The National tribune., 1893-01-19

! where all ia so untamed.
The tepee or lodge in which many hours arc
passed is not particularly pleasant and bright,
| The smoke at times filing the whole interior,
when all outside is cherries, wet and gloomy.
| Then the sQuaws busy themselves with bead
work. some of which shows great skill. In
! good weather they play games, and dress the
SIX ms of animals which have been killed. Ihen
too they make good mats and baskets. to be
used in their lodges. They always carry with
them heavy butcher knives, and when they go
out to get wood take along squaw-axcs, which
are made purposely for them, and which they
get from The traders. They are much lighter
| than ordinary axes and such as they can easily
handle. With these they can hew down tree
| OF ordinary SIZE and cut up such wood as they
may need, in addition to cutting off the smaller
branches Of the cotton-w wood trees, on which the
horses feed in Winter.
Mexican women have been taken prisoners
by the Indians and have spent their whole
lives among them. When Wyoming Valley
was laid waste during the Revolutionary War
many prisoners were taken by the savages and
among the rest was Frances Slocum who was
| lifelong captive. She had been SO long with
the red men when discovered that she had
learned all of their ways, and looked and acted
| like them.
When the Indians decide upon moving to
new ground the squaws take down all of the
tents, wrap up the bundles, and do all the
labor, the Indian men looking on with the
utmost indifference. Under no circumstances
would they assist in any way, rs it would be con-
sidefed unmanly and unbecoming; the women
must do it all themselves. While moving they
trndge along on foot leading horse, with per-
haps a papoose strapped to her back She is
taught to put up the lodges, spread the mats
and skins OH the ground, and i'll general way to
make them as comfortable rs possible.
But, still. the women get together and indulge
IF toll off of
their white sisters. appearing to enjoy them
selves very well. They have their friends, and
seem to get along admirably. The cooking is
done in a rough sort Of a way, dried meat be-
ing staple article, and needing but little
cooking. In the West, especially in Nevada,
the Indians kill thousands and thousands OF
rabbits, which they freeze. and keep in this
way for months and months together. The
sqnaws gather many bushels of grass seed in
their baskets, from which they make bread.
Nothing can exceed the patience with which
the squaws work when occasion requires it.
They work all Of the time, aud the constant
exercise makes them very strong They can
lit great weights, and bring home to their
lodges large bundles of wood, which they carry
on their back. Withal these women are mod
est and we'll behaved, and true to their hus.
bands. Some Indian families are models of
good behavior, and contain well-behayed chill
dren, though the children receive very little
correction.
The Indians themselves do not believe in
Furnishing them thinking it breaks their spirit.
Certain things they are taught. as how to be-
come good hunters among the boys, as well as
the many secrets of the war-path The girls
are taught how to construct their lodge and
then take care of it. almost everything con-
nected with it being in their hands.
The interior of the lodge is pa titioned off
into what may be called rooms, by means of
Eha ri ha
complete if so desired, the apartment being
light enough for all purposes. The fire is made
in the center OF the lodge, where all the cook
ing is done in bad weather, and in cold weather
this fire gives out heat enough to warm the
lodge SO as to make it very comfortable; be-
sides this the lodge is placed among the bushes,
to shield it as much as possible from the cold
winds. All in all these may be considered COM
Portable habtations. and can be transported to
another place without very much labor.
Horses are used when the distance is consider.
able and the dogs are made to do their share.
In making lodge the skins OF buf1aloes are
used, or were used formerly, before the animals
were all killed now canvas takes the place Of
the skins, and the pieces are deity sewed to-
gether, much time being consumed in tho work.
Very little rain gets through, large flap, on
which there is heavy weight, serving as
door. During the Winter much time is spent
inside, when the Indians amuse themselves by
telling ghost stories and relating incidents Of
the chase. The life to them is very real, and,
like all barbarous people, they are firm be-
levers in witchcraft and ghosts, and brighten
each other as much as possible, :nsomuch that
they are afraid to roam about much after dark.
The squaws as firm believers in ghosts as
the men. and they take pains to instil the be-
lief into their children. Though personally
brave, they are cowardly enough so far as ghosts
and witches are concerned.
Ub.s. a<,ff kox, ;oly IN
be bewitched, and the medicine man endeavors
by all the means in his power to drive the
witch out. All night long he keeps up his in
carnations. and early in the morning, having
got the witch out of the body, drives it away
out on the plain The noise and drumming
made by the medicine.man are hideous in the
extreme, and almost enough to drive one wild.
So, too, when one of them dies, the sqnaws are
inconsolable in their grief, and their amenta-
tions such as to make dreadful din. Their
walls are heard afar, aud sonDd fearful enough
in the stiffness of the night; the dogs, too, join
| in the chorus. and sometimes the wolves, leav-
ing nothing to make the mourning complete.
In the way of wing the squaws can do some
| very nice work with their avis and deer
sinews for thread, their bead ornaments being
very fine, and put on with great deal of taste.
Some of the buckskin hunting shirts of the
young men are made very handsome in this
way, and are worth good deal of money.
In the year 1876, the Shoshone Indians were
out with the soldiers against the Sioux. and
Washakees wife had charge of the Indian
camp, near Fort Washakee, during that chiefs
| absence She managed matters very well,
showing herself TO be woman Of good sense,
and in every way capable of attending to bust
ness. There were no men in camp, and the
women took charge Of large herd of horses
belonging to the band. Moreover, they main
tanned good order, drawing their ratons from
the Government regularly, and Washakee's
wife seeing that everything was kept in good
| order.
She knew that she had only to call upon the
commanding officer of the fort, and he would
help her, in case any struggling war party Of
| enemies made their appearance. She had per-
| feet confidence in herself and the other women
of her Nation looked up to her. She was far
| superior to the average run of Indian women,
and felt her superiority. All business affairs
were at once referred to her, and her decision
was final, and always, SO far as is known, cor
rect. Washakee had . good deal of wealth,
| from an Indians standpoint, much of which
had been accumulated by following his wife's
| judgment in business affairs on the reserva-
| ton.
| When war parties started out 1t was not Gus
tomary to take the squaws though this was
sometimes done. 1t was not thought that they
| could keep up with the warriors, but on hunt
ing expeditions they frequently went out, to
skin the dead game aud take care of the meat.
They were very expert in caring for an elk or
| deer, dressing the skin in q most satisfactory
| manner, every part was utilized, and none Of it
| wasted. The squaws always know where to