The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-11-18

the bottom for an entrance. The spare
pole is attached to one edge Of the cover
at the top, so that the smoke hole may
be closed or opened at will" Furnished
with this minute description, any Boy
Scout should be able to set up the frame
work of a tepee, and cover it with can-
vas, if it can be shaped and sewed for
him.
When we consider that the Indian
women did all of this work from start to
finish; that they prepared and set up
the framework Of the tepee, laboriously
shaped the cover n sewed it by hand
with threads of sinew and bone needles,
we must admit they could not be called
the weaker sex.
A tepee could not b. locked when the
owner was absent. If the family was to
be away any length of time, the owner
made the fact known to the village, and
placed some brush or a log at the en-
trance to keep this fact of the owners
absence constantly in the mind Of those
Who passed by. Nc Indian would think
of entering the home of another to steal
his belongingS-or so it is claimed-yet
they were proficient thieves when the
property craved was that of the whites.
Indians believe white men, as a rule,
are liars and thieves. This is illustrated
by d story told by Bishop Whipple. He
was once on a visit to IN Indian en-
campment. Going to the chiefs tepee,
where he was to be entertained, he was
told to leave his saddle, and other things
he had brought with him, outside. But
will they be safe there?" inquired the
bishop.
oh, yes" was the reply. there are nc
white men within two days journey OF
here" A commentary on our race it is
well for us to recall occasionally.
When it became advisable to move g
village, the larger tepee poles were tieC
together at their smaller ends, fastened
to the horses back and the opposite ends
trailing on the ground, formed thC
travois-that furnished ample support
for whatever was loaded upon it. Otter
on a cushion of robes or blankets wert
carried the children. I have seen then
riding in this manner, the horse trottin(
along; the poles jolting over the uneven
ground, and the little black-eyed children
clinging precariously to whatever afford
ed them some hope Of not being shaker
off from the bundle Of robes on which
they sat. The sick and the wounded
were also conveyed in this way. In tn
latter case but two poles were used, witt
a blanket, or robe stretched between
5 them in hammock style. At Fort Lara
mic I witnessed the funeral of a Siou
f woman. The body was carried on
travOis to its last resting place. I do no
2 know that the men were transported i
r this manner after death, but think the
rode on horseback to their graves-o
= WAAoC SC4NSO do CndO-Ah CnS Case VI Gu
r Sioux it being an elevated box, or tn
4 limb Of a tree.
e Colonel Wheeler gives an account {
/ the burial Of an Apache chief Who die
e at Camp Bowie, Ariz, in 1874. TT
e morning after his death, Cochise WI
e washed, and painted in wal style, place
r on his favorite horse in front Of one {
his sub-chiefs, who supported the bod,
r his four most noted sub-chiefs precedin
n his family and others of the trik
e following. They marched IL miles to h
grave, no but those who were Of til
e tribes blood being allowed to attenl
The grave was very large. On the bottOl
h We've laid blankets n the chief ws
rolled up in a pair Of very handsome ont
Of A pounds weight, which had his nan
woven in the texture. The sides Of tt
grave were walled up about three fel
n with stone. His rifle and arms, as we
as other articles Of value, were laid b
- side him. Above his body were place
more blankets, then mescal poles, res
ing on the walls Of his grave. Govern
these were skins to prevent III dirt fal
ing through. Then the grave was FILE
with stones and dirt. His favorite hor
was shot within 200 yards of his gray
another horse was killed about one mi
distant and a third about two mil
away, the idea being that he would fiji
a horse when he needed one in the SpiI
land. The family and relatives DESTROY
all the clothing that they had, nj T.
tribe destroyed all the stores on han
so they were without food for about
hours"
There were evidently no funeral bak
meats on this occasion.
--H--
Varcifv Mon Vr Arfick