The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-05-16

Manners and Morals Of the Sioux.
have made dilgcut inquiries regard
! ing the social and tribal laws governing
I the Ognllnla SiouN, writes u correspond
cut, and have clicitod the following,
which, though not so terribly strict. ~.
nevertheless, moro than enough to gov
I cru We gentle savage, IN hir own home,
when administered through the channel
of Indian justice. mention first the
crime of stealing. No doubt. when |
say this crime is considered virtue in
stead If crime. the reader will laugh
. tucrrdulnuslN, but vet tits true. " 60
/ steal and not hc found out, " but to be
caught IN the act ur to bc found in pos
session of the stolen property Is dis
/ grace, aud Il Ia the privilege ot the
suuaws to tHuut and tease him, who eI-
crcisc this privilege a. the fullest extent,
and to be ridiculed 10y squaw les the
worst degradation that can be Inflicted ;
/ consequently he very seldom steals.
F Should he be caught in the act three or
f four times, hc would bo summed 10y all
+ the warriursaand made n squaW man. He
/ is then disgaced forever. being deharrod
frum all warrior proceedings Whatsoever,
which disgrace 10 an Indian IL worse
4 than death, aud many prefer death 10
/ that punishment and kill themselves.
+ When warrior or Young man is made a
suuaw man, the head men of the tribe
take his gun. bow and arrows, ponies,
all his war apparel, in fact. everything
and IN turn they are given 10 the par
ties whom be had stolen from, and 10
/ destitute widows and orphans of fallen
[ braves, and the thief Is turned over 70
the mercy Of the band. Hut should he
bc a successful thief outside II his own
band, then hc Is praised for his sagacity,
and the more he steals the higher he
gets. Should he luckily happen TO he a
brave Indian and All accomplished thief
combined, then he is away up ON the
brave list, and no expedition Is lifted up
but he is inyited to be one Of the party
very often As is leader. This kind OF an
4 individual is IA terror Ia 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 He has 20 DO everything
that NO other Indian would DO, and
never receives kind word unless il be
from some kiud-hearted missionary
tried to find out what he had done, but
could not, AS there are several ways to
reduce al Indian 10 that position, and
no amount of inquiry will make them
disclose the fact to outside parties; and
IA the last Indian / asked said, Heap
talk too much, | gently took the hint
To act the coward IN battle, 10 dirobey
an order from the chief where there is
any danger, 10 try to skulk or get out II
any dangerous undertaking when de
tailed for ii. 60 10 make the Indian a
squaw man.
Fighting among themselves is almost
unknown. During my experience have
never seen one Indian wishing TO fight
another Of his own band, though | have
been told that occasionally there is such
a case Should two Indians commence
20 fight and another Indian step be-
tween them, or put stick or pipe be
tween them, they would have 30 dossst
or run the chance Of being killed, As
they certainly would be did they not de
sist when called ON. Premeiitatei muir
der among themselves is looked on as
one of the impossihilitics. There is not
M Indian in the band that can call 20
mind any instance Of such case. There
are some instances where the peace men
cannot keep down q fight between two
Indians who have had some fine point Of
Indian honor g. settle The head men
then make them 60 on and settle the
affair with knives, when one or both are
invariably killed Should one come of
safe, he would on some dark night take
all uf his ponies and tie them IN front Of
. the tepee Of the deceased, which would
60 a great WAYS 10 Assuage the grief Of
the relatives Sometimes the gift would
+ be only four or five ponies. according to
/ the rank Of the deceased. ANY dispute
that may arise - invariably settled by
the older men Of the tribe, and their
verdict forever settles the dispute.
Hospitality among the Sioux ia great
7 indeed. and would put 20 shame some OF
their pAlefacc brethren. Poor though j;
be, tbs given cheerfully, and Won receive
perfect welcome. For an Indian 90
+ send hungry man from his tepcc, bc
. he a prisoner, friend or enemy, ia an in
( suit TO his tribe
/ Il would require a separate letter 90
give all the different forms of marriage
/ in days gone by, but now they resort 20
the missionary, and have adopted the
WAYS OF the whites. and they seem %
think il the best way. and try to initiate
/ their white sisters and brothers 20 the
I best OF their ability.
I An Indian will always avenge any per.
sonal wrong done him, even should Il
I lead TO his death, and their memory oi a
wrong done them lasts for life, but 10y
the kind actions OF humane govern,
ment and good examples Of the mission
aries, schoolmasters, etc. / hope there
/ will be a great change Civilization will
+ do il in time.
Three Good Lessons.