Year: 1865




The llth day Of February was one OF
the grandest times in the history of this
Post, upon the occasion Of Captain More
land, Of Co. &C. 9th Iowa Cavalry, join.
ing in marriage to a squaw, whose name
is 'Tahiskaw," or Wisdom, of the AFRICA.
rec tribe Of Indians, more familiarly
known by Upper Missouri river men, by
the name of Rees-and for the benefit OF
all those concerned will give you an i'm =
partial history Of the manners and Gus
toms of those Indians, tha. you can more
fully comprehend the many seemingly
foolish ceremonies that is performed on
such occasions. In the first place white
man must possess the following qualiica.
tions TO be able to make choice of the
young squaws of the first families in this
tribe-be must prove himself {. Jrarr war.
rior to enti'e him to their confideuce.-
This they took for granted, as he was the
Captain and commander Of TT. Berthald.
The second qualification that he mus.
have is to be good hunter, that he may
be able to kill buffalo sufficient to support
one or more squaws. This the Cap ain
had done upon many an occasion before
while ont OF government horses running
buffalo, having killed as many as six at
one race. The third qualification ,ha, YOU
must have to obtain their consent, YOU
must be able to show surplus on hand to
commence the marriage journey through
life. This the Captain could easily DO,
having the commissary stores at bis com
mand, in addition to about forty wagon
loads Ct buffalo meet in the government
warehouse. The fourth and last, but not
least qualification, he must be of sound
mind and body, that he may be able to
discharge the duties Of Chief, should he
&c called on to act in that capacity. This
the Captain was at fsst at loss to do,
knowing his bodily infirmi,ies, but at last
came to the conclusion that faint heart
never won fair Iady--inftrmed the head
men that his sore limb was caused from
frost bite while out huntiny buffalo-siy.
ing them the time " hen this unfortunate
circumstance occurred This ended bis
examination, having gone through all
their usages


Their head man for the occasion. "Iron
Dar,' then lit his calumet pipe, and poin,
ed it to heaven, then to the four points Of
the compass, thence 70 earth and the fire,
held it out to the Captain for him to
smoke-after which each warrior took a
few wh!tfs. when 'Iron Bar raised from
his buffalo robe aud addressed the Cap
tain and his intended, with as much dig.
nifty as the Speaker in the U 5 Senate
not word Of which could be understood,
without being able to speak their language
when she raised to her feet, The Captain
following in the wake. After hearing him
for short time they all raised, encrclins
his honor aud his intended raised their
voices so high that it would have made
your blood run cold in your veins, ex.
claimed, "flow = which was intended to
give the Captain to understand that he had
gained their unanimous consent TO his
marriage. The next thing performed was
the marriage ceremony, which was colec.
lively administered by the head men, and
consisted partly of wofds, the meaning of
which | have never been informed--and
by smoaking, and finished up with feast
or as We call it, "supper,' and was con
Quoted in the following manner. The
Chiefs and old Indians who acted as mas.
ter OF ceremonies, raised to their feet,
when the Captain and his intended advan.
ced to the center of the Lodge, when they
commenced singing, while the bride and
bridegroom walked around the Lodge. fire
which is in the center Of the Lodge. His
wife, as will now style her, joined in the
singing. This continued for about one
hour, when that part of the ceremonies
were concluded; and the Captain and his
wife being seated on buffalo robe spread
out on the ground, when the old Indian,
who acted as master of ceremonies took a
small portion out of each kettle, and sep
erate!y holding them in the same manner
as the pipe was pointed, advanced to the
Captain and his squaw, putting into their
mouths small portion Of each article of
food prepared for the occasion-and then
proceeded to fiji! a large pan for the Cap.
tain and his wife Of the different articles
commenced distributing the remain der to
the guests. After the repast pan of
water was brought in and passed around,
each one taking a sup and handing it to
bis left hand neighbor. until oil had par.