Year: 1875

bottom and rode along the white clay banks toward
Spotted Tails hamlet From distance il had quite
imposing aspect In the centre was the largest
tepee which very tall and covered with white
The other tepees were smaller, and one OF them
was shaped like a dome rode to the principal struc-
ture A tall painted chief with a saturnine face whom
] recognized Crazy in the Lodge saluted u.s. and
the tepee of Sntigaliska II is the finest in
the Sioux nation and its interior furniture may from
a barbarian point OF view, be called luxurious
Soft robes were spread upon the ground divans,
or sitting mats, and the walls decorated with
trinkets and of Indian manufacture the fur and
horns of animals and several well-dried scaps Crazy
in the Lodge invited be seated and my companion
opened conversation with him in the sign language,
interspersed with few words of Dakota While
thus engaged comely squaw, in side of the
tepee, making her morning toilet, with the assist
of inferior female, who seemed to q
handmaiden. While | am fully aware that my fair
Caucasian readers dying with curiosity to learn the
details of the ceremony, modestly refrain from pre-
senting the picture. After the rites concluded


MRS. A.


the youngest and most beautiful of the great chiefs
consorts-for it was she-had a much heightened
plexion, thicky decorated with vermilion and yellow
Ochre shawl of rich colors and really fine material
enveoped her graceful form from her shoulders to her
prettily beaded mocassins, that encascd small and





blue gown bordered with soft fur of the beaver and
her waist clasped by q glistening girdle
OF wampum, from which hung several trinkets OF
very fine workmanship. Her neck encirced by
heavy string of initiated pearls, and the
ments were appended to her Her hair parted
accurately in the middle of her forehead, and the
posed portion Of her scalp colored deep scarlet
after the of all the Nakotah bellies 1t hung
two long jet black queues, which were wound round
and round with bright red ribbon Her whole array
must have cost her noble lord several of the finest
ponies of his herd. Her face is moulded type of
gentleness, although lacking intelligent expression AT
the mention Of the name of Sintigaliska she seemed
Interested and said a word or two.


ANTIoUArED


We informed Crazy in the Lodge that had
from Ke-sapa, but had brought meza-si with u.s.
At this he shrugged bis shoulders and adjusted his
blanket about him with an air Of diplomatic doubling
He informed us that many lodges gathered the
Shadron Creek, and that Spotted Tail had ridden over
westward in the morning before arrival After
had mounted my horse to depart Crazy in the Lodge
took my gun from my hand, and, after receiving ex
PLANTATION OF how to place the cartridge and how
to cock it, fired a shot, supporting the cold
butt against his bare shoulder. Black Hawk a
half naked and grmy old brave came up and shook
hands, with the impressive manner OF a Turveydrop.
He his tepee and brought out his credentials
which he presented to with expectant gleam in
his eyes. After perusng the statement that he
good Indian chief, and had promised to always live
friendly with the whites and to leave his reserva-
tion returned them to HIM, merely saying 'Good!"
His face became clouded and he exclaimed


"Givel How much ~


"Bahret" and l shook my head. Black Hawk
strobe Off on his naked and spndling pedestas with
much dignity they capable of sustaining


THE woGALAKA ToNKA.


Before reaching Shadron Creek, where according to
Spotted Tails peremptory desire, the Council be
held galopng along the dusty road toward Red Cloud
we encountered many Indians mounted on ponies and
armed Their costumes brilliant and varied, and
at distance, as they careered across the beached
plains with their bright mantes wrap about them they
looked like the warriors of the Eastern deserts
gesture of the right hand elevated above the head
would attract the attention of horseman, and he
would draw near, saluting with, Ahi coldi ho0 !"


With a mixture of signs and words quite an intel
hgibe conversation could be conducted but
long time difficult to obtain any information about the
wogalaka touka the great Council Most Of the braves
whom we met indicated that there would be a mighty
gathering on shadron Creek rhey were either Brules
were from the agencies the Missouri and having
Just come in and camped on Bordeaux Creek near the
old Spotted Tail Agency were, afterward ascer-
tained partsans of Spotted Tail in favor of holding the
big talk on the Shadron. The White Hills, bearing a
short brown species OF grass for miles covered by
herds of parti-c ponies small Indian villages
dotted the valleys giving the landscape an en-
hvened and variegated aspect Where the
road sweeps around a hill, we looked upon a city of
white lodges, swarming with savage life, and the
surrounding ridges unarmed horsemen were herding
thousands of ponies The white who should visit
the valley Of the White River now while the bands are
in tho
Of their country, would conceive idea of


THE POWER OF THE SIOUX.


Their actual force unknown until it is brought into
hostile action but then would be in their gura-
tive Speech 'ke the blades of the grass" They pos
sess an immense number of ponies and many American
horses. The Commissioners have expressed to me-
since have been here their concurrence in General
Crooks opinion that the Sioux will have to be whipped
before any faith be placed in their remaining peace
able and observation is gradually creating my mind
n con1rmatory conviction


Dakota boy, who seated on horse on the
summit of hill, hailed and came charging down
upon us in the true warlike style, bending nearly
to tie ground he sped along, his form swaying
like willow wand in the gale. He evidently wanted
to show the skill he acquiring In riding as his
fathers had ridden upon the enemy and laughing with
youthful braggadoclo, approached with bodness
unusual IN those young men who have not yet taken
their first scalp Ny companion told the youth that he
a Crow chief at which he again laughed, and
shouted to another Indian boy the top of the hill


"Wasicu henagi congi t0ichdska aloi' ('Here is a
white who says he is Crowl'D


They both laughed, and our interoper turned
and cantered away at full speed. All the in
cldents that we encountered II would be i'm
possible to relate. An appariton with long,
sable hair, wrapped in long blanket of red, yell
low, white or blue, crcled with well loaded belt and
armed with gun, pistol and knife, would frequently
scud by us, like neeting cloud until we chose TO sig
nal halt and hold talk. Most OF them vaunted that
they were chiefs, and seemed in excellent humor Hi
Eagle greeted me with friendlness from remembrance
ofa former meeting. An advantageous trade made
with young chief OF knife in leather sheath for
In h,nLn .,,nI,,