The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-03-13
VOLUME I.-NUMBER. 40.
For the Council BiuAs Nonpareil.
ru1 LEaEND OF NGINN1AAAA.
,rn. v. .oweArr.

For the Council Biuas Nonpareil.
THE LEsEND OF MINNEaAnA.
,rn.w. aoweArE. .
A trim to the ssLand of Promise, inde6n-
a.elv known a aOut West"-famous . It
is for gigantic forests, plains, rivers and
hotel-bills; for its large, well-situated and
aourishing cities, on paper, and its realsmall
contemplate villages; for the abundance Of
all kinds Of game, including Indians and
small animals Of domestic nature-is one
of the few events that man never forgets,
and the memory Of which haunts him like
that of his first love. @
When, in addition to all the inducements
one has pleasant and intell-
gent companions, who ARE alike ready to
crack joke or the fourth bottle Of "Spark-
ling Catawba,' p and possess withal the fac
ulty Of telling good story well; then indeed
has one reached the EHsium, the seventh
mundane heaven of luxurious travelling, be-
yond which it is impossible for mortality to
. ;
advance. .
Ii chanced last Spring that was thus
pleasantly situated, during trip up the Mis-
souri,, or ssBig Muddy" and the pleasure
was greatly enhanced from the fact that my
previous travelling experience had been one
continuous series Of extortions, blunders,
losses, and misfortunes, with scarcely re-
deeming feature. OF all the funny jokes,
stories and mishaps that occurred on board,
it is not my intention to write now, although
some Of them were well worthy of record,
and being faithfully chronicled in my note
book, may ono day be made public for gem
eral instruction One, however, of some
what different character, which was called
out by some guesses upon the origin Of the
name of Steamer that was passing down
the river, now purpose to transcribe, with
the same laudable intention.
Once upon time, there dwelt far to the
westward of where the enterprising city OF
Council Bluffs now stands, a tribe of Indians,
still in existence, and still bearing the melo.
dious cognomen of Peorias, and among its
fair daughters, the peerless Minnehaha shone
pre-eminent; none could compare with her
in beauty of outline, gracefulness of motion
or in Aeetness Of foot; and accordingly, she
was sought in marriage by numbers Of the
young braves, each emulous of carrying to
his smoky wigwam the splendid prize. To
all, however, she was as cold as the snow on
her native mountains, until the gallant Man
teno made his appearance as her suitor his
gallant demeanor and warlike fame soon
won her blushing love, aud to his ardent en-
treaties she replied by naming speedy day
for their union; setting thereby, a commen.
dable example to our modern bellies, who
are remarkable for a tedious circumlocution
on this subject-which is most singular, con.
sidering that matrimony forms the chief end
Of their lovely existence.
Of course, the fortunate Manteno was re-
garded with envy by his fellow braves, who
had been unsuccessful in their suit; and, a.
in their battles with the hereditary foes Of
the tribe, he bad borne of the palm for des'
perate courage, this new success natural,
made him little arrogant in his demeanor
and envy became strongly tinctured with I
feeling of injury.
Now, a very simple manner of gratifying
personal revenge, and avenging real or i'm
aginary insults, obtains among the red mel
of the forest, the whole modus operandi o.
which, consists in quietly inserting toma'
hawk into the offending Uranium, and, aftel
removing the scalp by way of memsnto, con
signing him to the wolves, dogs, or vultures
as tho case might be. - ,,-.--
This was the course adopted by the ma
leyolent Peorias, and the very day that wit
messed the consummation of his earthly hap
pness in wedding Minnehaha, Manteno wa
assaulted and slain before the eyes of hi
newly made wife. This was too heavy .
stroke for her delicate constitution to beal
love being the same violent passion among
savages that it is among civilized ssbarba
rians,'' only s'more so'--and shc was beref
of reason. For months, she wandered wild
ly about, calling plaintively upon her breth
rem to restore her lost Manteno to her loving
embraces, until finally her ceaseless grie1
unsettled their guilty minds to such an e1'
tent, that they believed themselves marked
out as objects Of the Great Spirits ven
geauce-and, a. guilt and fear make notable
towards, they were defeated in every en-
counter with their enemies, until weakened
in power and numbers, they were brought
into complete subjection.
While seeking, by such offerings, IS thei'
base minds could conceive, to alleviate d.
vine punishment, they were visited by q good
old French priest, who, seeing their mind'
favorably disposed to receive spiritual in.
struction, resolved to stay among them, and
from him they received a knowledge Of the
true Redeemer, and how from Him alone
they could hope for pardon.
Minnehaha, whose sad story he soon learn.
ed, became the especial object of his notice,
and he sought to heal her diseased mind BY
pouring upon it the Water of Life, rs he fig.
uratively styled his religion. Now, the good
man used this phrase 80 often,t that the sim
pie savages thought he meant certain
spring of water, which was known to them
by that name, and whose waters bubbled out
near the Missouri.
, The journey would be long and difficult
one, but Jealous in their new determination
to render every possible amends to their be-
reaved girl, a party started for the spot with
her in charge, concealing their object from
the priest. Whether the unfortunate died
from the fatigue Of the long journey, OF
from the too profuse application Of the cold
spring water, history ssyeth not, but only
records the fact that she died and was buried
beside ;ts murmuring waters, which hence.
forth bore her, sweetly poetieal name, and
remains known to this day as Minnehaha, Or
the Laughing Water. z = -.
,. AKENTUCKY ANECDOTE. w
A Southern gentleman owned . slavss .
yerv intell;ront fe1low who was Universal