The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-03-12
Er q. E.rn,1 EL..zo,n.
Trip 10 Pole Crssk-Sksteh Of Indian Life-Gold-
Vice corrnences-Hardships of Winter Travel
-Avictim Of misplaced Oonhdsncs, &c.

Vice Observation-Disclosures Of Winter Travel
|, -Avietm Of misplaced Confidence, &c.
Il CHERRY CREEK, K. t.,
" February 8, 1859.
NR. EDIToR-DEAE SIR:-We have Just
returned from . trip to Pole Creek,
South Platte tributary, lying two days
/ ride northeast from here. Upon that creek
there is a large Arappahoe village; buffalo
has hitherto been very plentiful there. but
are now leaving, taking northerly course,
from which we predict mild weather.
learn from an Ogalals Sioux that a
band Of outlaws, composed Of Brooleys and
Cheyennes, have been encamped on the
head waters of North Platte, from whence
they have sent emissaries to ascertain the
number and strength of the whites in this
region. II seems that they consider the
force of the "pale faces" superior to their
own, as, thus far, no war-like demonstrs-
tions have been made.
l would here remark that emigrants
need be under no apprehension of personal
injury from a village or large body Of
Indians. Among them, honor, morality
and religion have heavy preponderance
over vice and crime.
During the last year my home has been
in the lodges of the Waw-zazh-ee Sioux,
and though have travelled much, and
seen society in many of its phases, / have
no hesitation in saying that never before
found or mingled with community in
which peace, harmony and good will
reigned SO supremely as there. Not in q
single instance have I heard words Of
contention pass between their men. Never
did 1 see one, asking favor, denied
Give to one of them piece of bread, 9
cup Of sugar, or any other luxury, and he
will generously divide it with his fellows
have somewhere read of an individual
who undertook to write the history of In.
dian life in three words: Poverty, Misery
Degradation"
A brief biography, certainly, but my OBJ.
servation teaches me that it is as erroneous
as it is concise. Poverty is almost un.
known. Misery is the fractional exception
of their lives; and the natural nobility o.
their nature scorns the imputation of deg
radiation. 1t is only when they arr
forced into immediate contact with th,
"Christianizing influences of civilization
that they loose their manhood and become
the things described by that laconi'
writer.
If 'life, liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness," be the great desideratum ofhumal
life, then are the aborigines, In their nat
ural state, more to be envied than are tn,
ton of the most brilliant assembly that tn
region of sunrise ever contained. Per
, haps, however, an exception might b
made of the latter portion of the quota
tion, for, while the refined have the priv
, lege of an unlimited pursuit of happiness
. the "poor savage" basks beneath tn
, genial influence Of its presence.
r Their religious rites are scrupulously oh
3 served; chastity is recognized as woman
r chiefest jewel-hence society, in the tru
sense of the world, exists. The form q
government, under which the Waw-zazh
4 ees live, is simple democracy, thei
magistrates being elected by acclamatior
r and their term of Office ceasing with th
u disbanding of the village, which take
f place in the spring of the year, whe
every family takes its own course for sum
a mer hunting.
e The winter season is looked forward I
with similar sensations to those entel
= tanned by boarding school Miss, in al
g ticipation of the coming holidays, for it
It then that they change the weary monot
8 ony of solitude for the joys of social il
n tercourse and scenes of festivity whic
It are ever attendant upon Indian villag
+ life.
s Their superstitions are. numerous an
beautiful, and exercise moralizing Unfit
l. ence over their department. Their Law
3, are few, but well observed. A high sens
If of honor characterizes their dealings wit
D, each other-though some of them wi
5, Appropriate the property of the white
with GOODNESS and grace that almost e,
onorates them from the charge of thief
The honor and virtue of their wome
loses none of its lustre by compariso
with the masses of Christian land; IL
: penalty for q violation Of the sevent
= commandment of the decalogue, is dealt
. Their worldly wealth consists in ii
y number of horses they possess, ten {
= twelve being the average to each famil
= Their affairs of love are carried on upc
= principal similar to that now SO popul
- in the States, with the exception, perhap
= that the trade is more direct, though n,
\ better understood. The price Of brio
is horse. Poligamy, though sanctione
= by law, finds few devotees, yet sing
blessedness is bliss unknown.
.e fear that am tresspassing on spa
N and patience, yet, to me, it is path I
i. pleasant to go back in the worlds histol
y some four thousand years; to wand
D. over earth's virgin paradise and hold col
r verse with natures sons; to call up fro
IN msmory's recesses passages from the Il
i spired Records, and abide with Il
,e jewellers in tents" hunt with the coul
D. terpart of Nimrod of old. or smoke Il
e. calumet of peace with a fossilizt
of Abram.
\ prk por- 80 = Al