St. Landry democrat., 1878-05-25
Manners and Morals of the
SIOlpX.

| AAe"AhSAS dAaa NAOEdlS OA INC
Sioux.
Correspondence of the Chicago Times
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 hi
own home, when administered through
the channel of Indian justice: mention
first the crime of stealing No doubt, wher
l say this crime is considered virtue
instead OF crime. the reader will laugh
lncredulously, but yet tits true, "to steal
and not to be found out" but to be
caught in the act or to be found in pos
session of the stolen property is a disgrace
and it is the privilege of the squaws to
taunt and tease him, who exercise this
privilege to the fullest extent, and
to be ridiculed by q 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
Stunned 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 squaw 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 to the parties whom he had stolen
from, and 10 destitute widows and Or
phans of fallen braves, and the thief is
turned over to the mercy of the band.
But should he be successful thief out
side of his own band, then he is praised
for his sagacity, and the more he steals
the higher he gets Should he luckily
happen to be brave Indian and an &C.
complished thief combined, then he is
away up On the brave list, and no expe-
dition 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 in
variably taunts him when and wherever
he meets him. There is but one squaw
man in the whole of Red Clouds band.
I nave personally seen him, and his life
is q he'll on earth. He has to do every
thing that no other Indian would do, AID
never receives a kind werd 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
10 amount Of inquiry will make them
disclose the facts to outside parties;
and as the last Indian l asked said,
" Heap talk too MUCH" 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 detailed for it, 60 to make the
Indian 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 I 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 desist,
Dr. run the chance of being |
killed, as they certainly would be,
lid they not desist when called ON.
Premeditated murder among themselves
s looked on as one of the impossibilities.
There is not an Indian in the band that
ian call to mind any instance of such q
,ase. There are some instances where
She peace men cannot keep down fight
between two Indians who have some fine
,oint of Indian honor to settle The head
men then make them go and settle the
affair with knives, when one or both
ire invariably killed. Should one come
III safe, he would on some dark night
AXE all of his ponies and tie them In
n
ront of the tepee of the deceased, which
would go great ways TO assuage the
yrisf Of the relatives. Sometimes the
lift would only be four or five ponies,
to the rank Of the deceased.
ADy dispute that may arise is invariably
ettled by the older men of the tribe,
md their verdict forever settles the dis
,ute.
Hospitality among the Sioux is great
indeed and would put to shame some Of
heir palefaee brethren. Poor though it
q, It's given cheerfuHy, and you receive
perfect welcome. For an Indian to
end hungry man from his tepee, be- he
prisoner, friend or enemy, is an insult
@ his tribe. |