National Republican., 1883-07-24
SCALP TAXING.
How the Noble Red Man Acquired His
Hair-Lifting Proclivitics.

How the Noble Red Man Acquired His
Hair-Lirting Proolivitics.
correspondent called upon Chief Otowatse,
an aged Mohican, and asked why the Indians
scalpad their victims, says the Helena (Mon.)
Independent. otawatse replied that the GUS
tom had now become one of revenge and
hatred, but that scalps at one time were only
taken TO show after battle how many of tho
enemy had been slain. A war party, by COM
pairing tho number of scalps taken with the
number Of their own warriors missing, could
tell which side was victorious in point of exc
cution on the foo The origin of the custom,
he said, was only explained by tradition. The
tradition is in substance as follows:
Hundreds of years ago-perhaps thousands
when the Indians were all one tribe and
under one great chief, dispute arose in the
tribe as to who should become chief tho old
chief having died without having son to
succeed him. There were two principal as
pirants for the chieftaincy, and each of them
had strong following The dispute ended in
dividing the tribe, and in wdr. Previous to
this time scalping was unknown, as there were
no enemies TO scalp, the land being occupied
by only one people. Peace was never made
between tho two factions. The chief of one
side had beautiful daughter, and one of the
leading warriors was suitor for her hand.
The chief, as condition to consenting TO give
his daughter to her warrior lover, required
him to kill the chief of the opposing tribe (his
old-timo rival for the chieftaincy), and to
bring him proof of the act The warrior ac-
cepted the condition 1t was many long
miles to the camp of the enemy, and tho
snow was deep, but he Immediately set out
upon his IN ssion. After lying in wait near
the enemy's camp for days, and undergoing
great suffering from the extreme cold without
having an opportunity of carrying out his
plan, he finally, one night, boldly entered the
camp, walked into the great chiefs lodge,
slew him, and cutting off his head to take
back with him as proof, started to return to
his own people.
The next morning the murder was discov-
cred, also the murderer's tracks in the snow
and drops of blood which had fallen from the
dead chieftains captured head. Two hundred
warriors started in pursuit of tho murderer.
They almost overlook him, and he could
hear them on his track. He was almost tired
out, and the dead chiefs head was growing
heavy, yet he struggled on with it through
the snow and the cold, determined not to
relinquish tho proof which would win for
him his bride. The pursuers pressed him so
at length that he threw away every weight
but his trophy. They finally gained ON the
weary brave so fast that it seemed he must
either relinquish his prize or be captured,
which, of course, would be death. Whipping
out his rude knife Gt was before the time of
steel knives among the Indians) he hur-
riedly stripped Off the scalp from the dead
mans head and sped on. Thus lightened of
his load, he made his own camp in safety.
The scalp was accepted rs sufficient proof that
he had fulfilled his mission, the chief no
longer withheld his consent, and the bright
eyed daughter Of the forest became his own.
Thus originated the custom of scalping among
the American Indians