Year: 1875




acknowledged chief BY virture Of inheritance they
claim this section Of country their The white


had pushed them westward thus far and here they
are anxious TO remain so that, while they may move
their tents with every moon, there is certain range
which they tendery attached their home. Red
Cloud is chief OF all the Sioux Black Coal OF the Arapa-
hoes and Little Wolf OF the Cheyennes. There is much
difference Of opinion the actual number Of Indians
at this agency. The Sioux claim about 10000 the
Arapahoes 1000 and the Cheyennes about the same
In round numbers these about the official figures
upon which the supplies granted by our government
are intended TO be furnished The Indians have an
intense antpahy being counted partly superstitious
partly politc for accurate census might mater
ally reduce their ratons. One OF Professor Marsh's
charges that the number estimated by the agent
for purposes OF fraud but however that may be- Il is
not easy TO get their actual numbers Army officers
believe the present estimate Of about IL 600 rs too hgh
by least third and that is one OF the points OF
inquiry the part of the Commissioners What are
now known as tho Northern Sioux a company Of
several hundred wild young men from these different
bands, with Black Twin, Crazy Horse and Little Big
Man as their leaders who rove around the country
north of here hunting buffalo, antelope and deer and
lighting their enemies, the Crows. They seldom come
the agency; but they generally manage, II posi-
bic 10 have representatives here on issue days.


II is only few years ago since Red Cloud himself was
at the head Of his followers ON the warpath in the
north and at first refused into Fort Laramie TO
make the treaty now In force Old Man Afraid OF His
Horse (Which that his enemies are afraid not only
of himself but of his horsel was then grand chief
of the Sioux, and Red Cloud, head soldier
OF the ogalala band was the great
warrior of the tribe Red Clouds pertinacity
brought him into prominence He was at last won
by presents and, having for the time over
shadowed his superior he recognized by our gov
ernment as the leader OF the Sioux He powerful
soldier and is something OF statesnan-rather,
should say more of potcian-for while he is saga
cous he is crafty, not over truthful, disposed TO
double dealing and does command the full conf
dence of either his own people the white man
Young Afraid OF His Horse tson of Old Man Afraid
is now the most popular Indian the reservation IL
he chose 10 assume the place OF chief the tribe would
willingly sustain him At present he is absent en-
deavoring induce the Northern Indians to come INTO
the Council be held with reference to the cession OF
the Black Hills region Red Cloud belongs 70 the band
known as the Bad Faces Old Man Afraid has retired
from active His long black hair has turned to
gray, and time has ploughed deep burrows in his
features He likes the whites and has been
constant in his attendance around the quar-
tiers of the Commissioners. The chiefs OF the
other bands of Sioux Blue Horse, Chief of the
Loafers-those who hang around and beg about the
agency; Fast Thunder Chief OF the Roasts-those who
cook their meat; Little Wound, Chief Of the Cutoff
handsome who had cut of from the Ogallalas and
gone south to hunt buffalo along the Republican Rver
Sitting Bull Young Man Afraid Of His Horse Red Leaf
Day White Cow Killer Yellow Hair, High Wolf, Face,
Red Dog, Big Crow, Big Foot, Black Hawk No Water,
White Tail Slow Bull and Long Wolf being the chiefs of
the remaining bands Long Wolf represents the half
breeds and scattered Sioux Among them are one or
two families who claim kinshp with the late Confeder-
General Garnet, or Virginia


The principal sub-chies OF the Cheyennes are Black
Horse, Two Moons Big Ghost, Sitting Bear, Dull Knife,
Elk Eyes Old Bear Turkey Legs and his brother Calf
Skin Shirt The ub-chiefs OF the Arapahoes are
Plenty Bear Six Wings Sharp Nose White Breast, Sor
rel Horse Blind Bear Shield Feather the Head, and
Eagle Dress, who is also known as Crazy Bull The
property OF all these Indians consists principally OF
their personal effects and camp equpage but especially
OF their ponies OF which it is supposed they possess
from fifteen twenty thousand.


OMAHA DANCE.


Yesterday the Commissioners had opportunity OF
witnessing an Indian dance The Omaha dance is
social festival and but good Indians and brave
authorized TO take part in it. The occasion
afforded an excellent illustration ofthe curious custom
and barbarc spendor of the Face chiefo OF
the bands of Sioux, was master OF the dance The
Commissioners occupied seats under shade
erected within the agency enclosure At the APP
pointed hour the shouts of the squaws and soldiers
nounced the approach OF the procession The gates OF
the courtyard thrown open and in the Indians
rushed on foot and some on horseback the air
resounding with their shouts The squaws took up po-
stions on three sides Of the enclosure while the
braves who constituted the musicians and the dancers
dashed into the centre. The drum was placed
upon the ground the musicians gathered round
it and began to beat it with their sticks,
while the dancers dressed IN AL sorts
of fantastic costumes, formed an outside
circle in which they stamped and yelled. Red Cloud
advanced and took seat beside the Commissioners,
under the shade Sitting Bull riding horse, was
arrayed in all MS native grandeur. His body, bare TO
the waist, painted thick with yellow ochre. He
wore green pantaoons covered with brass bells and on
his feet blue beaded moccasins. His war bonnet, ex-
tending from his head down his back almost to the
ground mass Of eagle feathers crowned with deer
horns, inerspersed with other ornaments His face
painted with vermion and in his hand he carried


small edition of the stars and Stripes His horse
covered with yellow marks which served to show the
number Of ponies he had stolen and OF the he had
killed in battle while string Of sleigh bells jingled
with the prancing Of his horse around the circle Sit
ting Bull is excellent Indian, and favorte with the
President The Man Who Strikes First who is brother
TO Sword rode a horse whose back and TANKS
daubcd with red He wore blue pantaloons and a dirty
white shirt on the outside. His face painted rcd
yellow he splendid bonnet Of eagle feathers
and carried a lance his right hand Tall Wild Cat
mounted and dressed in similar STYLE and carried
his gun the pOmmel OF his saddle The older chiefs
and head OF the different bands of Sioux sat the
ground in separate circle The dancers illustrated the
idea Of perpetual motion, to the evident interest of all
concerned Kickers face painted green and red,
ghastly combination; he swung his tomahawk in one
hand and tan Of eagle feathers in the other he
band Of fur around his brow and bunch Of esgIo
feathers his head. Cuts had his body painted in
yellow, with four hands painted in black, each
aud two his breast His face also painted
yellow with black spot either check. He
pari colored scarf around his waist scarlet panaloons
striped with blue and carried brosdsword IN his hand.
Long Dog distinguished by his string OF sleigh bells;