The National tribune., 1893-02-16

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ket. paint and feathers, and are wonderfully
impressed with their own Importance. They
cut a great figure before their fellow men, and
are not at all behindhand in praising them
selves and their own valor and achievements
Their bravery in the field and their success in
the hunting grounds are favorite topics, and 1t
must be confessed that at times they seem to
be wonderfully in earnest. The scenes through
which they have passed are wonderfully well
depicted and the defeat of an enemy aptly de-
scribed.
They felt very independent, having an abun-
dance of meat, aud seemed ready to engage IN
anything. At length the day of the council
arrived, and Pierre Shane acted as interpreter.
Iron Bull took part in the council. being
absorbed in his sorrow. The Coat made several
speeches in the councfl-house which was
large room inside of the agency. After the
pipe had been passed round and everybody had
taken q Whit The Coat said he wished the
Great Father at Washington. meaning the
President would visit them and look closely
into their condition and wants. The goods, he
said, were well enough, perhaps, but were not
fitted for the wants of his people.
"The Great Father said he, does not
know us and does not understand our peculiar
condition. He sends men among us who try to
please us, but who do not know our ways.
What is good for white man is not good for
an Indian. We are not yet ready to give up
our ways of dressing, nor are we willing to live
in log cabins like the white settlers. We want
to be free to move our lodges out under the
shadow of the Big Horn Mountains, or to go
down the Yellowstone River where the deer
and antelope are, whenever we feel disposed to
do SO, without being hindered by anyone or be-
ing tied to n cabin. Our people own this land,
and have owned it for many seasons before the
white men came here.
"Our fathers lived on this land, and We know
where their burial places are along the mount
ain-sides. We know where they fell when
fighting against the Sioux, and for every one
lost by us we made enemies suffer. We
have been able to hold our ground against the
treacberous cut Threats tmeaning the Sioux,
and can give them as warm a meeting as they
desire, in the mountains or Oh the level ground.
AL we want is TO have the white men stand by
us and give shelter to our women and children
while we are on the war path"
And so the head men went on, telling over
and over the same story. 1t was hard to get
them started. and once having accomplished
that object it seemed as If they would never
stop. The annuity goods were hauled over
two or three times. the red men being as par
ticular as il they were paying the highest price
for them; but their value seemed to disappear
Immediately after they got possession of them.
They were parcelled out, so much for each
family or lodge aud then the squaws came in,
and they were moved at once. There is no end
of the work which the squaws can do, and the
Indian men keep them steadily at it. They dig
the ground for planting, build the fences, such
as they are aud in Autumn gather the crops.
They put up and take down the lodges, take
care of the horses, dress the skins. do the cook
ing, and, in fact, take care OF everything.
The bucks are too dignifed to do any labor,
though they hunt and fish to supply the family.
They love to talk and it must be confessed that
the practice makes them good takers. They
dearly love their council fires. for nothing OF
much importance can be done among them I'M
less it has been thoroughly talked over in
council. The head men have but little inhu-
ence though there have been some natural
born leaders among them. When a war party
starts out it Is customary 10 seek recruits. but
the least thing will turn them back, and if they
have once made up their minds to return no
earthly power can prevent them.
They are great believers in witchcraft, and
in signs and omens The fight OF birds, the
trail of animals the howling of dogs all have
a meaning 10 thcn aud they obey their own
eaprices. Then. too, they have great faith in
charms and their medicine bag, which is moth
ing more nor less than bag worn round their
necks, filed with small charms, and is all-power-
full with them.
They seem 10 be generous enough, but woe be
hutO onC nilO ISCclNtS any iiotu thch
for the obligation never ceases. 1t is brought
forward on every occasion, and makes the re-
cipient heart-sck. They are hospitable, and
are always ready TO share what they have. In
their lodges the fat of an animal is called meat
and the lean part bread. and they have a
wonderful capacity for disposing of both. In
old times their only drink was water, and the
Crow Indians had, and still have, very little
liking for spurious liquors; though when they
can get coffee they are remarkably fond of it.
well sweetened with sugar
After the council a large buffalo-skin was
purchased from the Indians and general
leave-taking gone through with. There was an
abundance of fuel near the camp, and in the
cold weather they had placed their lodges as
well in the bushes as they could get them, to
keep off the biting wind. All things consid-
cred they had prospered, and though the war
party had met with some bad luck they
looked it and seemed satisfied. The present
gave them much enjoyment, and they were in
no way anxious about the future.