The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-07-17
THE MINNESOTA PIONEER
ct. l1aut, minnesota.
Thursday Morning, July II. 1851.

TRAvERsE DIES Sioux,
SATuRpAY, July 9Th, 81.

80 TRAyERsE DIES Sioux,
SATuRpAr, July 9th, Isl.
Yestefisy, another company Of Indians,
numbering about 200, men, women and
children, arrived with Joseph Laframboisc,
being of the Sisseton band. These are bet
ter locking, cleaner and better dressed. than
the lower i,.s,lis; which is perhaps by rea-
son c! their, never having been Parstyzed
aud supplied with annuties. The Traverse
(being the same spo; described in Longs
narrative, as the Crescent now presents a
lively appearance, with white tents aud
marques, of ihs early pointed style, lodges,
scattered every where a!eng the ridges OF
prairie, which like increasing waves, rise
oae behind another, and command, from ev-
cry rnst of each, "A view Of the river,
sweeping in grand. graceful curve around
tue base Of the Crescent; the several bands,
having separate encampments, aud The sew
eral families OF each lodge, that are nearly
related TO each other, having their skin te-
PEGS, or sugar-ioaf shaped lodges, in close
proximity IN each eBcan2meBf. More and
more Indians are continually scattering
along in, their baggage being carried in
cheap wooden carts, drawn by ponies, or
dragged upon poles, q pony being harness
ell between two long poles, serving as thiIls,
upon which they pile their baggage. The
Indians arriving yesterday are buffalo hun
tiers, and brought down with them a multi
tude of ponies, which are tied upon the
prairie around the tents, with long straps Of
leather, so that each horse is free 10 go the
length Of his rope, feeding within circle.
The ;cpees are hurried up in trice, and
hundreds OF these people, are at home,
cooking, eating, and their dogs faring with
ehn.s fk,x..za ~, 4
prairie. To add to the viyacity of this
scene, there is herd Of beef cattle, feeding
in view, and now, at ter o'clock in the NOR
ming, the squaws and children, are out at
play around their lodges, all having receiy-
CT their ratiVns, (iuui,ering to-day 1000
lndians.) Look over the brow of the
company Of tbs Sissetons, (being the buffa-
10 hunters, who arrived yesterday, } mount
cd On their nurses, ana advancing with the
noise Of two drums and singing of the Wild
ess war song that ever sent the bleod curd.
ling over the scalp, marching in line; now
they proceed TO the marquee OF The Com
inissionsrs. TO present themselves and TO re-
port their arrival and their miserable starry
ing conditiors After due cekenories of in
PRODUCTIONS, they danced a begging dance,
rseeisea presents of blank els, tobacco, &C.,
aud retired. Afternoon, brought OH an ex-
citing game Of ball. and the day aud the
week closed without an accident. Ft
Tomorrow wall be Sunday bat il is
probable there will he no religious exercis-
e., unless it be the sacrifice OF very small.
poor, Indian dog, 20 be killed and suspend
cd from the top Of q stake stuck in the
ground. H rasa 1e5 GWMsEl
SUNDAY, July 9Th, 1851. 4
As the loose spokes in the hide bound hub
Of ked River cart, go creaking around
and around all day long, SO do our young
men, resolye all day around our caup,
among the wigwanis. What little Sunday
we brought up into the Indian country with
Us, is now over week old; and as for NOR
ais, they are generally left behind in going
amongst savages--a needless. precaution
here, as the natives manifest not the least
desire to rob any u, the whites Of their vir-
tue. All that this great multitude Of Red
folks seem 10 wish, Is meat for their vor-
acioos mouths. As for the poetry of the
wigwam, we fail to see ii. TO drop from
Cooper's exalied Indian fctions, into a
Sretched, real wigwasn, is the deepest fall
cetAdan. The space between Millions
Paradise and Hudibras, is not wider. fit
he resiiy but a step from the sublime TO the
ridiculous, u Is perTieniiicular step, and a
long ors. There could not be a more GER
taiG, infallible specific, TO cure the reading
world bow and forever, Of iadian romance,
than 10 attend a treaty. do not refer to
the morals OF The Indians for they invar-
ably behave well. Not single instance Of
violence or thieving. has occurred that
know ct, amongst the thousand sayages who
IA 10 h<an al "A A L
The squaws, tho, appear modest; and these
ressarks about the Sioux, apply entirely
TO their looks. their habits, their condition
Of life, and all that makes up the poetry Of
human nature. As for the homely. prose
virtues, which novelisls seldom dwell upon.
and which, after alt, commend people
sscst strangely &c our Substantial regard and
exact from MS, in our intercourse with them.
fairness, Justice aud honor, these pc ople pos
sess such qualities TO a degree that seems
astonishing, IN those whose only book is
creation, and whose only God is nature.
In the afternoon, there was another grear
game of ball. in which $50 Indians empag-
ed. The stake was niade'up, by carrying
around a pole from lodge 10 lodge, on which
the bsttersf ied belts, 'noccas;ns, walppunl,
or whatevfr else they were willing To haz-
ard. The Msdawanktons and Warpeto,ls,
played against the Crows aud Sisse,ons.-
u hs game opened al,out the middle OF the
afternoon, but was interrupted by a heavy
fall of ram, and will be- resumed the first
fair weather. Mr.. White, of Washington,
attached 10 the coEsmissiori. has made much
progress in mastering the Dakota language;
and on his return wiii he able 20 raik Sioux
dnesitiy. Mr.. Tyler is also quite q sprofic-
ieat IN the tongue. Two Of the most pop
uIar gentlemen here, next 10 the csnrsnissa-
ry, WHO deals OUT their ratiops 10 the In
dias,s every morning, are two ariists. Next
TO painting their own faces, the Indians
seem 10 like to have their faces painted by
otlefs. -
Il i remarkBble fact, that amongst the
hundreds Of squa,ss here. there are not a
dozsn over Is years OH, that are not mar
ried that is, traded off to some one, IN live
with during ..deasur~, for sar5e siipulats,I
vsiue or nuupber of biaukets, horses, or oih-
or properly. In a day or two, wedding is
20 he bad !; a hnif-breed girl, Miss Mcclure
Of whom before wrote, who was reared
with the missionaries, and IL really the only
Indian girl or woman here who can Uc called
sIesutifuI; h 10 be married to Mr.. joseph
farribauli, niso half-hrced and fine look
ing man. Particulars OF :he ,yed,linr here