The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-08-16

BONNEVILLE, DoDok CoUS1

BONNEVILLE, DoDes Oousr 4
NunAnA rnxr1oRY, July n, 1858. !
"A Vjsu b 10 Pasnss V1ssee-LVe among ~ Indians
@Ae Far Wat-A Ni0A IN q Wie,oam, &C., &c.
Many Of the HRnD'3 readers have doubtless sesn NE
specimen Of Pswnee chiefs and braves that during last
winter visited Washington, and returned via New York.
Ihey were good specimens Of the choicest portion Of the
tribe which, by the way Ia divided intofcur bands and
numbering In Ill about four thousand. Ono band,
sktng Of nearly thousand, has il vlsge of mud
dirt wigwams upon high bluff bank Of Tho Platte river
the south side Of that stream twelve miles south
westwardly from here. In point Of beauty Of location
10 unsurpassed upon that reacherous Of al streams
the Platte hver. After wadng, rowing, swimming and
walking ACROSS slaDds-dstance In al about ono mile
you are scross ne Platte and under olu nearly one
hundred feet high, which Is ascended by crcutoua
path Intended for footmen and Indian ponies Once
the beautiful tsbeau Of prairie at the top and immed
vans, with hundreds OF naked and half naked Indians,
young and old, pappooses and braves, oahng around
town. Your color or political proclivtes are matter
Of indifference TO them. But little attention 10 paid you,
even Though you are q correspondent for the HB
RAID half dozen Indians daah past you upon
rope fsteled 70 their lower jaw for brides group
little psppposes are peeping from behind wgwsm 8
you, grinnhg aud cbat,ering Ike many monkss and
heavily packed with wood huge bundles pass by you
on their way TO their lords wig VAN. group of
ySSnIss,sr, are practising shooting arrows a. target
the top OF his hut looking over the country Everything
but the ypger portion Of this community bears evidence
Their wgwams circular in shape, and after height
OF about seven feet perpendicular wall radualy slopes
to sufcent cone shape 70 turn of the water, leaving
hole in the centre for the egress OF the smoke from With
in. TheH wigvams are first bult of poles, and then
covered thickness of sometimes four feet with
and Dirt On the eastern side of theee rude nuts You
generally find the entrancea low narrow passage way
OF fifteen feetbefore entering the body Of the
building Once inside, and you are not only surprised at
the amount Of found but the cleanliness Of the
Germ. Many or them are forty feet in diameter. Inc
Aoor beers the appearance OF bsipg well
mented, so firmly trod and cieanly kept - the
earth. Immediately in the centre OF this wig VAN,
upon The floor earth, is the place where the fire is
built and cooking done, On buffalo sad spreai
upon the bard ground the Indsns sic, SMOKE talk aud
council Their war, peace ana corn dances generally
performed In shese wigwsus. Buuks, after the
Of only quite rude, are aensed around the
aides Bat little regularity manifested concerning their
meals little basin OF parched corn sod chunk Of
erked buffalo meat is ways ready sometmes you
treated 70 buffalo meat stow black and rather unpasts
ble some dirty wheat bread and strong coffee IL You
not hungry, the only chance to avoid offence
shut your eyes, bold your breath and pitch in. If very
hungry mean vorscous, ~ your c,rresp)ndept has
been known TO be IN Indian vageu when long from tue
settlements ana minus food why, you epjoy the rude
you will show good Indian manners enough to eat wha is
set before you
Bot very few OF the Pawnees scarce six in 1000 can
talk understand English. Conversation is consequently
carried by sgusfor instance two fingers sstrde OF
third represents person horseback band grace
fully showed under tho Other with motion of the prsi
re represents party visiting another in tue direction
the striking Of half closed hands together aud
motion ofhe bead and hands toward the earth denotes
n 6ght, fall and death, &c
II you are guest and visit wig van, msrch in without
knocking, extend yeur hand shake and say "Au how,
and you will probably be invited 10 seat yourself .
robe mat, and when night comes your robe
for bed, upon which you stretch yourself 10 full dress
or course must not be disturbed by the snoring OF
half dozen naked warriors around you, feel alarmed
at the Larm songs shouted suddenly Almost In your
the io1e starry bours by bands Of young Ia
the morning at dsy break you the alert aud lad
upon the bluffs overlooking the beautiful valleys OF the
Platte and Elk Horn rivers old aud dcsrepld warriors
silently gazing eastward towards the rising Great
respect oy the young Is sho these aged and hattie
SCARED warriors Their dances medley OF the tragic
and tonic and to be truly appreciated should be wtness
ed 10 their native village.
Tie rains OF the past month thresteu 70 destroy the
wheat crop OF Western Iowa and Nebraska understand
the potato crop Ia even now suffering from tho rot
Tho election for members Of the General As
sembiy comes of one week from next Monday,
ard Governor Richardson propoges, ] understand,
calling extra session immediately.