Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1851-07-25
For the Kenosha Telegraph
TOUR IN MINNESOTA.--TEKE Can1ra

""AiO passing through Inc pruning
office.
The discrepancies between the manuscript and
printed copies have been such as to cause gross
violations of the rules of Rhetoric and Grammar
and to make me fear that the Ghost of Lindley
Murry would make its appearance on some dark
night, demanding reparation for the murder oil
the Presidents English. The fault has been
partly my own, in not punctuating and writing
more plainly, and partly in your proof reader in
not making the copy conform to the original.
But what of all this. Let Us tramp again.
We reached St. Paul on Wednesday, and on
the same day started for Fort Smelling on the
opposite side Of the Mississippi, and about miles
above. We had expected to cross on a ferry
boat. but found on our arrival that it was danger
Gus doing so, and that we must leave our horse
and buggy and cross in a skif Our landing
place on the opposite side was just below the
walls of the Fort, being situated on high point
of land at the junction of the Minnesota or St.
Peters and Mississippi rivers. Our ascent up
the precipitous bluff was extremely difficult and
reminded US of the army of Gen Wolf gaining
the heights of Abraham. 1t would certainly be
difficult matter for an enemy to reach the table
land on which the fort is situated, and most de.
structive fire could be opened upon them if they
should attempt to pass it on either river.
Our home on Wednesday night was with Mr.
Prescott, the Indian interpreter. The contrast
between the intelligent interpreter and his Indi-
an wife and Half Breed Children was rather
striking, but we have seldom found a better
home.
On Thursday we rode out to Oak Grove, about
8 miles distant to meet several Missionaries OF
the American Board who were attending semi
annual meeting of the mission and ofthe Dahco-
ia Presbytery at this place. We were furnish
ed with an Indian pony for the purpose, but were
obliged, notwithstanding, to wOrk our passage
with a raw hide.
The country over which we passed was de-
lightfuI. On our left flowed the Minnesota riv.
er which will afford a water communication
into the heart of the Territory, through region
of surprising fertility, and which steamers have
already commenced running occasionally. On
our right level and beautiful prairie skrted by
a bcIi Of timber, extended westward for miles,
Around rs was Natures flower garden uudistur-
bed by the hand of man, and pertaining the air
by the fragrance of its blossoms.
The only human beings whom we met on the
route were two savage looking Indians with paint
ed faces, seated in the back part of carriage, and
a little white boy in front who was acting as dr-
yer.
On arriving at the mission house we found
five or six Missionaries who had assembled from
different stations among the Dahcotas or Sioux
One of these stations is at Red Wing on the
Mississippi, 5 miles above Lake Pekin. A sec
ond is at kaposia. also on the Mississippi, 5 miles
below ST. Paul A third is at Oak Grove on the
Minnesota, where the meeting was held. A
fourth is at Prairevillc some IS miles farther up
the Minnesota. 4 fifth is at Traverse dc Sioux,
about so miles above, and sixth ct Lac qui
Pale, still so miles beyond.
We found these Missionaries, as might be ex-
pected, asclfdcnying band of men. For years
they have been almost excluded from the socic-
ty OF the civilized and suffered the privations in
cident to their isolated position; and now hav-
ing made themselves acquainted with the Indian
language, they are toiIing for the temporal and
spiritual welfare of the Dahcotas The success
of these missions has not been equal to that OF
many others, but there is still disposition to
toll on--the work being too important to be
abandoned on account of trflng discourage
ments. So grossly supe-stitious are the Dahco-
tas, that an immense amount of labor will still be
needed to civilize and ch-istanze them. Most
Of them are still Pagans, and the Gods they wor-
ship may frequently be seen about the country
/ Some OF these Gods are nothing more than com
mon stones which have been painted and conse-
Grated by pagan ceremonies. Red Rock, which
1 gives name TO place miles below St Paul is
boulder of granite, which has been painted red
/ by the Indians, and worshped as a Deity. One
of their medicine men averred that he saw this
rock start from a bluff several miles distant, anC
! oG It's own accord walk down to the river. Thi,
/ story being believed, they supposed, of course
/ that it must be God. and worthy of sundry Of
/ ferings of tobacco, calico, &c.
The custom of buying wives or something akir
/ to it, prevails among them. The would-be hus
band makes tender of sundry articles, gener
ally worth about $50, TO the parents of her who
"peaseth him we'll" If the proposed match i,
agreeable, the present is accepted but if not, it is
returned
Many of the traders among the Indians hav,
procured their wives in this way; the marriage
not having been solemnized after the christian
manner until the arrival of missionary.
| One of the most formidable obstacles in tht
way Of the success of missions among the Dab
cotas is the rowing habits Of the Indians. The
hunting ground having more attractions fo
them-at least during the winter season--thar
their homes; and hence, for large portion o.
the year, they are sway from the influence O
the mission. A few of The Dahcotas are able t
read their own language, and Rev G. H. Pond
one of the missionaries, has recently establishe,
monthly newspaper, partly in that language
for the purpose of stimulating desire for edu
cation among them.
In addition to the missions among the Dahco