The sun., 1872-05-24
SOME NEW BOOhS.
Intiinns aud lyunalOes.


then just out Of college, left st. Louis on tour
Of curiosity and amusement to the Rocky Noun
tains They were absent some months. during
a portion " which time Mr.. Parkman was do
mestcatcd with a band Of Sioux Indians The
travellers were accompali,d by guides and at
tendants, experienced hunters, and during their
Yssss W si- +'Ss4v Ssl .a ss, a. uIS.pAS..
lures, while they were thrown In contact with
numerous individuals possessing the various
characteristics which distinguished the hardy
and adventurous mountainous and trappers of
that time. In ls47 Mr.. Parkman wrote for the
knickcrbockcr M1gdkino a series OF sketches
descriptive OF his travels, and the incidents at
tending them, and these sketches, corrected and
revised, are published I'm book form under the IT,
tie Of the oregon Trdd. Now that towns and cities
have sprung up where the savages planted their
lodges at the time of MIR. Parkman's visit, and
the commercial traveller and the speculator ride
In luxurious palace cars over ground which our
traveller traversed with difficulty, and often in
great tribulation transporting his effects in the
peculiar vehicle known as a mule killer, a spc-
clal interest attaches to the description of
prairie and mountain life which this volume
affords.
In the spring Of 1915 the city OF st. Louis was
the scene of unusual hustle. Emigrants from
every part OF the country were preparing for the
Journey overland to Oregon and California;
traders were making ready their wagons and
outfits for Santa F6 small parties OF Mormons
were directing their course toward the future
city of Salt Lake; and the steamboats, leaving
the levee for the upper Missouri were crowded
with passengers ON their way to the frontier
On one Of these boats, loaded with horses,
mules, equipments and supplies for emigrants
and traders and with a motley list OF passen-
1.t
ulators emlgrants, adventures Of various de-
scriptons, mountain men, negroes, and party
Of Indians who had been on a visit to st. Louis,
Mcssrs. Parkman and shaw took their departure
on the 2sth Of April. Near independence the
travellers left the boat, and prepared for their
Journey to the mountains. Independence was
the great rendezvous for emlgrants, who were
cncamped on the prairie near by In vast num-
bers, and the town thrOnged with people,
who were buyng supplies. Mr.. Parkmans
preparations were soon completed, and his party
struck out through the woods and bushes, and
found themselves on tho broad prairie. Fol-
lowing the Missouri river to Fort Leavenworth,
and to the Kckapoo village. Ave or six miles
beyond, they Joined forces with party of Eng
lishmen. who were bound on hunting expedi-
tlon across the continent, and on the sd Of May
badc adieu to the frontier. The course agreed
OF dragoons, who had made an expedition under
Col. Kearney the previous summer to Fort Lar
annie, and by this means TO reach the grand trail
OF the Oregon cmlgrants up the Platte.
In June Mr. Parkman's party had reached the
Platte river, and for satisfactory reasons had
taken French leave Of their English companions.
Eor scyerl. days ailerward they. travelled with
out interruption. Then one morning Mr.. PARK
man saw something that seemed To him likc
files OF buffalo descending the hills several miles
In advance of him. The more pract ised eye OF
Chatilon, the guide, soon discovered Its real ma
ture. Indians" he said. "Old smokes lodges,
l believe" Chatiilon was right. 1t was the VIII
lage Of Old Smoke, Dakota chief well known
to him. Not long after black speck became
visible on the prairie, fun two miles on II grew
larger and larger, aud soon a naked In
dian was discerned carecrlng at full gal
lop toward the travellers. The Indian
approached after the customary formal
tiles. and proved TO be an acquaintance
of the guide. lie was young fellow of no note
In his nation. yet nne specimen OF the Dako-
Ia warrior In hls ordinary travelling dress,
which consisted pretty much OF an entire alb
sence Of clothing Like most Of his people he
was nearly six feet high, lthely and gracefully
yet strongly ptoportioned, and with skin sin
gularly clear and delicate lie wore NO paiut (;
his head was bare. and his long hair WAS gather
ed in n clump behind, e. the top OF which was
| attached transyerscly, both 'by way n '66tfTd-
ment and Of tallsman, the mystic whistle,
made OF the wiry bones OF the war eagle.
From the back of his head descended a
| line Of glittering brass plates tapering from
| the size OF a doubloon to that Of half
| dime. His chest and arms were naked ;
the buffalo robe worn over them when
uHa ata md
was confined there by a belt This, with
| the gay moccasins on his feet, completed his
| attire. For arms he carried quiver Of dog
| skin n, hls back and rude but powerful
| bow in his hand. His horse had no bride. \
| cord OF hair lashed around his jaw served In
| place OF one. At noon the party reached n
creek, where the main body OF the Indians had
| formed n temporary encampment, which COW
| cred several acres Of ground. Mr.. Parkman In
vited several of the chiefs and warriors to din
| ner and amicahlc relations were at once estab-
| hshed, notwithstanding that friendly proposal
| made by one OF the savapes bearing tile name OF
| the Hog, to barter one of his daughters for one
Of Parkman's horses, was rejected. few miles
more OF travel brought the party TO Fort Laramie
| The summer Of 1916 was season Of warlike
excitement among all the Western bands Of the
Dakotas. In ls4j they encountered great re-
! yerses. Many Wal parties had been sen; out
| some Of them had been cut on and Others had
returned broken and disheartened so that the
whole nation was in mourning. Among the res
ten warriors had gone To the Snake country, led
by the son Of prominent Ogallallah chief, callc,
the Whirlwind. In passing over Laramie Plain
they encountered a superior number ot thci
enemies, were surrounded, and killed to
man. Having performed this exploit th'
Snakes became alarmed, dreading the resent
p..os.;- at tho DaLSi2s. ..lDd they. hestepGf
therefore to signify their wish for pence
10y sending the scalp ~ the slain partisan
with small parcel Of tobacco attached, to hi
tribesmen and relations. But the Whirwind
long before the scalp arrived, had made ht
preparations for revenge. lie sent messenger
with presents and tobacco to all the Dakotas
within three hundred miles, proposing CRANE
! combination to chlstise the snakes, and whel
Mr.. Parkman arrived at Fort Laramie many vii
lagos probably embracing live or six thousan
souls, were slowly creeping over the pralries an
tending toward the designated rendezvous Il
Ia BoutGs camp on the Platte. Here their wal
like rites were to be celebrated with more tina
ordinary solcmnity, and thousand warriors,
was said, were to set ont for the enemy cour
try Mr. Parkman was grcatlyrejoiced with thi
Intelligence. lie had come into the countr
.I,t ,,.ftt Of p1 n ~