The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-10-23
A Hunt with the Yankton Sioux.

A Hunt with the Yankton Sioux.
Summer hunting with the Ute Indians
in the parks Of the Rocky Mountains hav-
ING rendered distastetul the civilization
of our fashionable resorts, allG untitled me
for the quiet comfort of the farmhouse, |
packed my prairie costume and sporting
outfit and started for the West
Reports received at Denver of my hunt
inc friends, the ties. were not encourag-
inc. | decided. therefore, to ascend the
Missouri. and Join the Yankton Sioux of
Dakota.
On reaching their reservation | COM
municated to Major GaSman, the efficient
United States Agent, my wish to accom-
pany the Indians ON their annual hunt,
and through his influence was received as
a guest OF the tribe.
On the 25th OF July three hundred and
twenty warriors with thoir ,quaws and
children. their lodges and worldly pos
sessions. fifteen hundred ponies, and sey
eral hundred dogs, prepared to cross the
Missouri. This was no easy task. The
river was wide. the current rapid and
filled with eddies. the s;nd-hars nlmer-
Gus, and the bottom shifting AS sat on
the bank watching the passage of this little
army wished for some word artist to
bring before the readers eye the almost
naked warriors. the busy chattering squaws,
the frightened children, the Struggling
ponies and the yelping dogs Frank
Trumbo, q herdcr on the reservation. and
!, being the only white men of the party.
We're the last to leave. With hearty
God speed from the Major and his
family We stepped into a canoe, and hold
ing our swimming ponies firmly by the
ears We're soon clamberin@ up the western
bank Of the Missouri.
The squaws We're preparing the evening
meal, and from the stew-pots suspended
over the blazing fires came a saVorv odor
The warriors lay or sat in groups, Smok-
ing and passing the pipes, playing with
their little ones and telling stories The
halt-@roWn boy, wrrStlcd goCd-naturedly
with one another, and the Young girl
rolled and tumbled in the tall grass. as
merry as children OF lighter hue. Ponies
| of every slzc and color, and innumerable
| dogs in idle .ontcntedness, stood around
We We're soon on the best OF terms with
lcaping Thunder. our host, 4 bold war
| rior whose record placed him high in the
| council of the TRIBE and his pretty squaw
whose unpronounceabl name we changed
| to Little Woman The table cloth ca
buffalo skin with the hair next the ground)
was spread and invitation extended to The
Fat and Poor Bull, the chiefs in command,
to sup with us, They camc. and over
steWed beans and coffee we vowed eternal
friendship. Several warriors Joined the
! circle, and till a late hour, the pipe pass
ing from mouth to mouth, they told with
animated gestures their personal powcss
| in the chase, and their deadly skill on the
war path After the departure of oul
guests we turned our table cloth and rolled
in for the night The camp was filled
with strange sounds; the medicine man
| drlmmcd and sang dismal chant the
| Young braves roamed among the lodges
| cawing to their lady loves; the dogs,
| fascinated by 4 single bark, Joined in one
united chorus But in time all was still
and was with the dear ones at home
| By sunrise we were under way From
| the top OF the bluffs Il beautiful and ami
mated scene presented itself In three
| lines moved the pack and trayauN animals,
| surrounded .by squaws and children fal
out upon the prairie rode curiously-paint-
warriors gathering in scattered ponies
| boys wild with excitement, and rs un
| tanned rs the colts to which like teaches
| they chung without saddle or bride dashcC
hither and thither pursued by barking
| dog; dams shrilly neighing ran up and
| down, and through the train. wholly un
! mindful of the fell mathemaS hurled attel
| them by the angry squaWs compelled tC
| drop the lariat to let them pass the SUI
| lighted up the scarlet blankets Of a groul
| smoking on the hillside, and 'bunshc,
I. the tin arlnletS and ornamcntcd belts OF
the Indian girls. The warriors refraincC
from hunting. but the Young brave,
! brought down from time TO time rabbits
skins, prairie hens, and curlcW The skunl
is considered a great dclicacy, and from
the number fastened to the waists Of III,
| boys, the thought OF an invitation TO
| great feast grew unpleasant.
| AT the Niobrara we We're presented
with the first venison Of the hunt, and 4
an Indian seldom gives without expect
ing something i'll return, we decided upol
a feast. Whom to invite was the mo
mentous question. In our dilemma W,
appealed to Leaping Thunder, who tool
the responsibility upon himself, an(
promised TO secure the proper guests
Into the StcW-pots went venison, beans
| Itpp'. 'tif'i l'itiih iNI ilt Nhlil " til'
lodge was raised and tied to sticks, thu
extending the area protected from the
sun. and at the back we spread a blankc
for The Fat and Poor Bull, and on cithc
side skins for the braves. When every
thing was ready Leaping Thunder pro
claimed in a loud voice that we wer
about to eat, aud after a moments paus
the names Of those he wished to Join II,
They came Immediately, entering with
grave GLOW koda = the latter word mean
ing friend, the former possessing almos
universal significance, expressing delight
thanks. welcome, questioning, affirmation
etc. While eating little was said, hll
when the pipe began to circulate til
talk became general. One Of the chief
upbraided me for being without 4 lod9
Of my own, and gravely proposed that
should accept his daughter, and give m
/ rifle in return. He spoke earnestly Of he
beauty, her capacity for labor, and til
better position | should hold in the trlb
[ if possessed of a maiden beloved by hi
, people. | declined the offer in as rhoic
!, language as possible, at which my woul,
be-father-in-aw grinned good-naturedl,
The ''talk" Of the Indians among then
selves is always the same-anecdotcs
war and hunting-in which the tellt
: figures as the hero. Their gestures al
graceful, their actions animated and al