put an instant
end TO all their fears The villagers were
soon apprized of the fact, and the whole
race of the beautiful and friendly Mandans
was paraded on the bank of the river in
! front of the steamer
The Grain maker" whose apprehensions
of public calamity brought upon the ma.
| ''oh Wy no GAIL uOIullidTy tueulCllc, Ddu, lOf
the better security Of his person from appre.
hended vengeance, secre,ed himself in some
secure place, and was the last 10 come for
ward, and the last to be convinced that thi.
visitation was friendly one from the white
people, and that his medicine had not the
least been instrumental in bringing it about
This information, though received by him
with much caution and suspicion, at length
gave him great relief, and Quilted his mind
as TO his danger. Yet still in his breast
there was a ranking thorn, though he es
capped the dreaded vengeance which he had
few minutes before apprehended as al
hand as he had the modification and dis.
grace of having failed in his mysterious op.
eratlons. He set up, however during the
day, in his conversation about the strange
arrivaD his medicines as the cause of It's
approach; asserting everywhere and 10 ev.
erybody that he knew of its coming, and
that he had by his magic brought the occur.
renee about. This plea, however, did no,
get him much audience; and in fact, every.
thing else was pretty much swallowed up in
the gutteral talk, and hustle, and gossip
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