The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1873-02-13
written for the ApvERrIsKR.
FROM INDIAN TERRITORY.
Camp Fire Talk-.Thc Tradi-
tlons Of the KiOWaa--The AbO-
riginal Idea OF the Past and
thc Future.
OFFICE kIowA AGENCY. |. l..
LIST mo-. gath. 1873.

Orr1cE K1owA AGENCY, |. l..
LIST no., gath. 1873. J
A short time ago, while visiting the
Indian camps, with an Interpreter and
three other white men, and kicking
Bird, a principal Kiowa chief, as
guide. We camped one evening in
the mountains, far from any Indian
village. The evening was pleasant
and mid for mid-win.er, and the
moon was brightly shining overhead.
After disposing Of supper. Kicking
Bird was asked what the kiowas
thought of the moon? He replied:
at is the Great White Man."
He / en- locked around for clus
ter of stars, which he was unable TO
see, but said they had the appearance
of a mans face: 1t is the Great
Kiowa. who made us, and all this
country, with its streams, mountains
and animals.
"He was formerly in this country,
and was man of such gigantic stat
ure that with one stride he could step
across the largest streams. After
making the country and a portion of
the animals. he travelled to the West,
and coming to very large hollow
tree which was lying down. he made
three motions with stick and then,
on striking it hard, there came out nu-
merous kiowa men and women, who
ran away from him in apparent alarm.
But on calling to them they returned
to the Great kiowa, who told them
that he was their father and made
them. He discovered, however, that
in some respects they are very awk-
wardly made. He at once corrected
the defects and sent them away. At
ter a time he again struck the same
log and brought forth another supply
Of Kiowas correctly formed. Suisse
ouently he again resorted to pound
ing the fruitful log and still another
Weld Of kiowas was the result-men,
women and children-whercupoE he
told them that they had been doing
wrong, and he should make no more
kiowas.
TO the men he gave bows and
arrows. The latter had flint heads
fastened upon them. He showed us
how to make and use these instru-
ments, and until we procured iron of
the white people, we always made
flint heads for our arrows and used
flint for knives.
He furnished our women with in
struments for dressing skins, and told
them that they were 70 perform this
labor and make the clothing.
"Soon after making the kiowas.
he went to large flat stone. which
with his gigantic strength he succeed
ed in raising, when out came the but
falo in large herds. These. he told
us. were made expressly for our ben
flesh we could use fer food
and Of their skins we could make
lodges and clothing.
After the Great kiowa had com
pleted his work, he travelled far TO the
East, where he met with the Great
White Man, riding a fine horse and
wearing very good and clean clothes,
which strangely con,rastcd with the
lirty and battered skins in which he
vas clad
"After the kiowa told Of the coun-
~, people, animals. &c. that he had
1ade, the Great White Man inform
d him that he. too. had been in the |
business-he had made
larwc Country MIRA NUMEROUS ,~--,-
lie away beyond the great waters,
whom he had taught to make paper
nd books and how to cultivate the
oil, build houses, make clothing, &c.
"On the return OF Great kiowa to
is people, he told them whom he had
cen, and. reminding them that he
vas their father and had made for
hem their country and animals-said
he country was their own and if the
White people should cross the great
water as their father had done, that
hev should always treat them as enc
MES, and notwithstanding there
night be many more white people
han kiowas. they should never be-
ONE extinct.
after time the Great kiowa and |
White Man both went up into the
LIQUIDS; the former becoming a clus-
er OF stars and the latter the moon,
nd are always watching over their |
;ofhs and people.
But the kiowa was bad man
nd gave us bad advice, which from
fancy is told to our children and |
ill be hard to eradicate from their
linds. But now. as we are regular
receiving our annuity goods and
atoms from the white people. some
Us think that they should not be
'eatcd as enemies. have told nv
eople that no other agent ever treat
/ us with such uniform kindness as
Re present one has. and | shall no
niger regard white people AS enc
les. but az friends. and shall cling
} them. | have assured my people
lat in future, should any OF the kio-
as 60 on raids, ] shall throw them
yay. and with such as will follow
c move near the Agency and remain
peace, while those who 60 of on
e war path must take care Of them
Ives and suffer the consequence"
To the Agent he said. Il regret
at you leave us in the spring. You
re had a hard time in trying to get
to behave, and now, as we have
included TO take your advice and
low the white mans road, we void
like YOU TO remain; but if you
ist 90 to your children and home.
want YOU TO have the new agent TO
me in time to be with you before
u leave and learn how to get along
tn US
In answer to the question what
came Of them after death. Kicking
I'd replied: When we die.
lether III battle or otherwise, we go
the west. where we cross a wide
ter and then 90 onto high emf
Dce where there are always watch
looking to see who is coming. 8
hen anyone approaches near I
ough to be identified the watchers 4
J to the people on the other side 3
] tell them who is cnminr when | /