The circle banner., 1924-01-11

/
IN the hill above that part 0
Bannack known as Yanke
Flat, on the day of which | write
extended line of tepees, the buf
falo hides that covered them scar
cely distinguishable from theil
brown background. Tepees were
no unusual sight, as the town wa:
rarely without visitors from the
tribe of Indians whose name il
bore.
They wandered up and down its
streets selling moccasins, gloves
beaded belts, or anything else that
might secure a purchaser; intim-
ating at house doors that they were
hungry and expected to be fed
without their meal being dependent
upon their activity at the adjacent
woodpile (wood, be it noted, was
our only fuel) entered the houses
preceded by no warning knock, and
were interested in all they saw
within, showing a commendable de-
sire to learn the names of whatever
chanced to attract their attention.
Their way of gaining this informa-
ton was to give the Indian name
of the object, and then ask 'Meri-
cana, what you call 'em?"
Sometimes their curiosity was
carried too far; as when, the room
suddenly darkened, we sought the
cause, and discovered brown faces,
painted, and none too clean, press
ed against the window panes, shut
ting out the light, and black eyes
intently gazing at us, while the
owners of the faces and eyes COM
mented in musical tones and in an
unintelligible language on us and
our belongings. Yet one could par
don their rudeness when hearing
their soft voices; the Bannacks
having the most melodious Ian
guage of any Indians we met on the
plains or in the mountains. They
used many Spanish words, thus in
dicating their southern origin. All
Of the Shosone stock-the Utes,
Bannacks. and others are said to
be allied to the Aztecs.
In winter, with the ground COW
cred with snow, the Indian children
1ad great fun sliding down the long
steep hill opposite our house, using
instead of sleds pieces of hide.
Often when they came toboganning
swiftly downward, the boy would
ose connection with his chosen
means of locomotion, and reach the
bottom of the hill, leaving the hide
stranded midway to the summit.
But such mischance never seemed
0 lessen his ardor for the sport. al !
hough his own skin must have suf-
cred in the descent over the crust
d surface of the snow.
With Indian visitors so common,
nd their tepees almost constantly
n evidence on the hillside, there
vas nothing remarkable about
hose | have mentioned except that
hey belonged to George, the Ban
ack chief, and to his followers.
On that day, when the smoke !,
rom Georges tepee flung to the {
reeze like the banner on the castle ]
f a feudal lord, announced that its
wner was in residence, there oc- /,
1rred another notable arrival in ,
annack. 1t consisted of small :
and of Flathead Indians, accom- :
anied by a Delaware half-breed
ho acted as interpreter for them,
nd these drew rein in front of our
ouse just at sunset. p
The Delaware asked to see my : !.
lther, to whom he explained that 2
lis was deputation sent to him n
Y Victor, chief of the Flatheads. a
:questing that he would act as me-
ator between the Flatheads and 4
e Bannacks in some trouble !
hich had recently arisen, as the : !
latheads, being a peaceable tribe, !
ished to live on good terms with 7
cir neighbors. They brought p
ith them, as gift from Victor to p'
y father, a beautiful jet-black st
my, not to be considered in the
Lture of a bribe, but as proof of te
iendship. 9
My father readily consented to " "
d in the attempt to bring about cs
iendlY relations between the 81