The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1867-07-18

Sr. Paul. MIN. July 2. l8G

Sr. PAuL, MINI, July 2, 1867.
Mr.. MACKLEY-ST:
The halfbreed Indians have arrived
here from the Red River of the North,
with the proceeds of their last annual
hunting and trapping expeditions
Their stock of furs, buffalo hides, and
deer skins brought to this market this
year, is estimated to be worth 100000.
They are enCamped on the prairie,
three-fourths of a mile from the city,
near small and beautiful lake, and
number about sixty men, with perhaps
half that number of squaws, and from
three to five little squuc-iers to each
squaw. There are in all about sixty
carts with the band, nearly all drawn by
harnessed oxen--a few by horses, one
OK or horse to each cart. The cart is
very like the common farm cart in
shape, the bed is about five and half
feet long, three and half feet wide,
and two and half feet high, all open
woodwork. As far as observed there
was not particle of iron about the
whole construction, not even a bolt,
nail, screw, lnch-pin, or tire was made
of iron--all was wood. The harness
used--like their carts-is of their own
peculiar make. Deer skin or buffalo
thongs with something resembling a
pack saddle, makes up the whole.
Some OF the men ride horseback. Their
brides are made of anything that will
serve to guide the horse. The saddle |
is Of their own manufacture, being sim
ply well stuffed and beaded cushion,
about sixteen inches square. From the
cushion, which is tightly girted, is sus-
pended plain stirrup made of wood.
These stirrups are used for ease in rid
ing | should think, as the Indian always
vaults into his saddle without using
them. The tribal blanket has been dis
Carded by all save the women; the men
and boys conforming to the pale face
custom, don the shirt and pantaloons;
tie last mentioned garment being held
up by a beaded belt or strip of deer skin.
All but the boys wear moccasins, some
times plain-sOmetimes ornamental, but
always moccasins, and "never a shoe"
Their hands and feet are small and well
formed, which, according to some au-
thorities () is a certain indication of no.
Bile birth, royal blood, sc. Last Sab
bath evening number of ladies and
gentlemen went out from the city to sec
them in camp, but they beat hasty re-
IL eat The "lOrdly" semi-savages, OBJ
ivlous to all around-ignoring the pres.
pnce Of the pale faced ladies and gentle
men, commenced disrobing--dofing
the already scant supply of covering,
to plunge aud swim in
the crystal lake. Had there been pres
ent on the banks of the clear little lake
10 many cattle instead of the pale face
'isitors, they might have indulged in a
eSS shameful exhibition of their nudity
and poets have written in
volumes about ''the noble
the inherent majesty and
lignity of the red man of the forest and
,rairie," and seldom has this overdrawn
picture been doubted or questioned by
hose unacquainted with the Indian
character. The Indian is made up of
'avage ferocity and treaChery, as their
and butchery in every ;
conflict with the whites has amply and
satisfactorily demonstrated. True,
hose of them / now write concerning
ire only halt-breeds, but are we readyto
'dmit that the AnglorSaxon blood
,oursing throughtheir veins has demor-
Ilized the savages, and made them-as
hey are-the filthiest specimens of the
,Shus homo on the ContinentY Having
net with Indians in the South and in p
he North, / have been unable TO per- I
eive, and am unwilling to recognize in
hem those noble attributes and gener- {
'us traits SO plentifulIy ascribed to I