Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-12-29

the life Of wild Indian is beset with
dangers which he must be
prepared to meet at any moment; conse-
quently he does not repose upon bed Of
roses. Occasionally there occurs an ep-
| ISOLDE in the camp in the form of we'd
ding. The ceremony is q very simple
one. After the preliminaries are con-
cluded and presents exchanged between
the parents and relatives of the young
couple, the bride elect is arrayed in her
finery and decorated with silver works
and wampum. She is waited upon by
four comrades of the groom, in their war
paint and feathers, who seat her upon an
outspread' blanket of gay color, and
transport her bodily to the lodgs Of her
future husband, where she is received by
his family connections and recognized as
the duly welded wife of her quondam
lover. AS general thing the relations
thus formed are fe-long, but should they
prove inharmonious and burdensome, a
separation is mutually agreed upon, which
leaves the parties at liberty to contract
new matrimonial engagements.
Still hunting is seldom resorted to by
the tenants of large camp. The war
riors, who are sufficiently young and
vigorous form line with intervals of a
hundred yards or so, and at given sig
nal they start on lope of at least six
miles per hour, and sweep the country Of
bear, deer and other game. If perchance
herd of buffalo or elk is discovered, a
halt IS made and cerne or surround
formed, which is delicate operation, re-
quiring the exercise of the utmost care
and vigilance. Whe successful, the
herd finds itself hemmed in on every side
and each hunter is expected, at his peril,
to prevent the escape of the animals at
the point where he is posted. The game
thus inclosed runs around on the inside
of the circle seeking an exit, but is met
with continuous discharge of firearms
from every side, and the result is that
few of the poor beasts are fortunate
enough to save themselves from the gen.
eral slaughter. If, however, by the
bungling or timidity of an individual,
the herd is permitted to break through
and escape the offender is severely dealt
with by the Indian soldiers, who thrash
him soundly, cut his lodge into strips and
subject him to other indignities.
In all the hunts that were made, Hal a
Dacetah. was participant, and very few
of the party equaled his score of game
killed. There was no useless or wanton
butchery permitted, the meat of every
animal not required for immediate con.
sumption being jerked for future use.
There was an Indian named "Skyah, :"
who was without relatives or friends in
the camp, and permitted him to occupy
a place IN a large lodge. In the evening,
after the days hunt was over, sat by
z fro nd
in the ashes. Skyah was curious to know
what I was doing, and l told him was
making my medicine, so as to predict
what the following day would bring
forth. When had finished, 1 said,
"Skyah, 60 in the morning in certain
direction (which had pointed out), and
you will find large bear, which you will
succeed in killing" He replied he would
take my advice. He started at an early hour
and returned in great glee to the camp in
the afternoon with part of the carcass
of bear. He told me was ,oakkon, and
he was earnest in his appeal to me to re
peat the conjuration, but 1 respectfully
declined, rightly snpposlng that my cred
it as seer would suffer if l made Sec
ond attempt. The poor fellow was killed
subsequently in battle with the Chippe-
was, at which was present, and 1 saw
his body borne from the field on the
shoulders of Sioux warrior of gigantic
statute, who was distant relative of the
deceased.
The details 1 have given are only of
interest because they relate to the daily
life of a race which is appar-
emily doomed to extinction. Every
thing, therefore, which has reference to
their habits and customs before civiliza-
ton had made destructive inroads upon
these wild bands will, in the future, if
not now, be regarded as historically i'm
portant.
Referring again to the destruction of
our choicest game, it becomes the sports
men in the different states to combine in
efforts to induce our lawgivers to enact
more stringent laws for the protection OF
the birds, quadrupeds and fishes still left
us, otherwise the next generation will
find little occupation for the rod and gun,
and field sports will be an amusement OF
the past. Hal DACoTAH.
ST.. PAUL, MIMI, Dec. 10, 1881.