The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-08-17
MAKING SIOUX WARRIORS.
How the GeniIs savage Renrs his Boy
Pnpoose.

How the Gentle Savage Renrs his Boy
Pnpoose.
The chin-chel,la, or papoose, when
born, is taken by the mother to the near
est running stream, immersed and well
washed in the cold water. On her re-
turn to the lodge the proud mother is
presented by her husband with a mare
pony for his heir: the fatted dog is kill
ed. coffee boiled, bangs cooked, and the
birth feast prepared. The happy father
invites all his male relatives and friends.
The tom.tom, with the medicine rattle,
mako the music; the guests chant
lively melody, and dance until the feast
is served; the pipe is passed around,
and when all are helped the father pro-
poses toast to his wife. Each guest
congratulates the parents, and then alto
gether say: "We are oil friends" and
drink the health of the little stranger.
After the feasting the dance is renewed,
and at intervals the warriors will count
their comps, the number of horses
stolen, etc. and present their gift to the
parents for their child. Anything from
a dog to horse will satisfy the purpose.
The medicine man winds up the feast by
shaking the rattle, demoniac yells, con
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gun to drive the evil spirits away, re-
ceives pony in fee for his services, and
all retire. The initial services are over,
and the papoose starts in life debtor to
his tribe, as each article, animal or other
gift presented him must be returned
in kind sooner or later in his life. 50
you will see that Indian gifts are actual
ly time loans, and must be paid by the
ropoipar or 1n op,,c,Io,al 1,o, -
and dishonored man.
The child is wrapped in skins and put
in kind of elkskin coffin, and laced
around with lariat, as they soy, to
keep his limbs straight. His mother
sings him on her back, starts to the
timber after wood, pickets her ponies,
gets her meals and attends to all her
duties.
Papoose after being weaned is pro-
NOTED from his coffin cage and decked
out in blue cloth shirt, ornamented
with elk teeth and Iroquois shells. II
reaches to his hips and has no sleeves.
Attired thus his wardrobe is complete.
! In this condition he roots around the
lodge, makes mud images and swaps
graybacks for feas with the puppies.
His next advance is TO (Oxchilla) boy
| hOONi, hDouU bllO tBC VI lOul. IuO plltt
shirt is discarded, he receives strap
and narrow piece of cloth to mako a
, brooch clout, his scalp lock is plated.
! has bone sling aud long reed sticks,
: which are thrown like spear; then he
is dangerous. When his mother goes
for wood she puts an cid mare in the
travois and straps Oxchilla to the suck
ing colt. He has his first equestrian ex-
A | ,,prinnua &c l:tt1n 11ir, TnI,op hoe rl
beats as he thinks he will soon be able
to join the older boys in their racing,
shooting and mock fights.
' One of his ponies is rugged up with
ribbons, beaded saddle and silvered
| bride. He is put astride and his pony
, led to the lodge of the medicine man,
/: who takes him from his pony, placing
3 him on buffalo robe, pnts block OF
9 wood behind his ear, and with SHARP
Y knife cuts slit in the upper rim and
bell part of each ear. Some of these
s little boys nerve themselves for the
trial and never murmur during the op
+ Grafton. Bring in another horse anC
the medicine mans heart feels good. HI
will cry out and sing the praises of the
boy through camp for month. The
l. bigger the fee the longer and louder the
| PiuioCos OACllllt lOW RtNcu "
and moccasins to add to his breech
clout; also, knife to make his bow anC
arrows, and becomes bird hunter. OF
killing his first bird he is allowed tc
O wear little downy feather, and join tht
), do not trip, slap nor bite, but before
I. clinching will jump up and kick at eacf
q other backwards like horse.
'l,oi, tia,o1 80 chi,px, vuI,i al
n they play with ball made out of ante
, lope's hair, covered with buckskin. Ii
choosing sides three squaws are rate(
! against two bucks to make it equal
! Favorite sports with the boys are play
:. ing dare, shooting at a mark, throwing
sticks at a rolling ring on the ground
/: The one first succeeding in piercing
~ wins the stakes. They are inveterat
y sports, and will wager anything they ca
., beg, borrow or steal.
# Oxchilla, being good horseman now
" and persimmons on birds, is allowed t
a. go with his father on. the hunt. If h
y succeeds in killing deer, the downe
r feather is removed, and little horn pu
q. in its place on the scalp lock. He a.
d sists in the herd, bringing the ponies t
p. water, and finding good grazing fo
10 them. His next ambition is to kill
y buffalo. On succeeding he changes th
10 horn for small tail, feels some pump
a kins, and crows over the other boys.
IN On acquiring each of the differer
Il marks of distinction L have described
being the occasion of great Joy to o!
cbilla, he is required to give somethin
+. away, said gift being payment of SON
~ article be received at his birth feas
N m At the age of twelve he joins the fir
I war party, acting as supernumerar,
"a holding the extra horses, etc, for tt
10 others. In going to war, the Indial
+ walk long distances, or ride their paC
:" horser, leading the war ponies, al
q never put saddle on them until reat
O. for the charge therefore they are fres
T and equal to all emergencies.
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