The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-09-20
From the Puyallup.
PUYALLUP, Sept. Is, 1877.

ED. INTZLLIGENCER:- There are
acres of Indian camps scattered through
the hop fields here, and trip through
them by moonlight is a most interest
ing sight The bright fires blazing in
every direction. Indians, squaws and
children lying around them In every
position. according to their notions of
comfort. while the inevitable Indian
dogs. by the score, bay the moon most
Justify. Here and there amongst them
their Indian game is in progress:
dozen or more siwsshes squatting
around on board. bowling their loud
est, pounding it withssticks, and max
ing a most Internal din. A pile of sill
yer is on the board and they win or
lose it by guessing in which hand the
dealer holds q painted bone The loser
holds the bone almost every time.
The Chinese camps are less numer.
Gus, but are more orderly and quiet and
much cleaner. They ara sitting around
their camp-tires smoking and quietly
chattering in their native tongue, and
some are in their tents sleeping, the
bright moon shining in on them
through the open ways. Above their
heads the tall cottonwood trees with
their fast whitening foliage and bare
branches stretch upwards, patiently
waiting for the new life which in His
good time is sure to come. making a
fellow almost curse the civilization that
compels him to pay four bits for the
privilege of stretching his weary limbs
IN IA dark room by the light OF tallow
dip. and fight animate nature ali night.
The little town of Puyallup on Sun
day morning was swarmed with In
dians on horseback and afoOt, all
dressed in their Sunday best. learn
race is te take place on the other side
of the river 80 thither | wcnd my way;
the road was thronged with Indians all
the way; the ferry boat across the river
is strung on wire cable, and is u great
convenience to the public and great
source Of revenue to its owner Yes
terday was field day for it. The race
track is a straight 0-yard track in all
open field, the sand is from three to six
inches deep on it. Arriving there, one
Of the strangest scenes | ever witnessed
was before mo. There must have been
five hundred Indians there at one time
dressed in variety Of costume that no
country i'll the world but this can pro-
duce. All over the plain they are
scattered in groups gambling or run
ming their ponies ut reckless speed
through the crowd; yet all seemed
good natured aud happy. The sQuaws
usually sat by themselves Some were
knitting. some nursing and all gossip
ing and good nstnred. A number OF
gamblers. chiefly from Seattle, have
their games scattered around the
ground. ehuckaluck being the principal
one. as the Indians can more readily
understand it, and they all have money
aud will gamble.
A large number OF Indians are here
from Klickitat, aud they are the finest
looking specimens Of the red man ever
saw They are tall. straight as an ar
row, clesnly dressed in their native ami
most picturesque costume of breech.
cloth and legsings. buck-skin mocca-
sins, and their bright colored blanket
doubled and fastened in graceful folds
around their waist with sash. They
have the bright. keen eye. high cheek
bones, aquilinc nose and receding fore
heal (Which is not covered with hair
that we used 10 read of when children.
There is no superfuous flesh on any Of
them, but they look as agile as a PAN
ther. Nearly all wear large she'll ear
rings. and their garments are decorated
according 20 their rank or prowess,
after the Indian custom. Their s9uaws
wear leggings and moocasins. with n
short skirt, and clean, bright blankets
thrown gracefully around their shoul-
ders. They are all painted, not daubed.
as our Indians. with a bright vermil-
lion put on evenly over their faces.
after the fashion of our people, aud
more Of it. One motherly locking
souaw, with . family Of grown children
around her. had her hair powdered
white, aud her face. which had perfect
European cast, was painted red. She
was standing beside one of her sons,
who was losing all his money at monte
with our Indians.
The down Sound Indians. with an
eve TO business, we're peddling Abalone
shells amongst their brethren from ever
the mountains. while wandering toge;h-
er in pairs over the fields on foot. or oa
the road on horseback, were couples
paired, but no, mated. smiling through
their paint, the sickly smile which be-
tokens the old, old story. 1t was .
., ana I shall not soon