, 1877-03-24
FAMILIAR TALK.

When Cat|ln wroto Of tho North American
indians, tho trbo ot Clcycnnes, dwelling west
OF the Sioux, between tho Hack Hills md tho
Rocky Mountains, numbered about i 900 souls;
but they have since dwlndlcl to about 1000.
THEY arc one Of tho most exclusive tribts Ut
our aboriglncs, and have thus fur avoided, MS,
far as possible, contact with other tribes and
with tho Mc1fcaus, ns aiso intcrmatTtnEcs With
tho whites. They hayo lkcwtsc cndeaYurcd to
ubstain from traffic viii, the whisky'scllcrs, and
thus to gusrl sl,c,nsclycs from tho most de-
mornlEzng rico which has been Introduced
among saynscs by thclr clylllzctl brothers. -
Catlin *ays OF the Chcyenncs: "Tlicrc IL no
finer rucc OF men t,.an these In North America,
and mono superior IN stature, excepting tho
Osagcs,-thcrc being scarcely man In tho
tribe, iu,l.grown, who is less thnn sir feet
In height. They aro undoubtedly tho
richest IN horses Of any tsibo an tho
continent, living IN tho ceuntsy, rs
they do, where great hcr]s Of Wild horses ara
grazing on tho pratrtcsw which thcY catch In Ercat
numbers, mil sc,,.1 to tho Sioux, sIanlans. and
o,hes tribes, na we'll Us To tho futtradcss. Thcso
pcs,plc arc nost desperate set Of horscmcn,
and warrtors also, having carried on an almost
uurcaslag wnr with tho pawnecs and Dlaekfect
from time out OF 1nin0."
The young boys Of this, Ms Of other Indian
tribes, nrp never, after Infancy, subject to tho
authority oi tho mother, or to uny correction
from the father, but grow up 10 manhood in tho
most ut,rcstrancd license. Tho only example
which thoY nTc taught 10 almsso and initiate !a
that OF the braves OF tilelF tribe, who arc ton-
orca tn proportion 70 thes ispsy 81 nnn1 feats ot
theft, and fcrncity. Col: II. ]. Dodge says OF
tho Cheyenne youth: y Prom the dawn Ut In
tclltscncu his owl will "a bis law. There Is no
Iii, tSrfhN nt1rHk kf<,YR
os good lttlo boys uru poured into Ills attentive
cnr4 nt his mothers knee. No dread Of p4hlel!.
tss,aln, him from any net H. b2ys
over tho scuips Of strangers, all ot whom l'c Is
| taught 10 rcgpul ~ enemies: Tho Lessons ct
! his mother awakcns only lcsre 10 take his
place as soon y p possible IN agat Or 'otay . ino
lated 10 lit him best to act prominent part IN
| thu cfnse, In theft, md In murder"
| At tho ago Of !. or 10, TUG Indian boy thlrtts
rior, atI to siguailze his conduct IN tho eyes Of
tho older men Of Ills tribe. According TO Col.
Dodge, the most cruel acts Of raptae and blood.
ahed aIe committed by bands ot youths trotn y y
adventures suited 10 .thcie sarare codo OF
| chiyxlry. While out on shcso predatory cxcur-
stons, each iucip|ent warrior "is rntlent, Tor
time u nothtn - hun; meyer es i,o,ae'tsk. b.
becomes Keen for sycry inark on earth, or try,
OF blade Of grass: and he puts tn practice all La
has heard from tho cllcEt alnulld tho camp.hFes,
as to how TO CONCEAL his trail. or hldo his camp,
OF Of the btst mrlhtxt of appEoach TO, or attack
upon, an unsllsrectlng enemy. Virtue, sau1at-
ity, generosity, honor, arc words not only abso-
iutcly without stgntAca,.co to him, but are not
accurately trzas!atAtle into tho 1ndlan language
Of tho plains."
parties Of youthful robbcrs and slAycrs, the H.
dsYidu2ls anon. them who hayc suceeejta In
their Tcaulute eudcarOr to outNit some enctl1yt
aud hay u brought back trophies 10 bear wtneas u
tho victory, are admitted to thu general council
uf warriors aud cllicts, thcro to recount their
experiences, and plead their clatIn to undergo
tho ordeal through which they Muat pass 10 tho
coveted position Of brave. II. By thelr ,owu
arts Of pc14ua4lnn, ckcd out by tho tcsttInouy
Afforded by their companions, tho right 81
Initiation into tho runks OF the warriors y
established. the nsplrants arc put through
tosturlllX tEal waleh severely ttsle
eycn tho lnlian's power of stols q!
this barbasous rite whkh Col; Dodge has given
in Its sPlaina of the Great West y u 20 tuteE,
estinK - to deserve repeating without eondea"
| sAtion: .,-..
"The candidate foE initiation Is taken BY hil
father, or nearest male relative, to secluded
spot outside tho precincts oi tho camp, whetr,
after some religious ceremonies have been atse
transacted The youth Ia stripped to thc akin
4 bsoad-bladrd knitu Il then passed
through thp pectoral muscles, 80 II I.
maks lsq vertical tns1s!!oas, soeas t..l