Sauk Rapids frontierman. [volume] (Sauk Rapids, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1860, 1859-11-03

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4 Within this. circle were, gathered III,
4 persons Of distinction, The most cspspi
q cuous among whom, was the Jopthlu
Princess. She was the observed of al
the asssmblage, Is dressed In arich
but tasteful suit of blue broaAclothy viii
J, dashy shawl and leggins. she ocqapies
I blanket id the centre of tha groap. Sc
II Her beautiful hair was parted over The
forehead with trde feminine grace. ant
orndnented with two warrior plGnes
wlfirh bore devices to show The number
Of scajps she had taken IN battle. A.
II she sat in the midst oflhe warriors, will
much evident satisfaction and selcpos.
session, her fingers played with the han.
/ die other kecn-edged knife.
# The occasion was to be celebrated by
ia ..dog feasf, 4 and The dancers soon
4 threw aside their noisy INSTRUMENTS, aud
iIset or in single file, 10 call upon the diff
fereht chiefs, who remained ii ,heir Wig
vans, to receive their distinguished Wis
'Iitof..s In the PROCESSION All l-shah- way
1geesshe-go-qua, filed thc place Of the
third 1.-Two warriors Of great celebrity
proceeding her. n the proud step. OF
1.-THE young heroine, there was nothing to
Indicate the weakness and irresolute-
1nesss peculiar to her sex; but she moved
along, as if conscious Of her position,
and with all the majestic hauteur Of the
Forest Queen" shs areallywas. a
The chiefs they visited, each address
ed the procession upon the virtue and
duty Of charity to their owr poor, and
a kindly regard 70 the members Of their
bands: and enforced their exhortations
by presents Of blankets, food and ammu-
nition, to be afterwards distributed to
the fieedy OF the different bands.
| The most striking and dilludicrous OBJ
ject in the procession, was T. tall and
stately squaw, who bore behind her, and
suspended by broad strap about her
forehead, the carcass Of large and
veryfat dog, that had by high feeding
forfsome months previous, been Prepar-
ed for this important ceremony. The
skin had been denuded of hair, and the
entrails removed sand with the legs dis
tended with sticks, 80. that it covered
the lsquaw's back, it, certainly made a
most grotes1ue appendage to her gaudy
head-dress, Ts
The Doctor had an cyening interview
With the father Of the Princessland learn
ed something ofthe girls history. 1t
lsappeared that Al. a time, butra few years
ipreyiops, small war, party Of the Chip
pewas ancient enemies, the Sioux, stole
near the lodge Of Na-wan-ong -ga-be,
Ewho at the time was lying upon his back
inside, asleep, and fired a rifle at him,
with the intention Of killing him. The
ball just grazed the chieitain $ nose near
the eyes, the scar Of which still remains
Ito be seen. The young girl, who hap
Ipened at the moment to be sitting near
her father, r,-sprang to her feet, and
Eseizing her fathers loaded rife, flew
from the lodge, and alarming few
young braves who happened 70 be close
at hand, she pursued rapidly after the
retreating assassins. Two Of them were
killed, one Of whom fell by the hand of
the maiden, who bore his bleeding scalp
in triumph to her father. .
| The Chippewas have q singular Gus
tom among their tribes, which they say
has.ever been observed by them. All
young persons Of either sex, before they
can, rank themselves as men and women,
are emade to pass a trying ordeal This
is the undergoing Of rigid fast. Those
Fwho cannot, for at least four days. en-
Idurea abstinence from food and drink,
],are, not considered worthy the respect
Of the tribe. But if they continue thus
Ito fast for ten days, It is sufficient, and
all many case required. They have
then perfected their high position in life.
i The old chief informed the Doctor
that his daughter had tasted ten, days
without particle Of food or drink On
/ the tenth day, feeble and nervous from
the. long continuance Of her, fast, she
had a'remarkable vision, which she re-
lated to her friends. 9a
4 She dreamed that at u time not far
i distant, she would accompany war
Eparty to the Sioux country. and that the
partY would kill one Of the enemy, and
would bring home his scalp. 4 .a
\ It happened that shortly after the re-
lation IF the young girls dream, . war
4 party was really organized for a start g
i the west side ofthe Mississippi, and she,
4 in accordance with her vision, whicI,
! continually haunted her mind, deter
4 mined % go with Il. Against this IN
usual course, her parents and relatives
Il urged their strongest reinonstrances.- .
But their protestations against it we're
lin VAN. She had resolved on the ad-
4 venture, and nothing would turn .her
asida from il Her highest ambition,
| her whole destiny, her life itself, seemed
Ito he at stake, ~ go and verify the
nrOr,kecv of her dream sss