The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-07-22
AMONG THE DAKOTAS.
A WOman's Unique Experiences
with Indians.
Habits and Customs OF the Copper-CoI-
ored Children of the PIains-TheIr
Weakness for Stcwcd Dog
\ Farewell Dance.

In our residence of fourteen months
among the Dakota Indians, whom we
had been taught to look on as altogeth-
cr barbarOus, my sister and | had
unique experiences in finding that some
things about Us shocked their ideas of
the fitness Of things as much as their
customs did ours We thought Il faded
calico bag good enough 10 send over the
prairicS for our mail, and every ten
days our two camp policemen carried
that bag To and from the agency. One
day one Of the huge fellows said with Il
serious face that we should have q prct-
ty bag, and he turned 10 his fellow pO-
iccman To ask If that was not 50. The
other man nodded his head with such
vigor that il was plain the matter had
been a subject of modification TO both,
and that they had consulted how
TO bring the grievance to our notice
without hurting our feelings. The
DakOtas dislike much TO say anything
not altogether com mplimentary, and we
knew the effort IL must have cost to cX-
press themselves on this subject. We
made a smart bag OF red flannel, picked
out in black. When CUt-Foot strapped
it across his shoulders over his tidy uni
form, nc was genuinely happy.
Large bustlcs were worn among civ
ilized people when we went among the
Dallotas, hut we had 70 abandon them.
We would have had no influence over
our charges if we had kept those
buStlcs on.
The dogs eaten by these people are
quite different from the dogs Of which
they, like civilized peoples, make
friends and companions. They have
scarcely any tails. They seem to fat
ten as readily as pigs. \ small tepee
near the family tcpce i put up for the
dog family. The flesh Of these dogs is
looked on as n dainty, and is eaten with
ceremony, and the women bring little
tin cups TO take some of it TO the chill
drcn at home. For one of the weekly
dances in camp. one dog is considered
sufficient. but rs many as forty are
killed for great feast The odor of
the stewcd dog is very unpleasant and we
had to throw open the windows, even
in severe weather, after the school
children had been rcralcd on that dish.
The Indian school at the agency was
kept by the agents pretty daughter
She had often observed one Of these
dogs that seemed to have more saGacity
than his fellows. He came every day
To school with the child who owned
him, and during the exercises ne sat
beside her on the platform and joined
with the children in the games at
recess. She said 10 the dogs master
one day: Your dog is very fat"
Yes" waa the boys answer; I'VE will
cat him next week"
One day there was a knock at our
camp schoolhouSc door. One of the
children, little Amos Blacl-bull had
brought his dog, one of the edible vari-
ETY., as a present To Us, and had tied
him To the step. OF course Amos was
thanked, but his present was not &C
copied.
The Indian children. like white chill
drcn. initiate life in their play. The
girls carry their dolls on their backs,
secured 10y the ShaHi-for the smallest
maid likes little shawl round her
shoulders, or thrown over her head.
When the dolly is supposed 10 be fret
fuI. the small mother shakes herself
from side to side, as she has seen her
mother do To hush a real baby. Their
doll houses are tepees, constructed Of an
Old rag, held down against the force Of
the wind, like the family tepec, by turf
laid round the edge. BESIDES this, the
house in that severe climate. 1t l.
hole dug in the side of hill, with a
projecting roof of turf in which are
stored such provisions as would be
spoiled by freezing.
The Indian babies were alarmed by
our white faces when first we went
among them, and the mothers were
mortified by their screams. But with
the assistance of spoonful of sugar or
bit of hardtack, which they like as
much as white children do candy, we
were soon on good terms
The Da<otas, unless they have been
corrupted by bad white men. are
strictly and literally truthful One has
10 bc careful not TO make a mistake in
talking with them When they asked
how many sleeps" nights before we
meant 10 do any certain thing. we had
! To- Dc sure of the number for fear of
shocking them 10y not keeping our
| word. one is not allowed 10 change
ones mind about engagements,
| either. On one occasion we had
gone the rounds of the camp
inviting all, old and young, to a
/ sort Of entertainments reception
we called il. for want Of another name.
/ Gu the day appointed | was seized with
/ a fever, and my sister decided that we
| would have 10 post pOne our treat. So
| she sounded the police signal, three
| taps on the bell. and sent our faithful
! StiffArm To let the camp know that nc
one was To come TO the schOol-house
that day. But she reckOned without
her invited guests. Indians are pune
/ tuality itself, and promptly at -four
o'clock, the hour set. they began %
]
| 70 come into my bedroom that they
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