The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-06-02
An Hour with the Indian Boys.

An Hour with the Indian Boys.
II was away out west; and it was a
ovely day in early spring, that in stroll
ing through grove L heard not far from
me the words, "Qut-tee. ne-sha, noch-
ah, nor-wah, po-ta-nah," etc, he'ng
pronounced in a slow, methodical man
ner. was sufficiently acquainted with
the yernacular of the Indians about us
to know that there was counting going
on.
listened a moment longer, and an
other voice took up the words, "Qut-
tee, ne-sha "a pause. He had evidently
failed in something, for there was an ex
ultant veil, and another voice commenced
repeating the numbers, while 1 walked
on toward the spot from whence the
voices proceeded.
I soon came upon four Indian boys,
who were engaged in playing the game
of "7eUen Iellens," which signifies Ten
Tens. They did not seem to object i'll
the least to my company; on the con-
trary, they by signs and gesticulations
made me understand that they would
like to have me join them in the game.
I, fortunately for myself, refused, but
SAL uOWu, hOWCNCls w WotSh sAAOhis
A boy of about twelve years had in
his hands tail of deer, with a string
of six inches or so in length tied to one
end, and on this string were two wooden
cups of about an inch and half in di-
ameter. He would throw this in the air,
and, as it descended, would endeavor to
catch it by thrusting slender, pointed
stick, which he held in his hand, into
one Of the cups. They were very expert,
one boy catching it twenty times before
missing.
They threw very rapidly, counting as
they caught it, which accounted for the
"Qut-tee, ne-sha, noch-ah, and so on,
which / had heard, and which signifies
one, two, three, etc.
One hundred was the game, and the
fortunate one who first reached that num-
Der was the winner, and had the priv
lege of imposing penalty on each OF
the others.
The game was soon finished, and Wa
pe-o.sa, who was the successful boy,
stepped out with great loftiness/of man
ner to fulfill the duties of his high Office.
The other three stood before him with
their arms folded, heroically awaiting
their sentence.
With majestic movement Of the hand
the winner Of the game motioned to one
of the boys to step forward.
He did so, and as he had only reached
ninety in the game, and thus lacked ten
of the required number, he was obliged
to submit to ten hard pinches from the
fingers OF Wa-ge-o-sa. The pinches were
bestowed on the feshy part of the arm,
between the elbow and shoulder, and
each was given with force and ven
geance that would have brought tears
and groans from white boy but the
little Indian stood like q statue, not NOV
ing muscle during the whole perform
ance. He .aen stepped back to his
place, and little fellow, not more thar
eight years of age, came forward.
Stoically he stood, and, without ever
cringing, allowed Wa-ge-o-sa to thrust {
pin twenty times into his tender flesh
Great drops of blood would follow the
withdrawal of the pin each time ant
Wa-ge-o-sa on seeing this uttered grunt'
of satisfaction, and his black eyes
twinkled with triumph.
Next, walking with a firm tread, as i
he was measuring off so many feet o
land, came forward Mee-cah. Poo
little Mee-cah He had only reached
fifty out of the 100.
As we looked upon him we hoped hi
penalty would be a light one, for WI
would not like to see him receive sucl
q number of pinches or to have hin
pricked fifty times with pin.
Wa-ge-o-sa considered fo1 a momen
before pronouncing his sentence, whicl
was to have fifty hairs pulled from hi
head.
Mee-cah stood with folded arms, q
str light as an arrow, his blight eve
gazing into the far distance, while Wa
ge-o-sa, as he pulled the hairs. Gale
out, "Qut-tee, ne-sha, noch-ah, etc
until the fifty hairs were disposed of.
The game was now ended, and thanl
full was that had not joined them, &c
/ am confident that should have faile
each time in catching the cups, and
am sure that could not have undergon
the penalty of failure without utterin
groans that would have subjected me
the derision and contempt of each {
these boys.
had some beads with me, which
wished to divide up among the littl
fellows. We we're busily intent in ge
ting each of the four piles of equal siz,
when we noticed fifth boy approach
ing. He walked rather hesitatingly to
ward the group, and stopped when with
in about six feet of us; then with site
which he carried in his hand he drew
straight mark on the ground before hin
when, folding his arms, he stood still
with his eyes fixed with questionin
look upon the other boys, who, risin
to their feet, retreated to the bacl
ground, where they commenced a 10
iabbering among themselves, the ne
conner. with all the dignity Of chic
tain, meanwhile retaining his position
After quite a lengthy discussion Il
boys advanced, and Wa-ge-o-sa, with L