, 1864-12-25
SCENES IN THE EARLY HISTORY
OF Iowa.
TT Az OLD rI0SESn.

oTdcd.
No-chump-kah, the chlcftaic ofa band Of
glnnebngoee, who had been for several years
4 occupancy Of the hunting grounds Of Tur-
.ey river, was, few weeks previous the
vent we arc about to narratc, attacked IL
lis canoe by buck which he had wounded
7hile fire hunting ut night upon the river.
During his struggle with the wounded animal
accompanied him, was drowned. For several
iays after his disaster he held no intercourse
with his band aud retired TO his wiswnm for
Ihe purpose Of performing the usual ceremony
IF mourning. When the Indian tribute to the
memory Of the dead had been through with,
bis band was summoned before him, when le
TO them his Intention Of visiting @
numerous baud Of Menomluees, who at that
time vert cncanped ncaz the pleasant town
Of Ciairmont, for the purpose Of endeavoring
to purchase from the Prophet or Medicine
Nan Of the party, Winnebago girl raised in
his family rs An only child, and captured by
him while On scalpins expedition against
thegtwo nations were vt war with each other.
AS soon Us this announcement w1s E:ade to
his band, each came forward and contributed
something to swell the bulk ot presents that
was to aid him in his bridal purchase, and III
a few days he started on his wooing adrcn-
tures, accompanied by two Of his hunters,
each leading pony burdcncd with beautiful
and varied ussortmsnt Of presents.
At the expiration Of about ten days, the
young chief returned home to the encamp-
ment Of Lis band, having ascended the river
~ ~ ps, oLus, us'nEins na.n asn1Ao.san.ns-na
ceeded in wooing and purchasing.
That night the festivities Of his band were
lord and joyous, but when morning came they
discovered three vi gwams standing within i
few yards Of their encampment, and in tho
occupancy OF Fafty OF Men2nsnees. During
the day no communication passed 6etween
the TWO encampmcnts, until late IN the alter
noon, Wncn talt, Q1rk'c0Mpiected lndlanv
OF giant form, his face deeply pittcd With
susait po2, ana panied WIN variety OF col
ofs, adsanccd from tue Mcnomlnees cncomr-
ment, unnrmtu, anu approached the wiSTanl
Q. No-chump-kan, Who met him at its en-
trance:
9ave comc. saia tnc McooMlnee, 10
sIeak LOT my o5otnes ne has plla many ps1ss-
cnts 10 our Aea.clne map, ana Wnen the deer
s snaIt eome ne more 20 view, lis snare o. ths
NUM- was 10 DC our fropnets, ana Koran ue-
nan was 10 hSe WIN MN III MS W1@wam- Will
p.h.,l ppo.cha.n,lshaan a take "aas n. was 70 ne our
15orsess ';r ~ WY a9sL niaAe oul orotner g,ao 10
VINCE INC Mnnenaso fepltGd. Win a'sarcas-
nc smile upon his I &c: When No-ehump-
KAN Shall become Nenomincc he may sell hts
sNuaw, but not until then"
"ko-chun.p.k.h is great huntcr,' con-
tinucd the Mcnoriuee ''the track OF his
Ia b.
leads to the country Of the Dasotah, sad the
Mcnomincc knows that he IS not a coward
yIy brother Is young and weak. his knife Is
dull. am old and st7onc--1ny knife is like
No-chunp.kah, there Is no rust npou 1t. Will
the chief OF the Wtnnccaso:-s draw his knife
with me or my hrother!'' '.y.tl both" cx-
claimed the young chief, rs he snatch.d his
knife fiom its scahhard and held It out In front
of him, with the Eorc1necrs OF his LEFT hand
resting upon the blade, when both exclaimed
sit Is good ~ as each turned upon his heel,
and retired to bis wigwam.
That night the two encampmcnts were
hushed In solemn silence, hut when thc
morning dawned there YVES a allow. mournful
cry arose from the camp Of the strangers; 1t
was the wife Of the ylenolniuec brave listen
ing to instructions from her husband: to be.
The % sun was m scarcely @ un when lie monoto-
nons sound Of the Indian drum rolled m from
no erc-,,nnn,ant annonnc,nT the re,5iness
nft tbe inifans from cach nnrtv at Il noint
which VIVA al NJ, enual ilistancn irun thu two
ramns- Herr. amer n consultation was held.
they directed their steps ont from the psairis
bottom. about fifly Yards from the river bank.
~here ther nrnceeded 10 drive into thorrnun3
thrcc stakes n The farm Of - fr;anss,e the
sides of WHICH wcre about sixty feet ID lenetb,
4 rawhldo thong was then drawn around the
three stakes, about two feet from the ground,
was to lake place. as coon as tic work was
finished, an Indian seated>4imsclf upon the
ground in the center OF the triangle, and
Commenced singing and bcntins on tGs drnns. nm.
The friends Of the parties now approached tho
fatal ground unar1ncd, and seated themselves
around It us silent spectators.
crs were seen approaching the t,un,le, fol-
lowed by an Indinp conveying in eaach hand q,
scalping knife. Both we're naked, with the
exception Of moccasius on the feet, and d
short girdlc Or frock that covered the 1oins-
In muscular power the contrast between the
two brothers was great, the oldest LeInr about
thirty yenrs of age, and in height seemed to
overtop The line nf SIX feet, while the PHYSICAL
powers displayed In the character Of his per
Fon seemed 10 give him IN hercn1cau appear
| ance. His brother appeared to be youth
who had seen come eighteen years, displaying
a-slim and delicate formation, willie The OK
ptession of his eoapteuance seemed to denote
pleasing and friendly disposition. No col
orins or paint besmeaTed the fair expression
Of Ills face ur person, which was not the con-
dition Of his brother, who was to advance to
| the conflict upon the left Of the youth, as In
dicatcd By the palnting Of the right cheek and
urn black.
| AZ soon rs the two brothers arrived on tho
! ground, the eldest. took the position on the
north angle Of the area, while the other
! brother occupicd the angle in the south. the
| east being len yucant. This position ln the
| fcht was assu1ned In order to bring his weak
er W brother under the PROTECTING caro- Of his
knife.
| Again the drum was beaten, when the
! Young Chief Of the Winncbagoes strobe into
t The srepa, his person, from the neck down
wnrd, being concealed By the folds Of a
! blanket, For d moment he seemed 10 stand
| and conteu olote his opponents. then throw.
Ine aside his blanket he presented to view the
naked manly form OF war1ior, proud and
| LOFTY in his carriage, and matchlcss in thu
| symmetry Of his pcrson. Upon his breast
and forehead was painted in a white color the
| form of q horseshoe, euclosin. the head O,
an arrow, which indicated that he was abou,
tathers. He seemed 10 be fully Impressed
with the belief that he would b. killed. ant
tic manner In which he grusped his knift tolf
that he intended tn attack HIS onnnncnt.
without makinc an effort to defend himself 4.
soon as he had iaken the east angle of the en-
| closed a,enn.
The Indian drummer seated near the centrt
each one of tie combatants g knife, with
lrrT from The enclosure. takjnr With hin Il,
drum and bIankets OF the youu@ chief. A fen
Tsnmpnts c,ansed. when tie si,ena1 Of nttacl
WAS riyen br lie flrinrHf a cun,
=. In I'm Instant tbs tWo, brothers sprang for
vhrd into Inc middle Of the arena. sho1tfn.
and dourishiax their knives above their head!
ward the Winuebago, who still occupied hi
rosiiiou in The angle, wutchinr their move
mcnfs with arms folded upon h{s hreast. AMI
tnife ARMY grasned. the bIadc poInted IN
wards. When tliev advancet3 ID ppint wifi
in tn or twelve feet of him. he Seemed t
cover the tistance with a singIe bonnd. to
ward them his knife BY a sweeping undefcut
aecToes fhc howeIs of thc iargcst Indian. m
f- f:S IL 49, 11an !. ~ +t-ro+ - ~