The Savannah morning news., 1900-09-25

serar1tiou commenced ~ Darlington. In
dian Agent Mlschener ana Capt. Tulllng-
ton of the regular army. had issued "a
csd TO an rcd fklns 10 meet them IN Oar
lirgton. When the FIRST faint streaks of
dat q were showing 60 the sky. the braves
and their wives began TO arrive. The
men drove 30 huggics. with their wives
beside hem Perhaps the equaws were
better treated ,nut day than they had ever
beer before. TIE men devotiug themselves
o. tnem ana showing them many little
piufks Of Affection
There r. popular Idea among the white
people that the 10, OF an Indian wife Is a
hard one So 70 was generally supposed
that the comedy young Indian women
would welcome their freedom from bond
age
But ,t has turned out quite differently.
When the men OF the Kiowa tribe were
callci upon 10 choose one among their
wives o. retain and discard the rest. they
invariably selected thu oldest latest ana
apparently the ugiiest one among the lot
When an Interpreter inquired the reason
~ this an old Indian said:
First wife mo like best" This seemed
10 be- the prevailing sentiment among all
the Indian men. This stern loyalty 10 first
love did not make the bot Of the discarded
women less hard. There was no outcrv
and weeping among them That g. not an
Indian way o. showing grief \ look OF
stern. liked detection came 20 their con.
per-colored faces
The discarded wives were sent away 70
the agency building The government Is
preparing TO toke care Of the women until
thelr reservation o. thrown open 20 set
tlement which wiil be IN the coming win
Ter. Then they VIII have money enough
20 keen themselves II might be- supposed
thht this would heal an their heart
wounds, But most OF the women are SIN
going about the agency with sorrowfli
faces ard detected air. They are MOURN
ing FOR their lost husbands Among tho
comeiiest Of these Indsln women are Moon
Eyes. Sweet Nind-Over- Water. Ada
Evangeiine nud Starlight.
Indian Agent Mischener has do,e his
best 20 comfort his charges bv telling
them Of their bright prospects Of again
marrying aud possibly securing white hus-
bands. much handsomer than the win
Killed. Old men whom they were formerly
welded 10. To prove the truth OF the
agents words many white men have re-
Gently invaded the reservation ami pafi
court 20 the dark-skinnfd beauties
As many of tho squaws have = head
fisht OF 800 or more. many white advan-
turfrs. attracted merely by the pccunlnry
gain bargain for these women. Merce-
nary white men are striving In this way
20 control the lands that the Indians hay,
been given possession or
One OF the prettiest OF the Young wo-
men has oonndci q Indian Ascent Niche
ner that she didn't Ike to marry a white
man Tor two reasons The nr.t was that
me white man wanted womln's money
only Tho other renson. and the one
that Sc tined 70 have most weight with her.
was that she didn't like The white mans
wedding ceremony az well as the Indian.
! The weddings OF the tribe are CAV affairs.
a number OF bucks race for ihe bride :
pony. and maiden squaws compete In the
same way for her robe.
During the festivities the bride alahor.
ateiy gowned IN a white robe OF buck
skin. covered with silk and adorned with
many ornaments including costly ola
monds, emerges from the wigwam. Dur
Ing the race for the pony the brides moth.
er divests her OF her beautiful wedding
garments. leaving her clad only IN iight
flowing Blanket. Then the bridegroom
runs from his wlgwam throws hIs bian-
kot around her. ana carries her on to his
happy home