Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-12-26
THE CROW INDIANS.


4 Graphic and Interesting DescriI
ton Or Them ans, Their Habits.
From our Travelling Correspondent
Leaving Mr.. Col,nfrrman's. our cours
next takes 10 TO the Crow Indian Reserv:
ton. We have for a travelling companio
his son. who carries the mail. Shortly II
ter leaving the station it is necessary
ford the Yellowstone. The water il jus
deep enough and the current sufficient
swirl to make the operation Il trifle istel
esting. but Dan proves Il skillfiil guide. an
weare sot,n safely across.
The T. all now follows along the banks g
the Saltwater. which winds about thro,,g
charming natural meadows. On eithe
side are softly re ;nhed bluffs. dotted wit
a light growth of pine trees. with here an
there rocky butte. Bnt rs we advanc
timber and rocks disappear. and the pra
rie rolls away in vast swells to tile base Q
the Rig Horn Mountains.
At short intervals along the way herd
Of cattle. branded II. d. are grazing
their splendid condition bearing witnes
to the fine quality of the pasturage which
is here found.
After few miles our course bears ava,
to the lett. and we bid adieu to the Still
wltcr-inaptly named. for never did stream
dash along in noisier haste than doe
this one. We soon pass the spot where.
few years ago. the agency hertler, Mexican
Joe. was killed in Il skirinish with a part,
of marauding Sioux. 4 short distance
further on stands the naked SHELTON of
lodge. This is the Medicine Lodge.
where yearly after receiving their annui
ties the Indians hang the richest OF thei
blankets. robes and clothing us in onerin.
to the Great Spirit. These things remain
there till finally they are stolen by impi
ous whites. or. tattered and torn into
shrpds. are blown away. The more
rapidly the lodge becomes bare again the
better the Indians are pleased. rs il is proof
to them that their offerings have been nc.
cepted.
Your correspondent greatly regretted
that the Lodge had not been newly ,lecorat-
ell when he passed. us the extreme scarcity
of articles of value which would have re-
suited from his visit. would probably have
satisfied the most eXacting '.buck" in the
camp.> b..
A ride Of fifteen miles brings lis to the
agenry-a large adobe structure. which
occupies three sides of n square is the
principal building of the place. 1t is used
tor many purposes. one portion being Oc-
cupied by the ayen. and his f,mily. ano.h-
err 10y the attaches Of the place. another for
ware-rooms where are stored the supplies
for the Indians. and still another being
occupied as Il store by the trader. There
is. besilrs. Il large stable and blacksmith
shop. AMI a row OF one-story white-wash-
ed dwellings. occupied by 'squ.w-men"
AMI their hnsky families.
The whole is kept rs tidy as Govern
ment barracks on inspection day. and the
the streets and alleys are as neat rs a parade
ground.
We were very kindly received by the
agent. Maj. Frost. AMI soon started out on
tOnr of inspection. We first visited the
'fore rOOnlS. AMI Were shown samples of
ice. sugar. flour, coffee. ETC.. which are
pg'llarly served ont to the Inlnns. These
rticles were Of II better quality than is
Usually found on the table OF an Eastern
.horing man. We next visited the cloth
ny warp-rOoms. where is found bale upon /
ale of blankets. red. blue. green and white
! color. Reatly-inade clothing enough, to /
tart a wholesale supply store. wOolpn
ocks for the men. and. "trntcrer far TO /
'll. nothing less than delicate striped
cse for the Indian ''ladies." We paused
efore them for 4 moment. han He'd them
'n1erly. fondly and with reverence. We
light have put sample in our pocket bu
rat the keen eye Of the agent wis upon
fi'ng our Government mas FOR IT'S wards.
There were hats. boots. knives AMI
'rks. hunting knives. looking-eIasses. and
plates and cups. We iii int find lr,-
e's whistle or a halr OF tootl,-picks. but.
far rs we cOull discover. everything
Sc which could minister r. the comfort
the red man was there. We were +,
'newhaf surprise at the varied and libcr
bill OF fire to which each unfortunate
wage is entitled. The following is the v
lonnt allowed daily for each one hun !
ri ritions.
One hundred and fifty pounds beef. 80 G.
'iniS Hour. 30 pounds corn. pounds o
ans. 10 pounds pork. pound salt. 4
nnhs coffee. pounds sugar. - pound :,
'arro. pound soap. = !,
n leu of flour . pounds Of hard bread "
llIoweh. AMI in lien Of both flour and
n 40 pounds is allowed. With such al OF
anres as these. if the Crow Indians &C
r ''hrclk out. !" IT will simply he because
the natural ''clssctIness'' Of their ma "
es. That their rations are annie ia iii
need by the fact that at The end of last ye
7 there remained 1888 sacks Of flour.
UV pounds Of pork and Il lar,e amount IL
be- # TO which they were entitled. but "
ch was not called for. *
hey have fora reservation one of tbc
esf sections OF Montana. with hnnt;no .
'lnhs unsurpassed on the continent ~.
'r:l mountain ranges cross their conn IN,
which are the home Of innumer,,b,e
Is OF elk and deer. and in which num- J,
ess clear. pure streams take their rise '''
Sc streams. which are found in every We
ION OF the reservation. are literally ~
with delicious trout that would mako !
Important addition to the lar,ler Of anv yea
munity. Ne
'eir pri'iries are tecminy with antelope 'ho
biarkened by vast herds Of buffalo. l
+ reservation. 800 miles long and 20 new
is a little larger than the States OF Ion,
mont and Connecticut taken together. LIS
are rich in horses. and own many G
). one Indian alone ut the agency hay- ley.
OO head. for
sides this immense region. which is Sui
sive'y their own. they are allowed tile falli
'.ge OF huh'ing in the territory oppo- tie
nir rcsen alton and north of the Mia man
river. We did not visit the school r.,
but as we passed the doorway. We on II
the voices Of Indian children sing comj
Pull for the Shore" which sounded telle.'