The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-03-27

Utes, between whom and their people
deadly feud had existed for years; little did
they surmise that this feast was to be their
last. After supper they asked their hosts
if they were Kiowas, and receiving an
affirmative answer seemed perfectly salts
fled that they had fallen amongst friends,
and the evening passed away in friendly
conversation and hilarious glee, the recital
of warlke deeds and of mighty hunts.
Blankets were offered them, and before
long the whole camp was apparently buried
in slumber; not so, however, for Pe-ah, the
willy chief of the band, taking into his
confidence a few of the young men who
thirsted for the distinction of taking a
scalp, proposed a plan which involved the
murder of their too confidng guests. The
proposal was eagerly accepted, and about
midnight they stole quietly upon their
unsuspecting victims and surrounded them.
The chief gave the first blow with his
knife, and SO true was his aim that the
savage had hardly time to groan a warning
to his comrades before his spirit winged its
way to the happy hunting grounds of his
fOrefathers. This was a signal for the
attack, and the whole party preciptated
themselves upon the two other men, who.
notwithstanding brave resistance, soon
persisted beneath the repeated blows Of
their savage antagonists. OF course the
whole camp was aroused by the noise of
the fray. and great was the rejoicing when
it was known that three scalps had been
taken from their inveterate enemies, the
kiowas, who for so long had triumphed
over the Ute; tile children yelled. the
squaws gave vent to their most fiendish
glee in demoniac songs, and the warriors
congratulated each other on their warlike
conquest of three men. With degree of
sagacity for which these braves are noted,
but which some evil thinking persons would
call cowardice, they at once determined to
leave the plains and betake themselves
once more to the vicinity of settlements to
recuperate after their noble achievements.
Denver was the point selected, and pitch
ing upon favorable locality they encamped
some distance from the city. Their first
care was to preserve the scalps they had
taken, and for this purpose an elaborate
preparation was necessary. All superflous
skin and hair was removed by shaving off
with sharp knife, and the inside surface
was then rubbed by the squaws with buffalo
brains and ashes, with little salt added
After each application, which was made
several days in succession, they were
stretched on willow frame and allowed to
dry in the sun. This drying was accom-
plshed within week, and they were then
ready to be handled with IMMUNITY. The
dance, our informant stated, had been in
progress several days, and after this recital
we were more anxious than ever to see the
performance.
Taking carriage we were soon far out
on the plain to the south of Denver, and
ere long the shouts and singing of the
Indians informed US that the dance was in
full blast. Passing small stream and
laboriously climbing sandy hill which led
to the table land, full view of the scene
burst upon our eyes. In the dim distance
to the west, partially obscured by rapidly
rising clouds, doomed up the "great back
bone of the continent" tie peaks of Long
and Pike to the north and south rearing
their snow capped heads to the very heav-
ems, while between the base of this mighty
chain and our point of observation rolled
grand and beautiful prairie, dotted here
wifi yuh
ings of outhouses, stables, corrals and
barns showed a degree of prosperity we
might hardly have expected to see. Com
plete the picture by the insertion of the
Indian encampment with it's yelling inhab-
itants, and perhaps some idea may be
obtained of the vision we beheld on reach
ing the top of the hill
White men sometimes make mistakes in
choosing sites for cities, villages and towns;
Indians never do. With a sort of instinct,
which long years of experience has afforded
them, they invariably, if opportunity per-
mits, select spots eligible in every way,
this eligibility being determined by the
presence of suffcency of good water,
grass and wood, although when this latter
article is absent buffalo chips suffice for all
their heating and culinary purposes. The
camp before us was admirably selected the
site being commanding, with rivulet of
fine water within a short distance. This
tribe, unlike their relatives, the Pah- ties
and Gosi- Utes, live in canvas tents, each
structure serving as an abode for an entire
family, men, women and children all hud-
ding in together. The village was com
posed Of perhaps twenty or thirty of these
tents, which were decorated on the outside,
in some instances, with streaks of paint,
and the arms and horse furniture of their
occupants hung on poles outside. We
approached, and taking a good position
for observation, gave our entire attention
to the dance, which was going on with
terrific fury. In this instance the men
acted as musicians and the squaws were
the performers. The men. twenty or thirty
in number, were drawn up in line with
elbows touching, and four or five of them
were supplied with drums made by stretch
ing skins over cylinders of wood; others
had tin pans, upon which they beat, keep
ing time to monotonous chant, in which
both bucks and squaws joined. In sing
ing, one person commenced the song, and
the others all gave voice after few words
had been repeated; the men swaying against
each other from side to side, keeping time
in this way. The sauaws at the commence
ment of the dance were huddled together
near the edge of a circle on the ground,
which had been formed by the repeated