The avant courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1871-1872, 1872-04-04
FROM THE CHOW AGENcv
FoRT PARKkR, NJ. r, March 2stb 1879
Editor Arunt Courier.

ts = ~ q . SssA--sa0 WEI are the Grows
who are now singing and dancing. am es-
saying 20 write you sketch of to-days do
! ings, but the beating Of Indian drums. sine
Ing OF the braves and sqaaws, the barkino II
| dogs, the Gathering Of horses feet, saueal;no
OF papooses, and the high pitched voice Of
dusky warrior who assumes oratory. and
| for the time being holds forth doubtless 70
an enraptured audience, and whose voice bv
the way would drown that Of the old fashioned
fourth OF July orator; these sounds form 1
combination which if praised for its volume
could not be termed sweet concord Of har-
mony. Nevertheless despite the ravishinp
tones heard on all sides, | acill write Of to-
days proceedings at this place.
few days since ] was on the Upper Yel-
loWstone, and meeting with friend who
was en- route to Fort Parker he persuaded me
20 accompany him here. Last night we came,
and for the first time saw the Crow Agency.
we met with most royal reception, and be-
fore we had been here many minutes received
several Invitations to make their houses our
homes as long as it pleased us to tarry. We
still tarry. Early this morning Maj Bowen.
who 10 acting Agent. informed us that dis
tribntion OF annuity goods would take place.
and that perhaps the same might afford us
some interest and amusement. We thought
SO too, and remained. Soon the Indians be-
gun fling in through the gateway, and young
and old Of both sexes, ranged themstlye on
all sides of the court. Some were arraved
in well garnished robes, others in blankets
Of all colors and hues, some i'm full Indian
costume, and all were possessed of comfort
able apparel. walked in front of them and
after scrntinizing them carefully, found that
there WIS not a poorly clad Indian in the en-
tire assemblage.
Before the distribution commenced Iron
Bull, pressed in an officers uniform. epau-
lettes and all, walked around the circle and
spouted much oratory perhaps. From my
limited knowledge of the Grow language.
understood him as speaking of things spirit
ual, and exhorting his hearers not to think
TOO muchly Of things temporal, and when
he said something which sounded like unto
How is that for high,'' became visibly
affected Soon the warehouse doors are
Off Mr.. Ferris, and a number of employees
come out wirh their arms full. But little
time elapses before the piles Of goods in the
court assume large proportions. Bolts of
calicos sheeting and licking. piles of tobacco,.
sacks sugar, coffee and flour, kegs OF powder,
and other things enumerable are before the
groups. At last every thing is out, and the
Indians request Major Bowen, Charley Hoff-
man and Mr.. Ferris to waltz to the centre.
Here the indians scame and presented them
with robes, which by the way is All old Gus
tom. The three gents bore themselves up
bravely under the shower of robes, and SO
sympathized with them while passing
through this ordeal, that would gladly have
changed my position as spectator with any
one of the three. AT the close Of the distri-
button, Bear Wolf, Pretty Eagle. and another
whose name forget, with their followers,
had a dance in which four squaws with black
ened ices joined. The instrumental music
consisted of three drums, while the vocal
comprised twenty voices. The sqnaws had
long sticks, after tile manner Of the witches
in Macbeth. while pendent from these sticks
were good sized Sioux scalps. Some Of the
men also exhibited similar trophies of war.
The dance Was one of the round kind. the
assemblage forming circle and facing to the
centre. take side hops to the beating of the
drums, and Il species Of nlournful chanting.
This concluded. enter about thirty young
Crows on horses lately captured from the
Sioux, aud riding in a circle, they chant their
exploits. and sing concerning the glories that
awaits them in the future. One cuss with
goggles on, as near as | could understand,
belched forth in shaky falsetto what he
knew about farming.
Riding on stolen Sioux horses; swinging
round the circle; orators delivered them
selves of their pent up Uticas; smoking par
ties were scattered around every where; boys
and girls were indulging in their innocent
sports; when all Of sudden the scene
changed, and I'll filed out of the gateway to
witness horse race. The Indians like their
white, brothers are jockeys, but after q short
time the start was made, and the first horse
in-won. The costumes of the riders were
simple in the extreme. One wore red shirt
TSdCHif1S Hearty w Ills kiiCCc, tti&t wa
all. The dress OF the other was more
abridged and needs no description from me.
My letter is assuming too great length.
but before close, / must say that while am
no Indian lover, / cannot refrain from stating
that this is the first distribute on to Indians
that ever saw, that gave general satisfac-
ton to all. Not murmur or word of dis
pleasure did I hear, and what seems still
more singular to me, is the high regard and
esteem in which the Grows hold Maj. Bowen,
the acting agent, and Col. Black and Charley
Hoffman. the traders. Tf
I bid the Fort good bye tomorrow, and
here allow the C6URIER's representative in
these Yellowstone diggings to return his
thanks sincere and hearty to the truly hospi-
table and courteous Major Bowen, Charley
Hoffman Mr.. Ferris and Others More anon.
SLIM JIM.
The best Cigars and Tobaccos in Virginia
49, City will be fou nd at u. b. BARRIERS.
Strauss new quarters, the Ten Pin Alley Saloon |
is becoming lavorite resort. Good exercise and
healthy stmuaflts are the order 4