Year: 1859

HUNTING IN MINNESOTA.


An intelligent correspondent of the Fair
mount True Virginian' gives the following
description of hunt with the Sioux Indians
in Minnesota The writer had been to St.
Paul, and on his return from that city to his
home, night overlook him in what are known
as the big Woods and finding it impossi-
BILE to make his way out, he determined to
quarter with the Indians. The next morn
ing he was invited to join them in hunt,
of which he writes as follows:


Before ] went to sleep agreed with Lit
tie Crow, the chief Of the band whom I was
we'll acquainted with, that I would join him
in the next days hunt. Accordingly he a.
reused me in the morning before day, and
gave me my breakfast. 1 had scarcely CON-
pleted it, when all the hunters and warriors
assembled before the chiefs tent, and per-
formed those mysterious rites which invaria-
bly, precede grand hunt, and which none
but the initiated can comprehend. Their
movements somewhat resembling solemn
dance, although exceedingly interesting,
were conducted with the greatest regularity
and precision, while the patriarchs Of the
tribe and the medicine men sang low and
lugubrious chant, which sounded not unlike
the fl vi yi,' &c., of the Shakers. They
seemed to be invoking the blessing of the
Great Spirit on their coming sports. And
they worsbipped with zeal and earnestness
which superstition and Ignorance alone can
inspire. thought of the old lines, Lo, the
poor Indian, whose untutored mind, &C.,
and wondered if with all his faults, the dusky
savage is not about as good for heaven as any
of US.


My reveries were broken in upon, how
ever, by "a general rush tothe woods. They
took different directions, and went as if the
pursuers of Tam O'Shanter's mare were af-
ter them. did my utmost to keep up, but
failed in the effort, and began to think Sc
riously of abandoning the chase, when my
friend Crow came to my assistance. Crow
is the most talented among the Sioux chiefs,
and though tall, sulky, green-looking In
dian, is brave man and first rate fellow.
He proposed that we should walk on leisure
ly to the centre of the circle agreed upon
for the days operations This We did, and
on our way he informed me that the favorite
way of hunting with the Indians is ring
hunting, as we would call it in Virginia.
They thus enclose great numbers Of wild
animals, which in stunning Scylla are apt
to fall into Cbaribdis. The feetest buck is
seldom able to escape so many and such
subtle foes.


1T was near ten o'clock in the morning
before we saw any game, but after that great
numbers of deer were seen darting through
the woods like arrows. Crow shot at many
of them as they ran, but succeeded in killing
but one only. For my part, l did not even
kill or wound one. I find that the Indians
great superiority in hunting consist in his
creeping abilities. Crow would crawl on his
belly nearly as fast as could walk, and that,
too, with little or no noise.


'As we gradually 'closed in the sharp
crack of the rifle was heard in every direc-
tion, and the frequent whizzing of bullet
by our heads reminded US of the recklessness
of the hunters and our own danger. Anon
wounded buck would fly past US, pursued
by wol6sh dogs and fendish Indians, yelling
and bowling after their victim. 1t was very
exciting sport, for the Indians were urged
almost to frenzy, and acted more as if they
were in some fierce battle than common ex-
ercise.


about this time, and at the height Of the
excitement, we heard yell proceeding from
the opposite side of the ring, louder, more
fierce, and different from any other of those
that were arising around US. The Indians
seemed to understand it, as they all rushed
to the spot from whence came. I followed
them, and to my yastonishment found that one
of them had been shot dead by accident
The yell that I had heard came from the In
dian who had done the deed. Further pro-
ceedings were stopped at once, and all re-
joicing and yelling was hushed.


The deceased had been fine fellow and
a general favorite. His name was Ma.nom-
enc. Those who had killed any game shoul--
dered it and struck for home. The balance
of whom I was one, formed procession
which followed poor Nomene, carried on the
back of his destroyer, to the camp. His
squaw, who was young and very pretty
woman, had heard the news before we got
there, and came out with her two little chill
dren to meet and take charge of her dead
husband 1t was sad spectacle. She
threw herself upon him and broke forth in
the most piteous and affecting cries of agony
that ever heard. There was no affectation
about it-no estate to be settled up-no
dover to set apart-nothing to abstract her
mind from her crushing grief. There was
not dry eye in that dusky crowd, notwith-
standing their usual stoicism and GOODNESS.
When We arrived at the camp, the corpse
was decently laid out on some poles, about
eight feet from the ground, and wrapped up