, 1877-08-24
The Blackfeet Indians.

still the most numerous and powerful of
the nations that live wholly or partly in
North America. In person they have
developed an unusual degree of beauty
and symmetry. Though of less stature
than many other Indians, they are still
tall and well made Their faces are very
intelligent, the nose aquiline, the eyes
clear and brilliant, the cheek bones less
prominent, and the lips thinner than
usual among other tribes. The dress of
the men differs little from the ordinary
costume of the Indians of the plains, ex.
cept in being generally cleaner and in
better preservation. The Bloods dress
more neatly and are finer and bolder.
looking men than the Blackfeet, who, in
turn, surpass the Peagins in these re.
spects. The Bloods are said to have
among them many comparatively fair
men, with gray eyes, and hair both finer
and lighter colored than usual in the
case of pure Indians. This tribe is sup.
posed to bear its savage name, not from
any particular cruelty of disposition, but
because, unlike the other tribes, its war
riors do not steal horses, but only seek
for the blood of their enemies, whom
they generally overcome, for they are
among the bravest of all the natives.
The faces of both Blackfeet men and
women are generally highly painted with
vermilion, which seems to be the ma
tional color. The dress of the latter is
very singular and striking, consisting of
long gowns of buffalo skins, dressed beau
tifully soft, and dyed with yellow ochre.
These are confined at the waist by a
broad belt of the same material, thickly
studded over with round brass plates,
the size of silver half-dollar piece,
brightly polished. The Blackfeet, how
ever, in common with other Indians, are
rapidly adopting blankets and capotes,
and giving up the beautifully painted
robes of their forefathers. The orna-
mented robes that are now made are in-
ferior in workmanship to those of the
days gone by.
The mental characteristics of the
Blackfeet resemble closely those of In
dians everywhere. Similar circumstances
give shape and force to thoughts and
emotions in all. Intellectual vigor is
manifested in shrewdness of observation,
and strong powers Of perception, imagi-
nation and eloquence. They are quick
of apprehension, cunning, noble-minded
and firm of character, yet cautious in
manner, and with certain expression of
pride and reserve. They are strong and
active, and naturally averse to an indo-
lent habit. Their activity, however, is
rather manifested in war and the chase
than in useful labor Pastoral, agricul-
tural and mechanical labor they despise,
as forming sort of degrading slavery.
In this they are as proud as the citizens
of the old republics whose business was
war. Their labors are laid upon the
women, who also are, upon occasions,
the beasts of burden upon their marches
for the egotism of the red man, like that
of his white brother, makes him regard
woman as his inferior, and predestined
servant to minister TO his comfort and
pleasure. The Blackfeet have, moreover,
both local attachment and strong
patriotic or national feeling, in which
respect they differ favorably from all
other tribes. In their public councils
and debates they exhibit genuine ora
torical power, and keenness and close
ness of reasoning quite remarkable. Elo-
quence in public speaking is a gift which
they earnestly cultivate, and the chiefs
prepare themselves by previous rehec.
ton and arrangement Of topics and
methods Of expression. Their scope of
thought is boundless as the land over
which they roam, and their speech the
echo of the beauty that lies spread
around them. Their expressions are ss
free and lofty as those Of any civilized
man, and they speak the voices of the
things of earth and air amid which their
wild life is cast. Their language being
too limited to afford a wealth of diction,
they make up in ideas in the shape of
metaphor furnished by all nature around
them, and read from the great book
which day, night, and the desert unfold
to them.--H. AZ. Robinson, in AppIetons'
Journal.