Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-12-18

mating US is common with those familiar
| with the Indians, we Ind assembled over
nine thousand. Allowing for soldiers and
bands without lodges, J believe the number
might be safely set down as exceeting ten
| thousand.
When the cannon had given forth its thun-
/ der, the whole plain seemed TO be covered
with the moving masses Of chiefs, warriors.
men, women, and children some on horse.
back, some on foot. The chiefs and braves
who expected to 60 into counc,l--ior only
the principal men take part in important de-
liberations like this-generaIIy come on
foot; then followed the young men, mount
ed aud on foot then The squaws and chill
dfen. Until the signal was given for the
! Council to assemble, the masses had re-
mained al distance from The temporary ar
-bor prepared for the occasion. But when
the whole body commenced moving to. The
common centre, sight wns med OF the
isSost thrilling interest. Each nation ap-
proacled with its own peculiar song or DEM
OnstratiOn, and such con,bnaiio ion Of rude,
wild, aud fantastic manners and dresses was
never Witnessed. II is not probable that ali
opportunity will again he presented Of see.
ing so many tribes assembled together, dis
playing all The pcc,illnrilies offeatures, dress,
equiinenrs, and horses. The manner of
painting themselves and horses. and every
Thing else. exhibiting their wild notions OF
elegance and propriety.
They came out this morning. not armed or
painted .or war, but decked out in all their
best regain, pomp, paint, and disrl1y for
peace. The chiefs and braves were dressed
with runctilious attention to imposing effcrt.
The bucks (young men) were out on horse
or afoot in all the fo?pery and display of
prairie 'dandies.' In their efforts to he e!e-
giant, fashionable, and exquisite, il must he
confessed that the prairie dandy, alter his
manner, displays quite rs much sense and
taste as his city prototype, with This adyan-
tage, the Indian does not conceal his features
with, superabnndance of hair. In their
| bearings and efforts to show pride Of dress
and ,irsel they are on par.
The squaws were out in all the richness
and embellishments of their 'toggery.-
Their displays, according to iIieir station.
and the wealth Of their husbands or fatbrrs,
marked their ability 10 dress, and their dis
tingue in genterl Indian society. The
'belIes' There are Indian as we'll ns civilized
belles) were out in all they could raise of
finery and costume, and the way they faunt-
ed, Uttered, talked, and made efforts to show
off to the best advantage before the bucks,
justly entitled them to the civilized appelIa..
ton we have given them. We concluded
tha, coquetry was not Of foreign origin
Even more than ordinary care had been be-
slowed ON the dress of the children. With
these lille ones it was easy to decide open
the thrift, The cleanliness, aud industry Of
the mothers. We have belief that a child
in its dress and behavior is fair index of
the culture, mind, and industry Of ns moth
or. Some were decked OH in all The variety
Of finery that skins of wild animals, beads,
porcupine quilts, and various colored cloths
could suggest Others were in more simple
costume, string Of beads round the neck
and II string ronnd the lons. II is due 10
the Indian women 10 say that whilst The
male children, even 10 an advanced age, are
often permitted TO 20 Naked or nearly SO,
we saw but one female child so exrosed.
When the crowd had assembled. it was
announced that only the principal or head
men of the nation were expected within the
circle prepared for the council. The others
took positions on the plains, generally in the
rear Of the part assigned to their chiefs and
braves. The council ground was n circle !;
about a third of il, IA ing the east, was left
open. Around the remainder sheds had
been erected with lodgepoles and lodge skins.
There had been no si,l,.icd effort made To
produce effect in the arrangement, bot when
the council was assembled il certainly pre-
senIed rs fine field for painter or daguer-
reotypist as could any where he found. |
am not aware of any thing OF the kind ever
before presented, aud deeply regretted that
among the many American artists there WAS
not one present. procured the services OF
one of Capt. Duncan's company, 10 make n
sketch for me. lie has not yet completed
it, and cannot speak Of its accuracy.
Farrenching in The renr of the Indian
chiefs and braves, stood the attentive mem.
bers of their respective tribes. For quieI-
ness, decorum, and general good behavior
on such occasions, the Indians might be
made models for more civilized society. Al
though they were closely pressed together,
every thing was as quiet as in church.
have alluded more particularly 10 the as
semblage and appearance this morning, for
| the asoE that il was the first and best Op-
portunity presented to see all the Indians in
a body. In all i,s aspects il was new TO me,
and thousand incidents, which will not
bear repetition, were OF deep interest. 1t is
an undoulted fact that the bearing, chaIac-
ter, manners, courage, habits, and nearly all
leading characteristics Of the Indians of the
PLAINS and mountain. strongly contrast with
that of the more easrerly lndans-say from
the Pawnees to our State line. The former
are proud, manly, and high-toned sons Of The
wilds The laIIer are dirty, beggarly, and
cowardly compared with the former. The
latter have had more 10 do with The whites,
learnt many Of their vices and few Of their
virtues. What cont aninarion may do with
the former remains TO he seen.