The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-09-09
their hostility to whites at a place Of
that kind

.
He was pleasant aud we talked as mucl
as my limited knowledge OF the SIou,
would permit, but enough for us to be
has fine appearance and an homes
smile that gives one confidence ia hii
friendship. He soon informed m,
that he desired to sleep, and as thai
suited my inclination we both stretch
ed ourselves out, aud L was just falling
into a doze when wagon stopped IL
front Of the tepee. thought ii was the
Major and rushed out TO welcome him
aud found the medical men had en-.
gagged old Pappan TO take us out tC
see the Bad Lands, which were about
three miles distant. Old Pappan is
a character whom will tell you about
some other time, got into the wagon
and We ratified through the camp,
which was comparatively quiet, the
ceremonies of the day having ceased
with the discovery OF the pole at noon.
We however met several parties OF
boys racing their ponies, chasing dogs.
and now and then passed a group OF
braves from whom we would hear com
ments about US that were not always
pleasant. Old Pappan trotted his
team OF ponies over the country with
out any reference 10 its formation, aud
We often had TO cling TO our seats,
when the old Frenchman would say,
at all the same up hill and down to
my pouy; they tough; no American
horse. We had TO get out 10 cross a
creek. Old Pap said. IF my pony go
through - the wagon" The ponies
sunk In the mire, but the old man
urged them with his whip and they
struggled out OF the mire and up the
bank, wagon aud all in good shape
excepting the mud.
We soon reached a prominence from
where we obtained a good view OF the
famous Bad Lands of southern Dako-
Ia. Their extent We could not learn
from Pappan TO a certainty, but we
had view OF five miles 10 the White
river and could see Eagles Nest, thir-
ty miles TO our westward. These lands
look as though some terrible convul-
sion had taken place at some time and
completely upheaved the soil, leaving
only the barren rocks in view. The
scene that presented itself was pic
turesque one; immense hills OF rocks
In every conceivable shape and OF every
size imaginable; great yawning chasms,
large and deep enough to conceal an
army OF men, and they have often
been used for that purpose too 10y hos
/ tile Indians when too hard pressed. IL
/ | had had time aud materials / would
liked 10 have sketched some OF those
/ immense and curious formation OF
I rocks. as my descriptive powers are too
/ feeble TO give you much Of an idea Of
| the Bad Lands. The doctors searched
I through "A small rayine for fossils, but
/ only succeeded in finding part OF a
| iawbone with large teeth, one of which
/ was given To me as memento OF our
visit to the Bad Lands
/ We returned 20 our lodge. and Tack
/ EFT told US that an officer had called
/ there and left word that he was stop
/ ping at White Thunder's lodge, so we
went mp to the other end ot camp aud
/ found the Major quite disgusted with
/ the whole affair. He had come out ex-
pecting the sun dance would begin that
day and had arrived there soon after
us, but failed % find ms. and had been
directed by Yellow Eyed Louie, a half
breed interpreter, to go 10 White
Thunders lodge, which he did aud was
kindly and courteously received by the
Indian chief; but as he had TO return
the following day to command an escort
on which he had detailed himself, he was
rather disappointed at having 10 ride 30
miles for nothing We took a lunch
near the Majors wagon and his striker
attended to giving our horses some
grain and water. We condoled with
the Major, and called on White Thun-
der who is one OF the "weitest' Indians
in the tribe. He is a man of much IN.
fuence amongst his people, and a nice
sort OF a man in every way. lie has
been to Washington and seen the
sights. He said 20 the Major; "Wheu
visited oar Great Father was taken
around to see the big men Of your peo-
pie; now you have come TO see me, i
take you around TO call on some OF the
big men of our people. We will go and
see Good Voice, who is chief of the
Omaha band, and an intimate friend Of
mine" White Thunder is n chief Of
the Wah.zah-zah band. He has one Of
the best faces ] ever saw on an Indian.
As evening Was drawing to q close, the
doctor and 4 had our animals brought
20 us; and bidding the major an adieu,
and taking our share OF food and grain,
we rode slowly through the Indian
camp, towards the lodge OF Lone Elk.
We passed many an interesting aud
| fantastic group, squaws around camp
| fire preparing food for their lords to
eat, and as they worked they iabbered
away 90 each other, and wondered IL
they were gossiping like their white
/ sisters, over their Zen. Occasionally we
would pass a group OF men, seated on
the ground around pot, drinking cof-
fee aud talking very vigorously; proba-
/ bly, relating TO each other. stories Of
their deeds OF bravery; aud | likened
/ them unto their white brothers, who,
when ia their cups. relate 20 one anoth-
or stories Of their great deeds. Again
we would pass group Of Indians
smoking aud talking wisely; they
would be older men, probably, arrang-
/ ing a plan Of operations for the NOR
row. From nearly each group of In.
/ diaus we would hear remarks abOut
ourselves; aud sometimes they would
look up and laugh. but sometimes they
would not laugh. We both wore spurs
and were supposed by many to be Off
GERS: as We would often hear uncompli-
mentary remarks in connection with
the word d-kee-che-td, which means
soldiers.
As we were nearing Lone Elk's tepee
we saw ten Indians wrapped in buf.
falo-robes issue from a lodge. This
was one lodge of the sun dancers. 49,
There was IN the camp five or siN
lodges Of these Indians. Their lodges
were set apart from the others, and
brush was piled around the base 90 pre-.
vent air getting into the lodges; and
these poor devils are obliged 10 remain
shut up in these hot places, wearing
constantly a buffalo robe next to their
naked bodies, aud as il that was not
enough holiness they take turns going
into n sweat lodge. which is very small
and in the centre OF this is heap oI
stones which have been heated. The
braves sit around these heated stones
aud how out OF h i thoy staud this
sort Of a thing is beyond my dull com.
prehension, as this treatment lasts fol
about three days preceding the sur
dance. They are allowed food anC
water during the time (fOrmer assetioni
TO the contrary, bat no Intercourse n
had with any one, for no one but th,
food bearers for each lodge is allowed
10 approach within certain distance
/ might M well explain here the natnr,
OF the sun dance. It is a sort OF re
ligious ceremony performed a. a sscri
fee by those who at some time hav,
been m trouble or danger and prornis