The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-14


Ia contemplating the character OF the prairie Indian,
and the striking similarity between him and the Arab and
Tartar not less astonished al the absolute dlssm-
ary between them and the aboriginal Inhabitants OF The
eastern States
The latter from the time OF the discovery Of the coun.
try living in permanent villages. where they cultivated
fields OF corn, possessed strong attachment Tor their
ceslra abodes and sepulehres they did not use horses
always made their hunting and war expeditions on foot
and sought the cover OF trees on going into battle while
The former have no permanent abiding places, cu
tivate the soil, always mounted, and never fight
battle except in The open PRAIRIE where they charge boldly
up to an enemy, discharge their arrows with great rapid
ty and away before their panic stricken antagonists
can prepare resist reallae Indeed, they appear
have been different in almost every respect
As the prairie Indians depend almost entirely on the /
buffalo for subsistence and clo,hn 4, becomes ques
ton OF much interest what will be the fate of these peo
ye when these animals shall have become extinct |
Formerly buiaoes were found in countless herds
almost the entire northern continent OF America, from
The twenty eighth The sxeh degree OF horlh latitude,
and from the shores OF Lake Champaln 10 the Rocky
mountains. They then ranged free and uninterrupted |
over the boundess plains Of the west only guided IN
their course by that faithful instinct which invariably
led them to the freshest and sweetest pastures. Their
only enemy then the Indian, who supplied himself
with food and clothing from the immense herds around
his door, but would have looked sacrege 10 de-
sroy than barely sufficient to supply the wants OF
his family Thus this monarch OF the plain allowed
uninterrupted range from one end OF The continent 10 the
other but this happy state OF things for the noble beast
not destined 10 continue. An enemy appeared who
made grea, havoc among then and in short time caused
a very sensible dminu,ion in their numbers and much
contracted the limits OF their wande'ings This enemy
was the white man, who in his steady march, causes
the original proprietor OF the soil 10 recede before him.
and 10 diminish in numbers almost as rapidly as the
buiialoee Thousands of these animals were annually
for their skins and often for their tongues
aonean animal whose flesh is sufficient 10 afford sus
tenance to large number OF men, Is sacrificed to furnish
a bon bouche" for the rich epcure. This wholesale
slaughter on The part OF the white man, with the num-
Der consumed by the Indians who constantly On their
trail. migrating with them as regularly as the season
comes round with the ravenous wolves that are always
al hand to destroy OF them if wounded gives the
poor beast but little rest prospect OF permanent exist
II is only eight years since the western borders OF
Texas abounded with buHaoes; but they seldom go
south of Red river, and their range upon the east and
west has also very much contracted within the same
time, that they present confined to narrow belt
between the settlements and the base OF
the Rocky mountains With this rapid diminuton in
their numbers, they must in the course OF very few
years become extinct
What will then become of the prairie Indian, who, as
have already remarked relies Tor subsistence, shelter,
and clothing on the flesh and hide OF this animal he
must either perish with them, increase his maraudng
depedatons the Mexcans, or learn to cultivate the
AS the first law OF our nature is Representation il is
not probable that he will sill down and quietly submit to
starvation He must therefore, resort TO of the latter
alternatives but he has no knowledge OF agriculture,
considers it the business of slave, and very much be.
meath The dignity OF warrior, II appears reasonable that
he will turn his attention 10 the Mexlcans, over whom
he has held the mastery for many years Heretofore his
plumber of them has been for pasime and Tor glory but
when he is obliged 10 resort 10 this means OF subsist
ence. wo TO the poor Mexican II will be necessary to
devise some TO do away with the nveteate pre-
JUDGES which the Cumnches entertain against the habits
and customs OF the whites before they will be induced TO
remain in any fixed abodes or cultivate the soil
Ia common with most other Indians, they very
perstious They believe in dreams the wearing OF anu
let's medicine bags &c, and the dedication OF offerings
the favor OF invisible agents, also in The e
cacy OF music and dancing for the cure OF diseases
They submit with imperurbable soicsm and apathy to
mlsonunes OF the most serious character, and m Tue
presence of strangers manifest surprise or curiosity at
the exhibition OF astounding novees yet this apparent
indifference is assumed and they are in reality very in
quisiuve people.
In every village NAV be seen small structures consist
ing of framework of slight poles bent into a semi
spherical form, and covered with buffalo hides. These
called medicine lodges and used vapor baths
The patient is seated within the lodge beside several
heated stones, upon which water is thrown producing
dense no, yapor which brings on proiuse perspralon
while, al the lme the SbamaDs, medicine men,
who profess 10 have The power OF communicating with
the unseen world and OF propnaing the maevoence OF
evil spirits, performing various incantaons, accom-
panied by music the outside Such means resored
Tor healing all diseases and am also informed that
their young obliged 10 undergo regular course
OF steam bathing before they considered worthy OF
Stunning the responsible duties OF warriors.
The knowledge they possess OF their early history is
very vague and limited and does not extend further back
than few generations They say that their ioreiaheTs
lived precisely they do and followed the buffalo that
they came from country towards the setting OF the sun,
to which they expect 10 return after death.
They acknowledge the existence and power Of great
supernatural agent, who directs and controls all things
but this power they conceive 10 be originally in the
which they worship and appeal to all occasions OF
ment They also anticipate future state OF existence
similar 10 the present, and invariably bury with The
nor his hunting and war equipments
Thus far efforts have been made 10 improve the
moral physical condition OF the people No mission
aries have my knowledge visited them, and they
have no more idea OF Christianity than they have OF the
religion OF Mshomet. We find dwelling almost at
doors barbaIous and healhensh exss the
face The earth and while benevolent and phlaf
hropc citizens making such efforts TO aReiorae the
condition OF savages other continents, should we not
do something for The benefit OF these wild Of the
prairies
These dingy noblemen Of naure-the original propre.
tors of all that domain included between the shores
of the Atlantic and Pscifc-bave been despoled, sup
planted. and robbed OF their jos, and legitimate heritage
by the avarcious and rapid encoachmenso The white
man. Numerous and powerful nations have already be-
come exermnaed by unusihable wars that he has
waged with them, and BY the effects Of the vices he has
introduced and inculcaed and OF those that remain but
few be found who contaminated by the per.
nicous influences OF unpuncpled and designing adven
turers.
II 10 moi at this late day in our power to atone for all
the injustice inf cied upon the red man but il
me that a wise policy would dictate almost the only rec
ompense il is possible 10 make-that of introducing
among them the lights OF Christianity and the blessings
of civilization, with their attendant benefits OF sgricul
ture and the arts.
The thanks OF the society were unanimously voted TO
Captain Marcy for his paper which highly compli-
men'ed BY Mr.. Bancroft, Mr. Leavit, and other gentle
men OF the socieyl
CENTRAL AMERIoL.-We have the Gatsla de Costa
H'ea TO March 10, but later news from the war be-
tween Honduras and Guatemala II seems thai IN the