Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-08-18
IaDIAN CHILDREN AID THEIR PETS

Many people suppose that the Indian
children have no dolls or pets. This is
mistake. The Indian baby, or papoose, is
provided by its squaw-mother with sort
OF doll from its earliest infancy. The baby
itself Is tied to board, which is covered
with buckskins and fanciful bindings, or
with bright colored cloth ornamented with
beadwork and tinsel. The baby-board,
which is carriage and cradle in one, looks
like the toe of a large slipper, and has a
piece OF wood bent across the head to pre-
vent its little copper. colored occupant from
being struck by anything. Just as her
convenience may prompt, the squaw hangs
her papoose, thus Graded, on her back while
walking, or on tree when working about
the tent, or on the saddle pommel. From the
protecting headboard hangs suspended the
doll, composed of feathers, beads and red
cloth, perhaps representing an Indian
warrior. The little papoose looks at
this dangling image all day long, and
this monotonous endeavor often causes a
horrible squint, from which the little In
dian never RECEIVERS. The squaw. mothers
sometimes make miniature papooses, bound
to cradle-boards In fancy covering, like
their own, for the older children to play
with but 1t is a still commoner sight to
see the girls carrying puppy In little
blanket over their shoulders. IL seems
! strange that they should make their pets
Of what is considered the greatest delicacy
puppy stew being the chief dish of a
feast gwen In commemoration of a child
having reached q certain age. The little
Indians also make pets of crows. A little
girl will often daily carry about her
wicker basket filed with baby crows lust
as they are taken from the Fest by her
brother. Beside her an old dog will often
be wiled along dragging her puppies in
similar net or basket stretched across par.
allel poles. The Indian boys have pet
colts TO ride, and they make pets of young
eagles, which they put on a sort of stand
with string attached to one leg to pre-
vent the birds from flying away. The
boys also early learn to use the bow and
arrows, and are often occupied in driving
blackbirds and crowbirds from the grow.
ing maize. Corn is the great crop cult.
waited by the Indian, and the Chippewas,
who are semi-civilized, grind this
grain into sort of coarse samp
by pounding it in morter with
wooden pestle. They also roast the ears,
and dry it for winter use. Great groups
of children will sit, with squaw (perhaps
mending moccasinsl to help them at their
work and preserve order, on high platforms
the whole day, overlooking the cornfields,
so as to drive away the birds as they alicht
in hocks. The older boys amuse themselves
by different games while tending the horses.
First they spread upon the ground buffalo
hide, on which they kneel facing each other.
Then one takes little stick and passes it
from one hand to the other, first behind
and then before, while the other boy guesses
which hand it Is in. He is entitled to three
guesses. The first, if right, counts him
three the second, two and the third. one,
If ne misses altogether, he loses according
to the number put up for stake. The one
guessing designates his guess by hitting his
right or left shoulder, according to the
hand he thinks his opponent holds it in.
This, like all other Indian games, is made
interesting by the stakes. which generally
consist of come ornament, or some service
to be rendered. The Interior.