Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1873-01-11
D ALIAS HER AID.
Rocky Mountains, No. 8.
INTERESTING INDIANs--THE FLAT HEADS.


Rocky Mountains, %.
INTERESTING INDIAHs--THR FLAT HEADS.
The Flat Head Indians are by far, III,
IN st interesting tribe Of Indians, In thu
Rocky Mountains. They number but fifty
or sixty lodges; are nomadic in theil
habits, aud range on the head Of Clark's
Fork of the Columbia. They have been
from time immemorial, at war with the
powerful tribe of Black Feet, who probably
out number them twenty fold Being con-
st'tutionally brave, and frequently enga
ced in battle with their more numerous
opponents, they are rapidly diminishing
in nu mbers, and will soon be compelled to
abandon their wandering habits and set.
tie down near some of the Forts, on the
lower Columbia, where they can receive
protection, and raise corn, beans and stock
'Galish.' or Flat Head from an ancient
cusiome of COMPRISING the heads of their
infants between boards, so rs TO cause
them to assume different or unnatural
shape, but this crush custom hns long
since been abandoned, and no living ex-
ample can now be found amongst them.
Trese were the interesting and inoffe nsive
Indians, Capt. Lewis found IN Horse Prai.
rie, on the head of the Jefferson, and
eniiced to his camp by display of brads,
looking glasses and other Sew gaws that
caught the admiration of these untutored
children of the mountains. | have fire.
quently heard 'Oid Gaigneo,' the Flat
Heud Chief, relate minutely, tho circum-
stances that occurred in this, their first
interview with the white man, and found
that his relation was almost word for word
The same rs recorded by Capt Lewis; the
only difference being this, "A old Shos hony
or Snake squaw, who was with Capt Lew
is, observing how much lie seemed to be
interested in these simple and aimiable
people, claimed them as shoshoneys, her
ewn people and the greatest rascals to be
found in the whole mountain range. The
Flat Heads boast that they have never
killed q white man, or stolen horse from
any one of them. They are honest and
religious. In the two years that | was
trading with them, l never had So much
as an awl blade stolen. Their religious ex-
ercises consist of singing aud dancing, in
which they oil assemble and engage on
every sabbath in the open air. Their Gus
TOMS are almost identical with those of
the ancient Jews, with the single excep-
ton of burnt Offer ings or sacrifices, in
which blood is displayed they do make
offerings to the great Saint, but these are
always articles Of beauty or use, as tobacco
blankets beads and other ornaments. These
are always deposited in places where they
believe the Great Spirit temporarily re-
sides, or visits. To one who has been ia
miliar with their manners aud customs,
il would seem that in ancient times they
had had Jewish Jesuit among them, who
had instructed them in all the ancient
doctrines Of the Pentateauch. When any
article, however tritling, is lost aad found
by any one, it is Immediately handed to the
Chief, who invariably restores it to the
right owner. Their females ore chaste
and modest ard many Of them would be
considered as pretty any where. They are
fond of dress, painting, and display of
brilliant co,ors, which makes the individ-
ual Indian when in full dress very fam
tas ic creature. Their appearance howev-
or when assembled on gala day or on
when on march, is quite animating. l
will attempt imperfectly to describe such
o scene. We had broke up camp in Horse
Prairie, on lonely day precisely on the
spot where Capt. Lewis had formerly met
these Indians, and were marching east
ward over the wide and beautiful plain in
quest of water, grass and convenience to
game. Old Guigneo limped along at the
head of the procession, his old wounds
preventing him from mounting horse.
He was wrapped in a plain buffalo robe,
and no where displayed any ornament.
Behind him was led proud war
charger, which by the by, he never mount |
ed bearing his lance, shield, quiyer and
tomahawk, and all the parapbernalia of
war used in his days Of vigor and prime
of manhood. This horse was highly or
nsmented, covered with fringe and tas
most priced ornament was several tail
feathers of the American Eagle, highly
ornamented with porcupine quills Of all
coors and fastened securely to the tail of
the noble animal. These indicated the
number of the gallant deeds his splendid
animal had enabled him TO perform. His
lance too, had many of these feathers
dangling at the outer ends like the small
flags attached to lances by our chivalrous
ancestors. These were also II record of the
deeds OF high emprise effected with the aid
of this implement. Behind followed many
gallant sieeds decorated in a similar man
uer, and bearing the arms Of their respec-
tive owners. Following these was a
scattering crowd of pack horses, bearing
their lodges, goods and children. These
were driven by squaws mounted on sad
dies having The front and rear two feet
high. They all rode astride, and their
saddles were as abundantly decorated
with fringe, tassels, bells ETC., as the war
chargers of their gallant husbands, On
our left, cavalcade of fantastic horsemen
canter along, their long black heir rising
and falling gracefully with the motion of
their bodies. Beyond them score of
youths are trying the speed OF their horse S,
and moving with the speed ofthe Arabs Of
the desert; beyond these still, are single
horsemsn ut all distances in view; these
are acting IS spies to get distant view
Of any approaching enemy, and 10 observe
the situation, kind and numbers Of game.
On our right are seen half dozen horse.
men in hot pursuit Of q wounded antelope,
who runs nearly as fast on three legs US
the following steeds do on four. Beyond
them is o scattering herd Of Bnffalo run
ming in all directions with twenty or
thirty Indians after them. There, down
goes one, then another, and still anotter,
in few minutes twenty are dead on the
field; yonIer is an Indian driving his
Buffalo towards onr line Of march, he ap-
prosches nearly to Old Guineo, and down
goes his Buffalo; this is dono to get the
assistance Of bis squaw 10 help butcher it
Yonder is another driving his Buffalo in
the direction we are travellingi this is
done to kill him as near camp as possible.
Far beyond our line Of march, is single
Indian waving his Buffalo robe to and fro,
and still beyond him are several Indians
riding at half speed, o short distance back
and forth, at right angles TO our course
all this is to spprise us that they have
discovered strangers. A strong party Of
Indians instantly depart at full speed to
the point Of observation always ready for
peace or war; in o few moments party
ofhorsemen are seen far to the Nortkwar
gailoping towards the distant mountains,
h,,f shav "a a. far oH that M nifemnt il