The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-05-30
Manners and Morals of the Sioux.


have made diligent inquiries regard
ing the social and tribal laws governing
the Ogallala Sioux, and have elected the
following, which, though not so terribly
strict, is, nevertheless, more than enough
to govern "ye gentle savage" in his
own home, when administered through
the channel of Indian justice. I men,
ton first the crime of stealing. No
doubt, when | say this crime is consid-
cred virtue instead of crime, the
reader will laugh incredulously, but yet
tits true, "to steal and not be found
out" but to be caught in the act or to
be found in possession of the stolen
property is disgrace, and it is the priv
ilege of the squaws to taunt and tease
him, who exercise this privilege to the
fullest extent, and to be ridiculed by a
squaw is the worst degradation that can
be inflicted, consequently he very seldom
steals. Should he be caught in the act
three or four times, he would be shun-
ned by all the warriors and made a
squaw-man. He is then disgraced for
ever, being debarred from all warrior
proceedings whatsoever, which disgrace
to an Indian is worse than death, and
many prefer death to that punishment
and kill themselves. When warrior
or young man is made sauaw-man, the
head men of the tribe take his gun, bow
and arrows, ponies, all his war
apparel, in fact, every thing
and in turn they are given to the
parties whom he had stolen from, and
to destitute widows and orphans of fall
en- braves, and the thief is turned over
to the mercy of the band. But should
he be successful thief outside of his
own band, then he is praised for his sa-
gacity, and the more he steals the high
er be gets. Should he luckily happen
to be a brave Indian and an accom-
plished thief combined, then he is away
up on the brave list, and no expedition
is fitted up but he is invited to be one of
the party, very often as its leader. This
kind of an individual is a terror to the
squaw-man, as he invariably taunts him
when and wherever he meets him.
There is but one squaw-man in the
whole of Red Clouds band. l have
personally seen him, and his life is
hell on earth. He has to do every thing
that no other Indian would do, and
never receives kind word unless it be
from some kind hearted missionary. I
tried to find out what he had done, but
could not, as there are several ways to
reduce an Indian to that position, and
no amount of inquiry will make them
disclose the facts to outside parties; and
as the last Indian l asked said, /" Heap
talk too much," l gently took the hint.
To act the coward in battle, to disobey
an order from the Chief where there is
any danger, to try to skulk or get out of
any dangerous undertaking when de-
tailed for it, 60 to make the Indian a
squaw-man.
Fighting among themselves is almost
unknown. During my experience I
have never seen one Indian wishing to
fight another of his own band, though
/ have been told that occasionally there
is such case. Should two Indians
commence to fight and another Indian
step between them, or put stick or
pipe between them, they would have to
as they certainly would be did they not
desist when called on. Premeditated
murder among themselves is looked on
as one of the impossibilities. There is
not an Indian in the band that can call
to mind any instance of such case.
There are some instances where the
peace men can not keep down fight
between two Indians who have some
fine point of Indian honor to settle. The
head men then make them 90 on and
settle the affair with knives, when one
or both are invariably killed. Should
one come off safe, he would on some
dark night take all of his ponies and tie
them in front of the tepee of the de-
ceased, which would go a great ways to
assuage the grief of the relatives. Some
times the gift would only be four or five
ponies, according to the rank of the de-
ceased. Any dispute that may arise is
invariably settled by the older men of
the tribe, and their verdict forever
settles the dispute.
Hospitality among the Sioux is great
indeed and would put to shame some of
their paleface brethren. Poor though
it be, it is given cheerfully, and you re-
ceive perfect welcome. For an Indian
to send hungry man from his tepee, be
he prisoner, friend or enemy, is an in
suit to his tribe.
1t would require separate letter to
give all the different forms of marriage
in days gone by, but now they resort to
the missionary, and have adopted the
ways of the whites, and seem to think it
the best way, and try to initiate their
white sisters and brothers to the best of
their ability.
An Indian will always avenge any
personal wrong done him, even should
it lead to his death, and their memory
of wrong done them lasts for life, but