The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-08-09
THUS THE INDIANS LIVED.

~HNAHNAANS bL d ladNl V lSlh " Fi SeililP
 on the Plains-Woman's Status in the
 Tribe-Biblical Criticism by Indians
 The Buffalo Hunt-A Brush With a
 Party of Sioux and the Scalp Song
 The Chief and His Wives.
 It was midsummer, and the days passed slowly and with unvaried mo- notony at our trading post on the upper Missouri. The Indians were far out on the prairie, camping with the buffalo and securing the thin, light summer skins with which to make new lodges, moccasins and various other things. It was hot in the river valley; not a breath of wind stirred the foliage of the cottonwoods, and we wandered from one place to another trying to find the collest nook. There was nothing to do to pass the time except sleep and eat and count the days that must pass ere the cold weather would drive the Indi- ans back to the river and trade would begin again. I was not little pleased, then, when one day runner from the Blood Indian camp brought word that the chief desired a wagonload of trade goods sent out to them, and the head trader ordered me to go, selecting as Illy dSSlot t lSllCll iidll-pltSt ploye named Archie, a trusty man and a cheerful companion. Long before noon we loaded a heavy wagon With sugar coffee, tobacco and cartridges, hitehed on four good horses and began to pull up the long, steep hill which wound up through the pines to the pra1- ries, several miles from the river. At last we reached the level of the rolling table land, and how pleasant it was to feel the cool prairie breeze in our faces and to gaze upon the endless expanse of plains and mountains about us! Southward the snowy mountains loom- ed up as distinct and clear cut as if they were but mile or two away, yet they were nearly fifty. Off to the east and southeast numberless flat-topped and pine-clad buttes rose from the plain as far as we could see, and everywhere was the bright sunlit prairies, the clear blue sky and the cooling wind.
 Our horses were fresh and we made good time under Archie's skilful driv- ing, reaching big Crooked Creek, twen- -ty miles or more from the river, long before dark While Archie cared for the horses I went up the creek little way with my rifle and secured fat antelope from bunch which was com- ing in to the water. We soon built fire of buffalo chips and had hearty meal of liver, hard bread and tea.
 The country we were in was infested by war parties of hostile Indians, espe- cially the Sioux, and we knew we were running a good chance of losing our scalps by camping there. So as soon as supper was over we put out the fire, and carrying our bedding some distance away, lay down for the night, not omit ting to coil a hair rope around the robes to ward off any stray rattlesnakes which might come along. Some time in the night small herd of buffalo came along and got quite close to us before they had our wind then they ran off, snorting and pounding the prairie like thunder with their heavy hoofs; but our horses were used to them and did not stampede, as we feared they might.
 About 10 o'clock the next day we came in sight of the Blood camp, which was strung up and down little stream whose head is in the Snowy Mountains. Almost every family had new lodge, and very white and neat they looked in the clear sunlight. Game of all kinds was evidently very plenty in the Vicin- ity, for about every lodge hung long lines of drying meat, and the ground was covered with the skins of buffalo, elk, antelope and deer, begged out to dry. We drove at once to the chiefs lodge, and he greeted us very kindly, ordered his wives-he had five-to un- load our wagon and stow the goods in- side the lodge, and made us sit with him and smoke and eat and exchange the news But we were not to rest very long; the camp was short of cartridges and tobacco, and soon we had the lodge surrounded with men anxious to trade. Antelope and deer skins were quoted at forty cents a pound that season, or about a dollar each, and elk hides were worth as much again. For the former we paid eight cartridges, and for Che latter twelve, at cost of sixteen or twenty-four cents; and tobacco. tea, sugar and other things we disposed of at like ratio. But the Indians were well satisfied, and returned to their lodges with their little purchases re- joicing.
 OuF nOSI, Culcl "o'' one of the jolliest old Indians l ever knew He was very portly, and had long since given up the chase, but he could well afford to do so, for he had several hundred head of horses, which he had no difficulty in lending to poor young men for half the spells of the chase, and one or two young orphan boys lived with him and cared for them for their board and clothes. His five wives toiled unceasingly to tan and dry the robes and hides which were con- stantly being brought in. Yet they had a comparative easy time, for they did not work very long hours, they rested when they pleased, and they were con- tented. for they knew that the lot of women was to toll and to serve their lord and master. While there was no open jealousy among them, they vied with one another in their attentions to the chief, and he in turn seemed to re- gard them all with equal favor. The head, or oldest, wife was in measure the overseer of the others and directed their work, and her place in the lodge was always by the side of her husband at his right hand. Yet this apparently gave her no advantage over them in any respect.
 As the sun went down all work ceas-
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