The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-11-09


; dant opportunity to purchase all the whis
: Key they wanted, and could pay for. The,
appeared not to drink for social glee, bu
each one that determined to get drunk
apportoned his dose. drank it in order Il
produce frantic excitement in the short
est time possible. Generally in these ori
gies, portion ofthem remained sober tc
prevent those that were intoxicated from
doing excessive mischief. This duty how
ever, was mostly discharged by the squaws
who, as precaution, secreted the knive.
and tomahawks, and other dangerous i'm
! plements, and provided themselves with
thongs, and when the inebriates become
too obstreperous, they tied them neck and
heels, SO that they could only roll over
like ball. The pleadings for mercy. O,
\ bethrests of vengeance by the bachanal
at the sight of thongs had no effect on these
| guardians of his and their safety, but they
good humoredly executed their duty, and
when sAa fumes of liquor had passed away.
and the prisoner was sober enough to be
released he semed perfectly reconciled to
! the treatment
! Notwithstanding these guards placed
over these bachanalian revels, many acci-
dents happened in them to life and limb
and caused sickness and an increase of
mortality to the tribe. During Hard Fish's
residence at Eddyville, his band was Sc
verely afflicted with fatal diseases, and the
grave yard, situated W w.thin the presen linn
its of Eddvville, became quite popuIous
part Of the village.
The winter (of eighteen hundred and
forty-two apd forty-three) before their re-
movai above the temporary lire above
Red Rock, happened to be one of unusual
severity and duration-commencin on
the eleventh day of November and con-
timing to the middle of April. and caused
them much suffering and heavy loss in
ponies from starvation. Theprophet. who
had not approved the treaty, attributed
this calamity to the displeasure OF the Great
Spirit for selling their country, and many
religious rites were performed to atone for
the crime.
The most striking Of these rites that
observed, was the sacrifice of "A living dog /
The victim was forcblv lashed to a tree
several feet above the ground. his back
resting against the tree, and tightly bound .
with thongs passing around his throat and .
other parts of the body. leaving the legs
free. and in a hanging posture To the
toes of each foot, was suspended medi-
cine bag, and the victim thus left to expire
and his body to waste upon the altar after
their departure.
When the time of their final departure
from Ot-tum-wah-noc arrived. a solemn
and impressive silence pervaded the camp
and the faces Of many ofther stoutest men
were bathed in tears, and as the cavalcade
spt ;gi fairly jTl i9 ms9otiloR tAera was ganer,
ieep commiseration for their fate. :
Great soemnity and apparently sincere ,
leyotion attend the performance Of their j
'eligious rites. Their evening orisons,
in a solemn. low chant, through {
he several lodges ola large encampment, {
inspire the considerate listener with VEN {
.ratiOn and awe. Their religion is based '
IN sublime conception of nature, in
which they see the manifestation Of the '
and powerofa supreme intelli- {
,ence which they denOminate the Great
Spirit 10 whom they pray with devout ad- Il
,ration. OF the truth of their religious
they are as firmly convinced (
md adhere to it with as much tenacity as
,ther religiomists do to their peculiar and /
varied theories,
They are fast wasting away under the /,
influence Of ofciviliZation and the onward {
march OF the white race, and it is proba- 4
Die before the approach of another century, il
oblivion will have closed Its curtain over
the last OF their race.