Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-12-18

BURIAL OF AN INDIAN PRrSCESs.-A cor
respondent of the Missouri Democrat. writing
from Fort Laramie, gives and interesting
account of the burial Of Princess M0naka,
the daughter of Spotted Tail, the chief of the
Brules Her father was compelled by the
Young braves to lead them. in spite of his
better Judgment and the cntreaties of his
daughter, on the path against the whites
Monaka was obligci II . with the party
and witness the savage butchery of her white
friends Before mlnv months she pined
away and died Of a broken heart Her last
request was that She might be buried in tho
cemetery AZ Fort Laramie. With sad
heart the father, with his whole tribe, began
the Journey Of two hundred miles, t. fulfill
his daughter 5 diving wish. On arriving at
the fort he presented himself before the COM
mandant, Cot Mavnadier, and in pathetic
words told the story of his mission The
colonel responded in soothing words worthy
OF Christian soldier We will let the cor
respondent tell the rest Of the scene:
. The carpenters were set II work to erect
a scaff Id and make the coffin. which was a
box six feet in length three feet in width
and three feet in depth
The next day, precisely at the hour ap-
p0inted. the m0urners. consisting of Spotted
Tail ami three hundred warriors. superhlv
,nountel I. armed with tall spears, bows and
sounding arrow-sheafs rattling on their
hicks their heads adorned with no1ding
plume7, and their broad breasts glittrring
with FURNISHED silver crosses and gleaming
necklaces of sen shell. or sparkling glass
beads, marched towards the cemetery bear
ng the body of the Princess NJ lnaka. the
8. Pearl Of the Valley" to he last resting
place In the procession were alsD Col.
Mavnadier and the garrison dressed in full
uniform.
On their arrival at the cemetery the body,
which was folded in richly dressed buffalo
robe. was laid in the coffin. Then the war
riors came UP and laid their gifts of dressed
moccasius. Tndian bonnets- etc. Following
them came the officers of the fort, with whom
the beautiful Monaka = great favorite.
with their presents of rings. earrings and
necklaces then Col. Mavnader, presenting
an elegantly worked pair of quantities., said
:. | give these gloves to the Princess Monaka.
to keep her hands warm as she journeys to
the happy hunting grounds" " The blx,
which was now full, was filled up, and
sclrlet blanket was nalct over it. They
had sron the last Of all that was mortal of
tho = Pearl Of the Valley"
Rev. Or. Wright the chaplain. then read
the impressive burial service Of the Episcopal
church. which was interpreted tt the war
riors in their own language When they
heard the beautiful words or jon the oDouratc
hearts IF the Indians melted, and for the
first time they wept. Tears welled from the
eyes and coursed down the cheeks of both
white and red men.
At the conclusion of the services the box
was lifted on scaffold ten feet high. The
heads of two favorite ponies that had been
slain when she died were then nailed BY the
ears t. the TWO posts ut her head. and their
tails were nailed at the feet. that Mlnaka
might ride to the happy hunting grounds
I larrel was then filled with water and
set beneath the heads, that they might not
hecome thirsty on the Journey. 81 closed
Tie burial of N1onaka. Spotted Tail will for
ever remain ut peace with the whites. rs he
has left the hest pledge of it within the
cemetery of Laramie.