The New York herald., 1877-10-23


varded with much contempt as 10 let tree for tho
,ake Of showing tho captive how little he esteemed
hm.
or course he is a polygamst, having three squaws
IN his tepee who mis- swves according TO the
Indian code, but he has more constapcy than Bear
Spirit his brother-in-aw chiet Of tho Yanklons ana
other associate chiefs His ''private fe is described
by breed hunters who have long cd
him be excellent according the Indian code
His great ambition seems to be directed in military
way-so become q great soldier-and he intends even
yet to carry out the Indian policy, "Amerca for the
Sioux" Mr. Gurpidee iniofms that Chief Sitting
Bull knows all about the sensational OF his being
halfbreed, educated at ST. Johns College. Manitoba
aud an English lord who had dsgraced himself, &c
TO exasperate him than amuse him. Anything that
tends 10 lessen the ability of Sioux Indian -
especially Tston-or throw doubts up9n ,'I ms hs
nearly equal to a challenge; but no one who has
seen Sitting Bull, no matter under what circumstance
would could reasonably place him among the st oi
doubtfua white man might mistake him, but an
Indian or hali-breed would classify him at the hrss
glance and be The statements that ne rehes
upon alliances with other Indian tribes and carrying
on border warfare are merely sensational items
worked up by the mounted police, waited TO fort
Benton and eventually 10 winnipeg, in which latter
paco 10 great number OF military beats endeavor-
ing raise the cry OF "Woiil" and make II heard at
Ottawa, so that a and regular military iorce
may be organized, equipped and sent out TO .he sas
10 watch aud keep cneck tho hostile in-
tentons OF tho allied Indian Powers But the expert
enced know better When an alliance between Nez
P~rces and Tetons or Baekfeet and Crees Is talked
about and regarded as fact, only another instance
that great deal OF unnecessary alarm ana expense
caused by foolish and nexcusable ignorance
CAMP OF THE oHi.R
when he entered Canadian territory, hotiy pursued
by the successful Miles, is that which is known among
traders and hunters as Wood Mountains butthey are,
In lact no mountains at all every sgnt emineaoe "a
prairie country Is, of course mountain; hence
every ciump OF poplars is called wood or Forest
and a slight eminence crowned WIN timber would
untny nllx ha n
Mountains, which the defeated chiei mas selected IN
his exile, form no part OF any prominent chain. They
ere IN no way connected with the Riding Mountain
range to the east OF them, nor are they classified
as spur OF the Rocky Mountains. Their gem
two ", uneni hundred feet, and their contour. in.
stead OF being that OF ono distinct elevation
irregular shape rather conveying the idea OF a num-
Dor oi Irregular independent hills OF no great eleva-
ton than chain oi mountains, while through tho
valleys, If they may be termed such, flow numerous
small streams all OF which take southery direction
His-ior ,ha, is more correct than The term smoun-
tains"-iorm tho watershed of that region between
the Missouri and the south branch Of the saska.chs
0f small streams which run through the district COM
prlsng the hills Is almost countless. rhe prno,pal
two branches OF the Poplar River, East and West Por-
cnpino RIVER Little Rock Rivor and Frenchman's
River, besides number oi other streams, which have
unpronounceable Indian names.
woob HILLS.
The Wood Hills begin about Longitude lO4 dog. ~
min aud end In about longitude lOI deg 80 min west
fom Greenwich. The trend OF the hills IS IRON north
west TO southeast ana the international boundary
divides the Mills nearly Two equal parts
All OF the streams alluded TO have their
sources uorh OF the forty ninth parallel ana, OF
course, cross il on their way 10 the Missouri No bet
ter locality could have been chosen than the Wood
Mouutans Their rich valleys have always afforded
shelter to the buffalo and hunter alike while tho
many streams which course the region AFFORD IN
abundant supply Of good water throughout the year.
The wood consists CHIEFLY Of aspen. poplar, common
ash and the asneavod maple, with some oaK, cotton
wood and smaller varieties.
Sfatao mil itarv fnra IN tba
Wood Mountain country are Fort Buord, in iong-
tude l0a dog. latitude as deg, and Fort Peck, IN
both on the Missouri Fort Hawcy, also on the MIS-
souri,, is IN latitude about AZ deg. ~ min Longitude
los deg, is about degree further north, being
the Milk River Fort Benton the Missouri nearly
in the latitude Fort Hawey but II is nearly
100 miles south west OF Fort Benton Sun RIVER
that 1t Is a matter Of surprise that the United States
Stung Bull Commissioners should travel nearly
hundred miles out OF their course
The entire country Is cne familiar to the Sioux,
and especially the Teton bra CHI and IT IS worthy OF
note that when sitting Bull aud his band commenced
retrcang from the Powder River country they struck
almost an air line for the Wood Mountains, passing in
their fight between Forts Peck and Buiord, almost
within sight Of Peck. Following the course OF the
Porcupine River the chief aud his band struck point
In the ood Mountains, on the Canadian side known
the Settlement Ion LOG deg, where they encaupeu,
and where they have since romaned except The occa
sional departure OF his hunting parties-wno however,
do not belong TO the chiefs military force-and the
paru oil the chei and his own military escort to
meet the Uniied States and Canadian Commissioners
~ the spot already designated. Tho idea that sitting
Bull and his entire encampment are to be present at
this council is hardly in Keeping with what been
the general practice In holding conferences with
hostes.
TIE coyPERgycK
IL has already been arranged that large escort Will
accompany any OF the three parties TO the conference
Aay large by the whites would
picon, ana no purpose could be gained by II except TO
exasperate ..squaiting Buu' ana keep hun away frcm
the conference altogether. Indeed, IT would not be
surprising TO lind him getting huned AT some dis
courtesy oversight or threatening demonstration,
aud either al The last moment refuse to smoke the
councu pipe with MS optonents, or, having con-
descended it. decline to accept the proposals,
ana thus mako the commission failure. The latter
Is not Improbable III tho ight oil recentevents though
hts refusal 10 accept The proposals OF the Uned States
Commission would be lantamount 10 accepting tho
Canadian termsto 60 on reservation further north
or be driven out oil the Dominion. The capture OF
Joseph aad his band Will nave beneficial effect,
slough, everything being consdered. the chief OF tho
Tstons knows very well that hts own race Is rum not
wilhstandng his stubborn ianaticsm and savage an-
bition
His cncamprneBt on the settlement In Wood Moun-
tain IL IN fol u CIRCLE numbers three
hundred lodges. fhe settlement is a mere trading
post Tor bunlers the pact years had been
ried on Dy Messrs. Oulelte and Genie The former
was Cree half breed aud tue latter French
Canadian. Ouletc died couple Of years ago, but The
business is still carried by the widow IL was from
her tnat Bear spirit, Sitting Bulls motner-inaw,
stole forIy fifty horsos, with q view Of bringing
about a collision between sttng Bull and the force oil
Major Walsh, The bame naturally ieil upon the
cn,i OF the Tctons instead Of the Yankton cheL Al
loving ten persons TO lodge, sitting Bulls entire
strength. including men, women aud children,
other friendly and semi friendly chiefs have been
fraternlzing with sitting Bull all sumner has led 10
tho oit repeated statement that the chief has from
one thousand i've hundred To two thousand warriors
with him. Prior the custer AFFAIR there Is no doubt
that Sittns Bull had with him at least !, 800 Teton
warriors besides bis hunters and women ana chldrcr.
Subsequent events however, materially reduced his
force What with tue killed and those who
died IRON exposure ana IL other ways
tins force OF Teton braves now less than
BOO. These OF his soldiers who arc not
required to DO anything else tnan ngnt They have
separate lodges aad mount guard Ike regular troops,
lodge being always TIE guard tent, which contains
about twenty men, The soldiers or braves are sup
Piled with rations by contributions from cacn LODGE
comprising the hunters and others not soldiers OF the
camp. The soldiers are always well led That Is u
strong voluntary principlc with them Each lodge
gives daily or every two or three days what II can
give, and there is always rivalry TO give The most
Nothing is wasted. II too much Is gwen II Is re-
turned 10 those most IN need Of IT, u II will Keep
u 10 retained Tor uurc and TINS notw hstandiDg
he alleged and repeated statements OF the imprudence
of the Indians. Sittlng Bulls lodge is not Ia the
centre OF tne general encampmcnt When not absent |
a q 10