Year: 1877


4 Cattle Hunt md Dog Fcast-Hcspcct i'r


the Aged.


The Denver Nc,cs says: Life ut the
Sioux agencies is full of interest and
romance these days. The glory of war.
fare departed, the ridiculous phases OF
savage tranquility manifest themselves
on every hand. On the day of the sllr-
render of Dull Knife's Cheyenne tribe,
the warriors were scarcely di9rmed
before they were found constructing war
clubs with round rocks and rawhide after
their peculia: manner. The day after the
Crazy Horse surrender cattle were issued
to them in the usual proportion of an
Indians ration they Gsked as favor
that the herd of wild Texans be turned
over to them alive, so that they could
enjoy q sensation like that of buffalo
hunt. The request was granted; about
twenty steers were turned loose upon
the plain and the savages-armcd with
bows and arrows and mounted upon
ponies obtained from Red Clouds peace
band-gave chase. All the thrilling
whoops of battle were shouted and the
terrific feats of horsemanship and the
skill of the savage with his rudest weapon
were exhibited. Goaded by the twinge
cf the wcll-aimed arrow, and rendered
almost frantic by the unearthly yells,
the swift and long -windcd Texans skipped
over ridge, gully and stream like the
wind. Ever moment poor brute would
receive it's death wound from the un-
erring shaft, and occasionally madden
cd one would turn and delight his pur-
suers by plucky resistance. When the
animals were nearly all slain, three OF
four made dash over sheer precipice OF
some fifteen feet in height. The reck-
less reds were close upon their heels and
turned neither to the right nor left but
followed pell nell to the bottom. From
the cloud of dust emerged every savage
firmly seated and evidently gratified at
the thrilling experience. In about
twenty minutes the cattle were all slain,
and squaws and boys who followed the
chase soon made the butchery complete.


A grand peace council was one of the
interesting sights afforded couple of
the visitors at Red Cloud agency the other
day. Little Wound, one of the most
powerful OF. Sioux chieftains, summoned
the other leaders of his nation to his
grand council tepees, there to talk over
a lasting peace and agency reforms. Two
immense tepees were placed side by side
and made to furnish room for one hun
dred men. AS the delibcrators were
gathering in this gorgeously-oruamcn
chamber, the master of ceremonies and
an assistant were slaughterjng dogs for
the feast which always follows such a
nlomeptous carnival of oratory. A raw
hide lariat was wound once ronnd the
neck of the animal, when brawny
Sioux took hold at either end of the fatal
cord, pulled backward and forward with
"sec-saw motion, and thus strangled
tho victim. Then the dog was thrown
upon blazing camp fire, his hair pretty
well singel off, and then the carcass was
artistically carved. Thus about dozen
of the largest of their pets were slaugh-
tered. A number Of pots were, on hand,
each for its special purpose. All the
heads were thrown in one, all the legs
in another, the tails in another, and SO
on. These were placed upon the fire in
the midst of the circles of debaters now
assembled. AS the guests stepped into
the circle, an attendant flung bright
red blanket upon the sward directly in
front of Little Wound, Crazy Horse, and
other prominent chieftains, while these
.1ignitaries moticncd the white men to sit
there.


An old man opened the proceedings by
an appeal to the Great Spirit, during
which the chiefs in the array were i'm
pressively deferential. One after another
OF the savage orators then arose, stepped
to the center, and uttered forcible
harangue. This continued for two
hours, when, the dogs being done, the
leading chief announced that the feast
would take place Immediately after
another prayer. This was pronounced,
and all the queer features of the Indian
dog feast was soon under way. Dogs
feet were no less greedily demolished
than canine tenderloins, and the warrior
who received tail for his portion seem
ed equally pleased with his neighbol
who picked long ribs: Guests were
treated just as royalty, but their opinion
of dog meat is scarcely such rs would
justify it's wholesale adoption as an article
of diet. Dog soup and coffee followed,
all mixed and taken from the same dish.
At the close of the feast the prayer OF
benediction was pronounced, and the
assembly adjourned in excellent spirits:
Hundreds of squaws and children crowded
around during council and feast, but
were not allowed admittance.


A striking evidence of generosity was
exhibited during the feast An old
Indian, ragged, wrinkled, and fairly
tottering in his weakness, entered the
circle, introduced by fiery young wa
rior. The latter said that his aged COM
panion should be fed and otherwise care>l
for, and that it was shame that such
fcasting should he INDUCED in by the
young aud strong while the old were
suffering. Little Wound pulled off his
fine new blanket and presented it to the
old man. Others livested themselves OF
their only mantles and had likewise, while