Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1885-08-22

~ WAY Si3, ttAAN 1S@~StA
clothe any unusual or unexplainable
natural appearance with a supernat-
ural character. This tendency is fos-
tered by their religion-a species OF
pantheism that reverences all natural
objects.
Orders had gone forth that this
white buffalo must be killed so that
the evil spirit might be exercised.
She had been seen more quickly by
hunters than by us and some Of the
most active Of the young bucks were
Immediately in pursuit, anxious to
display their prowess andskill, though
no doubt secretly filed with fear. We
whites were so much interested in
the fate Of the beautiful animal that
we, too, started in the direction Of the
race across the prairie now left clear
by the flesjng herd. AS one after an
other of the pursuing Indians turned
aside to join the main hunt it seemed
that another supernatural escape of
the white spirit" was to be recorded,
for truly the stories of her feetness
had not been exaggerated to the usual
extent. But one young buck, mount
ed on a swift and hardy pony and
anxious to distinguish himself, kept
up the chase and after hard ride was
successful. His peculiar whoop Of
exultation drew attention to his sue
cess and to his locality and the chiefs
Of the hunt fastened in his direction
and We're soon followed by the entire
band.
We were among the first to arrive.
The gallant knight Grant who had
thus successfully overcome the spirit
of evil supposed to be inclosed in the
form Of that noble and beautiful ami
NAL, dismounted from his horse and
was standing motionless, silent and
stolid beside her carcass The chiefs
held a very brief council and then
stripped the successful hunter of all
his arms and scanty paraphernalia,
except his breech-clout, took his horse
from him and directed him to walk
back to the home camp on the Mis-
souri,. This was intended as a punish
ment upon the slayer Of the COW in
order that the tribe might be in a safe
position to plead in case the Deity
was offended by the slaughter Of this
being Of supposed supernatural char
acter; they wanted to be on the safe
side IN any event. It may be here
added that the young man was album
dainty rewarded and honored for his
bravery when the band returned from
a successful hunt and las will appear
a propitious disposition Of the COW.
When preliminaries had been thus az
ranged with the gods the buffalo was
very quickly and deity skinned. The
longest pole that could be obtained in
the vicinity was cut, and upon this
the snow white, silky robe was sus-
pended high in the air, as an Offering
to the sun, the Supreme Deity Of the
Sioux. Then began a sort Of religi-
Gus ceremony in the form Of a dance
around the pole, accompanied by
prayers and ~incantations. They ask
ed for plenty Of grass upon which the
buffalo feeds, good luck in the hunt,
success against their enemies, and d
variety OF minor blessings. This was
kept up the remainder Of the day and
far into the night. Next morning
when they started again on the trail
Of the buffalo herd, runners we're sent
back at intervals to observe whether
the robe still remained IN its place.
We of white breeding, who admired
but did not reverence this handsome
robe, conceived a violent desire to
possess it and regarded it as q great
pity that it should remain on the pole
to be destroyed by buzzards or rotted
by the elements. Next night, as we
smoked around our fire on the out
skirts Of the Indian encampment, we
discussed how it was possible to OBJ
tain the robe. A young French half
breed named Louie, one who, from
long acquaintance and several favors,
was very friendly with US, was among
the Sioux. Him we took into our
counsels. Knowing that his absence
from the camp would not be remark
ed, nor his purpose suspected, we off
cred him ten dollars, a bright gold
eagle, If he would ride back, capture
the robe and bring it to us. Louie
was almost as suparstitious about the
white buffalo as were the Indians,
though he was a Christian religion.
The pay was good enough, but he did
not like the mission; but after some
coaxing and mild ridicule of his fears,
his pride as well as his cupidity was
excited and he started. Shortly after
midnight he stole INTO our wakeful
camp and, with a whisper Of relief,
delivered up the coveted robe and re-
ceived his pay, besides a liberal pres
ent. Early next morning a courier
was dispatched to look after the saeri-
flee and returned with the news that
it was gone. It was immediately con
that the sun had taken the off
and the Sioux expressed much
satisfaction at the suspicious omen,
(Ihe white men felt a satisfaction
they did not expressly As the con
hunt was unusually successful