The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-09-09

I
wealth, others were purchased from
their parents; while again others were
stolen from their tepee; the latter is d
legitimate way Of procuring a wife
among the Indians.
But l must not dwell too long on the
events OF this day, for we did sleep, the
doctor and /, after our ride Of thirty
miles, and running around. At dawn
the following morning, Tuesday. July
lst, the confusion of voices began. but
we slept until eight o'clock-tLauks 10
our being with the "royal family" We
arose. Water and towels were produc-
ed by our royal hostess, and we re.
freshed ourselves with washing and a
good breakfast. We sat a while and
Lsmoked with Lone Elk aud Spotted
Tail, Jr., until il was limited 10 us that
they desired to make their toilets for
the day, i. e.,--braid G. their long raven
hair, paint their faces and trim mp gen.
orally. So we walked forth to attend
to our horses and find Louis Rubido,
who promised 90 go aronud with us
and attend 10 US. This was the tree
cutting day, and the dance was To be-
gin near sun down. Everybody was
a-stir in camp, squaws and men and
boys were to he seen driving herds OF
ponies in from the hills. Criers were
going around the camp, some on foot
and some mounted, crying at the top
OF their voices for the people TO pre-
pare for the great event OF the day; but
the people seemed very slow about get
ting ready. The braves had not put on
their war paint yet. and IL was nearly
noon when preparations for starting for
the tree were completed. We were In
our saddles some time before the pre-
paratiOns were completed, riding
around the camp witnessing the sights.
Once we were very abruptly halted by
a large Indian who inquired authori-
lively: "What are you here for?'
ansWe cred: ITO see the sun dance. -
''Are you soldiers?" 'No; we are civil
ians." "Where do you come from?"-
From the Missouri rIver." "Well, 1
don't believe you white men have any
business in this country; it belongs TO
us" / said: "My friend, we are here
to visit you and 10 see this great sun
dance, and in return we shall be glad
to have you visit our country. when
L visit your country 1 have 10 pay
something, now you must pay me for
walking over our land. Pay me one
dollar each and you may go up and see
those bad lands" / said laughiDgly:
"YoG are too late for we have seen the
bad lands" The Indian said: "Ughl
/ Ob-ho-ho Well, then give me ten cents
each" But we could not see 1t.
know the cusses too well, aud his game
was to scare us little aud then go of
l aud laugh with his friends. The only
way to get along with these savages is
I not TO give them n thing. they demand,
and 10 treat them friendly and pleas.
antly. Neither Doctor Miller or myself
had a weapon Of any kind; but went
among these people with feeling of
security. We were often stopped and
/ questioned rudely by fellows whose
/ only object was TO have little fun at
our expense; aud also by the Indian
police; but when we were asked "Where
/ do you sleep?' our answer "ln Spotted
Tails camp" was sufficient TO prevent
! further rudeness.
Two or three young virgins are
chosen 10 cut the tree or pole, around
which the dance takes place, and they
soon started on ponies, escorted by
about fifty chiefs and head meu, among
whom we recognized Spotted Tail, White
/ Thunder and Good Voice. The whole
camp followed them. The place was
three miles away, and the road present
ed a sight which reminded me OF going
TO the fair in days Gone by. The road
was covered with "A mass Of moving be-
ing, many vehicles being used by the
women and children; but many OF them
were mounted on ponies aud rode in
parties from two to ten, chatting aud
laughing gaily. One right nice looking
young girl, with rosy checks (Chinese
yermilhon), rode up along side the
writer, and just when he was getting
interested in her conversation. she put
her little moccasired heels into her
pony's sides (both sides, mind you),
and rode off and joined some of her
friends, who became quite merry about
something. Now and then party of
young warriors would dash along the
road and make "a charge" on a weaker
party. A charge means riding like the
wind at another party for the purpose
of uuhorseing them, II possible, or ere
ating panic or confusion. As the
road was full Of these bands we
had TO move cautiously, until a party
of half-breeds came along aud we &C.
cepted an invitation to join them
/ Finally the chosen tree was reached ;
/ the Indians all proceeded 10 load their
ponies and themselves with branches
/ of leaves from the sacred tree. The
chiefs medicine men and virgins were
/ gathered around the tree in a hollow
/ place, and the spectators filed the sur
/ rounding hills. Soon the drums or
/ tom-tom began their music, aud the In
/ dians near the tree began 10 sing and
the men 90 perform a jumping up-and-
/ down aud move-arOund sort OF "A motion
which is called dancing. The medicine
men with their immense crowns Of sage
and major sticks moved around the tree
and made some mysterious movements
with their sticks towards the sun,
after which they consecrated the pole
| Then axes were put IN the hand Of the
young girls and they went TO work
and cut that tree down in a manner
that might have shamed their broth
ers. The tree fell amid terrible howl
ing and yelling from the whole
crowd, the shrill, treble voice OF the
old squaws rising above every other
sound. The beating OF the tom toms
and dancing was kept up with intervals
OF rest for about three hours during
which time many ponies were given
away by Spotted Tail aud several 9th
ers. and several speeches we're made.
The day was very hot. aud we were
glad when finally the ceremonies broke
up and the crowd began 10 move back
10 camp. But before we had gone faT
a party Of about one hundred Indians
dashed past rs. They were IudiaL
soldiers aud were ordering every body
TO stop aud wait for the pole And We
had TO wait--fOr about three hours. -
The sacred pole was on two wagons,
they didn't seem TO think Of lengthen-
ing the reach; and as the road was very
rough the pOle-wsgons had bad time
Of IL. However. the wagon came along,
aud as we neared camp on a level plain,
the sight was grand one. About g..
900 horsemen, all gaily caparisoned and
trimmed with green leayes;some ofthem
absolutely covered; making quite q
uniform appearance. The whole caval
cade moved abreast. in irregular order
Of course; but from a front or bscl
view il looked much like an immens,
body Of cavalry we'll formed, but from
view along the line il looked very
scattered and irregular. We kept most
ly in the rear, as we knew the grand
charge would soon be made, aud my
horse, Bull Head, was famous as a run
ner, aud / did not caro- 10 join the rae,
I sirnrtv to nieaao Ruu Head Whef