New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-08-16
INDIANS OF MINNESOTA.
The 'Eneampment nj Traverse des Sioux-Ob-
staeies 70 she Formation OF \ Treav-Rhe
Presbyterian Missisns-Appearance OF ne
Eneampment-Indian Character and Life
Speech Of Sleepy Eyes-Conolusion OF the
Of The New-YorA Tribune.

Correspondence OF The New-YorA Tribune
TRavERsE DE SIOUX, Tuesday, July -, 1851
The proposals Of the Commissioners are
still held under discussion BY the Indians, among
whom the interpreters say great diversity OF opinion
exists They seem TO have al exaggerated idea Of
the value of their lands 10 the United states and
although they acknowledge that they OF but little
use to them huntlng-grounds. they do not intend
to have their " Grea: Father" speculate upon them
in the least At the same time, OWING TO their lin
tied ideas OF numbers. they DO not know how much
TO ask nor. when the commissioners have made
an offer, do they understand whether It Is really 4
fair value for their lands or not. OF course, they
appeal at once to thertraders and missionaries. who
understand the language but even with their ex-
PLANTATION scarcely any two of them can be made to
understand alike the value of Eight hundred thousand
or million of dollars. being quite likely not 10
attribute to the longer name the greater value The
labor OF the traders and missionaries the services
OF Rev. Mr.. Riggs are especially to be remembered
who have been among them, and understand their
language, have been unceasng to effect this treaty.
MessrS. >ibley Mcleod, Riggs and others are sent
for at all hours of the day and night to explain to
the different bands the provisions of the treaty. o
answer objections to Try and persuade the stubborn
mere jealousy their chiefs refuse be satisfied and
with all The persistence Of gnorant obsnacy refuse
TO be conyinced-thai the terms now offered them as
an pl'imafrn are at all favorable.
one OF the greatest difficulties N the way OF treat
ing with the Indians the absence of all power del
egatcd 10 individuals. No one has the right TO
transact business for the tribe granted to him, either
expressly or by implication. There Is not even such
a pairarchal government among them as j. recog-
MED among the Arabs Each member OF the tribe
lders his own assent a. important tina; of the
chici. or oi any other member aud threats OF >hoI
ng me chiefs. should they do anything contrary 10
the wishes of individuals. are quite common, ana
have an influence according TO the rhtrdcttr oi thc
person bv vhom they are made. The chiefs hold
Their Offices by hereditary descent an l. except IN
rare instances are AFRAID 10 act IN opposition 10 the
wishes of any determined member or members Other
respective bands. Hence. every warrior VINO thinks
himself OF any Importance. Is by no means sure 10
agree WIKI and support MS chief but Is very apt to
have notions oil ms OWN and oitentlmes Will al
mere 20 them when he i convinced they are ciro-
neous rom the desire 10 feel the importance OF
beng talked 10 ana reasoned whit vanity by no
mean, peculiar 10 the savage II the CommlN-
siOnerS cannot obtain the consent OF the present
chiefs the very far terms now offered then there
J. but one way OF dealing LEFT that i. 10 appoint
those WhO wiling and bold enough 10 encpuh-
ter the opposition when must ana does en>ue from
the dsafeCtcd IN every treaty invest them win the
nSlgnla of The cbleilancy, and sustain them bN
The power Of the United States. Every one rightly
informed upon The subject knows that. for the In
dams themselves y treaty l. absolutely necessary
The buffalo and other game, upon which the} nave
here toiore MAINLY >ub>l>tcd, have - rapidly dlsdp-
reared that numbers Starve To death every Winter,
and urs OF every DESCRIPTION that have been articles
OF traffic and which they have heretofore OdrtcfeI
10 ;he traders ior supplies OF corn ana clothing
have become 50 scarce that the traders VIII De
forced 10 abandon he country entirely unless the
treaty. Is made bN which the Indians can o)dln reg
MAR allowances OF money, clothing and PROVISIONS
Tor their support.
Notwithstanding tie pcrtlnacouN driLAle whch
has kept Indian and Wht slowed away under tent
cover during the entire morning. there seemed - DC
general expectation hat today VIII
Decide the fate Of Cesar anu # Rome +"
And as we do not know what day might bring iofth,
let rs take a hdsty survey OF our encailpmeht 70
dou. lest by tomorrow noon the meridian sun look
down upon a baked PLAIN, where nov the ralu-
soaked tencments of two thousand Red kepuOhcan>
are steamIDg great clouds of vapor.
4, YOU are already informed, the encanpnent Is
al Traterse dcS SIOUX. the crossing place OF the
sioux. TO miles by water ANA ~ by land ron OFT
Smelling and MctldOta and ID miles above Wherc Tue
"Cotclu Grand du Bols,' or Big Woods, crosses the
Minnesota. Traverse de, >louN received H. name
from The early French traders. and has maintained
lra0Wg-po>t Tor wears. II j. al present ntttef AhoWh
a. the scat of OF the Plesbl terrain Missions ne
Two white houses OF the missionaries ana The mission
church md schoo-hou,e, with out-bulldlngs' sur
rounded by cultivated tlc>. are ccr amy oDccls Oh
exceeding interest 10 the traveller "hO ha> lcil the
extreme borders of civilization 100 miles Dehnd lln
and who comes IN full view Of them - he sweeps
round a curve of the tortuou> Ilyer. The mission
buildings and the log houses OF the traders are STU
aled not TAR from the bank oi the rlVer. upon thc
west SIDE. elevated not more than twenty or thlrly
lee above oW-Wacr mark. Inc pralrie rises ~ u
rcc6ceS from tie river. forming graceful and gently
updulai ne SieppeS until Al TWO miles dl>tdLce at
taIns an elevation of about two hundred feet or
more and then the praluc with It's tree Islands
t..I..4 g,fl
the first az these >tcppe> back rom the mission ana
near bv q pair Of old cabins. which mad Dceh for
mciv the trad Ing post, but are nov the dlhhg room
kitchen, and warehouse OF the COMMISSIONERS - Il
cluster of six canvas and TWO DufftiO-skm tents,
which shelter the gentlemen OF the commission, the
traders who here TO look after their Interests ana
the ew oungers who like myself have 0een attracted
TO the camp by curiosity. At sh0r, distance : the
council house, which consists ol NUMBER OF
benches placed IN front OF rude platform ana desN
of rough boards. which l. occupied BY the omIns-
son when in council. the whole Shaded by an arDOr
of roles covered with boughS OF trees Not far from
this are campcd the ha-breeds with their lanliies'
and those Indians who. living IN TINS neIghDornoOu or
lower down the ryor have had frequent intercourse
with the whites The remaining bands, among Nholll
are the mild SIssitons, who hunt upon the head
waters OF the Minnesota and range the plains to the
Missouri, have scattered their cOnlcal lodges upon
The high ground mile or more on the river. These
lodges or tepeeS rs they called by the Indians.
are unlike ANYTHING IN the civilized world though
the exact resemblance Of them III every respect may
no doubt be found among the Arabs ana other nj
eratory tribes OF ASA. They are made OF grained
buffalo, kns, tanned BY the Indian mode, and se"ed
together IN such shape As TO form a cone, when
stretched. usually about ten feet high. tent Rtnls
kind Will wear years # properly cared for, l. easily
carried from place 20 place, and affords toleraDe
protection from the weather II Is erected by tying
three poles together At the top then eparat-
ing their bases according TO the diameter Of the tent
and by LAYING as many more poles a be conye-
nlently procured. may be necessary 10 complete
the circle the forks thus formed. over TINS mas
tly formed framework the bufalo-skln cover Is
stretched, having a Hap al the top WINCH = opened
to lei ont the smoke or closed 10 keep out the ram
slit about three feet long AT the lower part forms
the entrance, through which you crawl H. LOT 'he
purposes OF trade. by any other inducemenl, YOU
be persuaded TO enter and Introduce yourself to he
acquaintance o, sundry rank smells, NANCY uoss'
small yerDn OF every VARIETY and every adull mart
OF the family. either eating or stretched on thelr
backs sleep, after having gorged themselves win
the OK Of thelr Great Father. or Crafty ing the!r
vanity by >treakIng themselves with yellow ochIe
md 70 r1r.L 80. sts.g hui bras