Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-06-27
LIFE AMONG THE SIOUX.
'sguaw Men" and Half Breeds-Picture
enthusiastically Affection


Among the Sioux may be found many
white men who are married 20
squaws, and who are adopted by
the tribe. They are known in frotier
parlance as ''squaw men, and before
the Indians were restshcted 10 the limits
Of the reservation. accompanied them
from place TO place IN thei, aomadic
wauderings OF this class a great por-
ton are French Canadians. and many Of
them are rich in cattle and ponies Their
children are usually bright and intelli,
gent. and when old enough are given the
advantage OF the mission and agency
schools. and taught to adopt the customs
Of the whites. The government scouts
employees al the various military posts
are composed chiefly of French half
breeds for the reason that aside from
their knowledge Of the country, they
speak with luency both the Indian and
American tongues.
Although the Sioux are not usually
very demonstrative in their me
about the traders store. they can on
certain occasions become as noisy and
boisterious as "a whole convent when the
father Abbot has gone to bed. Among
other novelties in the store, we once had an
ingenious toy, which consisted Of a small,
square box, on the top of which were
-four little images representing negro
MINISTRIES. two of whom, seated on tiny
chairs, held respectively a set of bones
and a tamhourine. The other two figures
we're in a standing attitude. When the
concern was wound up with q key, the
little darbey musicians began a lusty
gathering Of the bones and ~tambourine,
and the standing figures would break out
In a wild dance, Jerking and throwing
legs and arms in mirth provoking atti-
mdes of every description, These mimic
performances never failed 10 elicit the
widest applause, the sQuaws fairly
shrieking with delight, and even the most
stoical chiefs shouting wy-yu-pah away
up at the top of their voice.
They are, however, subject TO occa-
siopal fits Of dependency in which "a
sadness appears to fall upon their spirits"
and | have been informed by educated
half breeds living among them that the
different lines of paint on their faces sig
nifty when they are in love, melancholy,
etc. once passed a period Of fourteen
days and nights with a young Indian nj
n point about thirteen miles up the river
above the fort. near the mouth of the
Cheyenne. My companion was a strong
and active young fellow about 81 years
of age, 10y name Ferocious Bear, but his
manners greatly belicd his name. for d
more civil partner | could not hope to
find.
One stormy Sunday while sitting by
the fire in our shanty, | observed that
FeroCious Bear was unusually taciturn.
Usually. when about the shanty, he was
employed in cleaning his firearms, or
with bits Of charcoal embeIllshing the
walls Of our shanty with pictures of
eagles. bufTalos, deer. etc. But on this
particular day he scarcely touched his
breakfast, and up till noon had spoken
not a word When | finally asked what
vas wrong. lie shook his head mourn.
fully and replied that ''hIs heart was
very bad" had with me an excellent
field glass belonging TO Lieut. Myer al
the post, and when the storm cleared
away ! handed ii TO the Indian and re-
gugStcd him tOtIke a look al an encamp-
ment Of his people a mile or SO distant.
IL SO happened that he had never before
booked through one, and hi, amazement
and delight was untouuhel, and his
moroSeness soon passed away
Tle Sioux picture writers or artists
are 10y no means skillful painters-yet
some Of the decorations on their robes
are Of very clever designs. Among my
collection Of Indian curiositics is quite n
large picture painted on cloth, represent
ing a dozen mounted warriors bedeckel
with paint and feathers all ready for the
warparh II was executed for me ty an
Indian named Black Hawk. He was a
PARTICIPANT In the Custer fight. and
several OF his pictures representing the
battle-ground were purchased by DIR, Nc.
Chesney, OF Fort Bennett. and forwarded
10 the Smithsonian institution. The
pictured representation Of their battles
with other tribes are an evidence Of their
tendency to exaggerate their own
proves. Every solitary Indian repre-.
sented In these as getting ter
ribly thumped with a war club, or losing
his topknot, is certain to be anything
else but a Sioux.
A noticeable feature Of the Sioux Is
their affection for their children. A
chief. or, indeed, any Indian who is well
to do. l. e., one who has many ponies.
spares neither pains nor expense TO make
his little oHes happy by lavishing upon
them everything in the way Of gaudy
apparel that harbaric fancy can suggest
Some of the little boys. the pride OF their
parents hearts, when mounted on their
f~avorite ponies with embroidered saddle
and bride. and their own persons glitter
ing with ornaments, are a sight to be-
hold. Sam Parker in Detroit Free Press.