The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-06-28

clent coat Vi arms. DC WAS speeuuy n-
troduced to his fellow-dignitary, Governor
Ramsey, whose fraternal welcome be &C.
cepted with the dignity of an equal, if not
superior.
A splendid prairie opens southwark Of
the agency, from which they began gradu-
ally to come in, and throwing themselves
about upon the grass, in circles, received,
unembarrassed, the curious visits of their
white brethren and sisters. If their gay
blankets and quaint ornaments afforded
amusement to the latter, it is but fair to
state that the crinoline and ribbons of the
ladies appeared equally odd, and perhaps
ridiculous to these wild beaux and bellies.
The Indians seemed not greatly inclined
to trading, though fully alive to the value
of Kosh-poppy" money, when possessed.
As they lay in their circles, smoking and
talking, they were,speedily assailed by the
gentlemen with offers for their pipes, which
were almost the only thing they had ready
to sell. They are made of the red pipe
stone, a material resembling slate in tex
ture, and obtained from quarry in the res
gion, reserved to them by treaty and guard
ed with jealous care. Many are cut with
singular dexterity, and sometimes beauty
mostly plain and resembling tomahawk
in shape, but also of other shapes, some
times quite elaborate, initiating quite well,
heads Of men and horses, even the whole
human form, and often cunningly inlaid in
arabesques of lead. One aspiring genius
had copied from an advertisement +" Perry
Davis's Pain Killer" to smokers, not an
inapt inscription. This he held at the ex-
orbitant price of 500. For simpler speci.
mems four, two, and generally one dollar
were paid. The fine ones were often as
much as six or eight inches in length and
finely polished.
7 About the Agency were some forty or
fifty Farm Indians" or "White Indians"
so called. They are those who have adopt
ed our mode of life in some important par
ticulars. These constitute but small and
jealousy watched portion of the tribe.
Fiity-fve new suits of clothing had been
distributed before our arrival, and many are
already endeavoriDg to carry out the desires
of our government, though probably with
little success.
| THE GRAND COUNCIL.
About twelve o'clock grand council was
held of the Governor, Superintendent and
Age ut, and the notable men of the Sioux.
The Indians were addressed by Governor
Ramsey and the Agents, and replied
through "Red OWL" a dark, sinewy man,
of intelligent countenance, in which, singu-
larry enough, might be traced no slight re-
semblance to Demosthenes. His oratory
was energetic, his gestures forcible, and at
the pauses for Interpretation, by which pro-
cess his speech was emasculated of all its
native vigor and eloquence, he was greeted
by hearty "ughs of approval from his
brethren. The speeches consisted of the
usual excuses and fair promises on our side,
and the ordinary complaints from the In
dams, of Injustice and fraud, probably, alas !!
too well founded in fact. There was, to a
sympathetic spectator, a touching contrast
between the plausible demeanor and lam
guage of the white dignitaries, and the SIM
pie, untutored earnestness of the savages.
After the breaking up of the council, in
which beef had been promised the poor
creatures by Governor Ramsey, the Indians
dispersed to kill and dress it, and to prepare
for dance, which they were to give in
honor of the occasion. Their deliberate
motions occasioned an interval of couple
of hours, spent by the excursionists in
luncking, bartering, and watching the nu-
merous groups of aborigines.
At nearly five O'Clock large body,
looking as terrible as an army with BAN
ners," was seen coming down the plain from
the direction of the trading houses, preceded
by horrible looking savage, charcoaled
and squallid in dress, who circled the
ground at quick pace, bowling terribly,
to inform us that the show would there
and soon take place. AS the band grew
near, we found it composed of the dancers,
perhaps fifty in number, Aanked by cav
alcade in escort, on foot and on pony back,
and the rear brought up by old men, chill.
dren and squaws.
The dancers, mostly young, quickly
ranged themselves around asquatting groop
of older men, who began beating rude
drums, with great energy and in sort of
rhythm adapted to the performance. The
dance was to be the "monkey Dance" new
invention, so said, originating in dream of
some young brave. The monkey was rep
resented by papoose about as big as one,