The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1891-10-31
scended from the lodge and wen:

AOuCy LUZ Cd1 uc cVSE DG d IuCul.
cine man." Onysah (the elk was the
next; he ascended the lodge at sun
rise the next morning. His body was
entirely naked, being covered with
yellow clay. On his left arm he car.
ried beautiful shield, and long
lance in his right. and on his head
skin of a raven, the bird that scars
amidst the clouds and above the light
nings glare. He fourished his shield
and brandished his lance, and raised
his voice, but in vain, for at sunset
the ground was dry and the sky was
bright; the squaws were crying and
the corn was whitening at its roots.
War-nah-ya 0he beaver) was next.
He also spent his breath in vain and
upon the empty air, and came down
at night; and Wak-a-dah-hsr (the
white buffalo's hair) took the stand
next morning. He is small but well
proportioned young man. He was
dressed in tunic and leggins. Ii his
left hand he clenched his sinewy bow
and one single arrow. The villagers
were all gathered about him, when he
threw up feather to decide the course
of the wind, and he commenced thus:
"My friends! People of the Pleas
ants! You see me here sacrifice. I
shall this day relieve you from your
distress, and bring joy amongst you;
or, l shall descend from this lodge
when the sun goes down, and live
amongst the dogs and old women all
my days. My friends, you saw which
way the feathers few, and l hold my
shield this day in the direction which
the wind comes. The lightning on
my shield will draw a great cloud, and
this arrow, which is selected from my
quiver, and which is feathered with
quill Of a white swan, will make a
hole in it. My friends, this hole in
the lodge at my feet shows me the
medicine men, who are seated IN the
lodge below me crying to the Great
Spirit above, who rides in the clouds
and commands the winds. Three days
they have sat here, my friends, and
nothing has been done to relieve your
distress. On the first day was Wah-
kee, (the shield). He could do moth
ing, and came down. His medicine
was not good. The next was Onysah
(the elk. On his head was seen the
raven that flies above the storm. He
failed. Wah-nah-ya (the beaver) was
the next. My friends, the beaver
lives under the water, and he never
wants it to rain. My friends, I see
you are in great distress. and nothing
has yet been done. This shield be-
longs to my father, the White Buffa-
10, and the lightning you see on it is
red. It was taken from a black cloud,
and that cloud will come over US to-
day. l am the White Buffalo's hair,
and am the son of my father"
In this manner Aourished and ma
neuvered White Buffalo's Hair, al
ternately addressing the audience and
the heavens, and hiding converse
with the winds and the "Jebi" (spir-
its), that are floating about in them;
stamping his feet over the heads Of the
magi, who were involved in mystery
beneath him, and invoking the spirits
Of darkness and light to send rain to
gladden. the hesrts Of the Indians.
It happened on this memorable day,
about noon, that the steamboat "Yel-
lowstone, . on her first trip up the Mis-
souri, river. approached and landed at
the Indian village. was lucky
enough to be passenger on this boat,
and helped to FIRE salute of twenty
guns. These guns introduced q new
sound into this strange country. which
the Indians at first supposed to be
thunder; and the young man upon the
lodge, who turned it to good account,
was gathering fame in rounds Of ap.
plause. During all this excitement
Wak-a-dah-her kept his position, as
suming the most commanding and
threatening attitude. Brandishing his
shield in the direction of the thunder,
although there was not q cloud to be
seen, until he (poor fellow, being ell
eyated above the rest Of the village,
espied, to his inexpressible amaze
ment, the steamboat plowing its way
up the windings of the river below,
putting her steam from her pipes and
sending forth the thunder of her
|twelve-pounders. The White Buffa-
los Hair stood motionless, and turning
pale he addressed the chiefs and vii
layers: "My friends, we will get no
rain; there are, you see, no clouds;
bpt my medicine is great; l have
brought forth a 'thunder-boat.' Look,
and see It'll"
At.this the whole Village flew to
| the top Of their .vigw2ms, and all, as
Catlin, here relates, were terribly
frightened; but when assured Of the
peaceful nature Of the boat, the people
smoked the pipe, Of peace. While
1.-THE nenple were 1nok mo. IN wnn1oY ~