The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-05-06
wELsHMEN DIFFERENTIATED.

strengthened Catlin in his theory. He az.
gued that the Welshmen had settled in Ohio
and had fortified themselves. They had been
warred against by the Indians, and after
| their ammunition gave out they had been ex,
terminated But the half breeds had been
spared. Half breeds are always despised by
full blood Indians. These sons and daughters
of WelShmen and Indian women had natur-
ally associated together in a band. They had
cut loose from parent tribes. Gradually they
hadmade their way down the Ohio and then up
the Mississippi and the Missouri, stopping for
q generation or so IN one fortified place, and
then moving on, increasing in numbers, pre-
serving some of the customs and character
istics of their Welsh ancestors, and trying to
find place where they could live at peace,
but aloof from other tribes
Catlin found the Mandans living behind a
well built stOCkade. They had located Buolr
principal city where the Missouri made sharp
turn around rocky ledge. On two sides of
the town was this abrupt precipice and the
river. On the remaining side was the stock
Rde. This was composed of timbers a foot
thick, set firmly in the ground, and eighteen
feet high. Crevices were left between the
timbers to shoot through. Their fortified
city was impregnable.
Nothing like the Mandan architecture was
found by Mr.. Catlin among any of the other
North American Indians. The lodges were
circular, and from forty to sixty feet in
diameter.
The Mandan houses were built so closely
together that between them were only mar
row pathways. At a distance the dome like
yellow roofs presented a singular appear
ance. On nearer approach the visitor found
himself among a lot Of great mud huts. The
greatest surprise was after entrance Then
it was discovered that these were wooden
houses, dry and clean, and often furnished
with household comforts unknown to other
Indians.
THEY WERE SELF SUPPORTING.
The AlandanS were agriculturists They
raised corn, pumpkins and squashes In great
quantities They had no plows, but labori-
ously chopped the soil with hoes made from
the shoulder blades of buffaloes or elks.
Their corn was peculiar. 1t made ears which
were no larger than mans thumb, but it
ripened early, and matured well even in such
high latitude as the Northern Pacific of North
Dakota. White men In what was once the
Mandan country claim that 1t is impossible
TO raise corn there. The seasons are too short.
The Mandans stored their corn and dried
vegetables IN cellars made six or seven feet
deep and smaller at the top, like a jug. In
this way they easily preserved food through
the worst winters. Wild fruit was gathered
and dried in season. Tae buffalo meat was
jerked.
Among the women particularly were many
whose skins were almost white, and who had
hazel, gray or blue eye" There was every
shade of hair except auburn. The men
seemed ashamed of their light hair, and dis
guised it with glue and black earth. But the
women were proud of theirs, and wore it
spread out and down TO their knees
Although there were individuals among
them with records for great personal bravery.
the NandanS were not a wariike people
They avoided hostlities as long as possible
They cared more for sports and for ceremo-
MES than for fighting.
SIX years after Mr. Catlin'S visit among
the Mandaus smallpox was introduced IN the
city 10y FUR trading boat. At that time the
Sioux were making war upon the Mandans,
ana the afflicted people were shut up within
their Notifications. Tn ravages Of the dis
ease were terrible. OF the 2.OO0 people in the
Mandan city, 2S warriors, % women and 90
young people escaped the smallpox and found
a refuge with the Ricc~reeS. Inc MandAns
now number about see They live in a vii
lREe near Fort Buford st. Louis Globe
Democrat