Chapter 3

The next time the three brothers did not go to the red sand-stone rock, but the adventure which took place there formed a part of their conversation. They found the hunter at home, and, feeling now on very friendly and familiar terms with him, they entered at once on the subject that was nearest their hearts. "Tell us, if you please," said Austin, as soon as they were seated, "about the very beginning of the red men."

"You are asking me to do that," replied the hunter, "which is much more difficult than you suppose. To account for the existence of the original inhabitants, and of the various tribes of Indians which are now scattered throughout the whole of North America, has puzzled the heads of the wisest men for ages; and, even at the present day, though travellers have endeavoured to throw light on this subject, it still remains a mystery."

_Austin._ But what is it that is so mysterious? What is it that wise men and travellers cannot make out?

_Hunter._ They cannot make out how it is, that the whole of America--taking in, as it does, some parts which are almost always covered with snow, and other parts that are as hot as the sun can make them--should be peopled with a class of human beings distinct from all others in the world--red men, who have black hair, and no beards. If you remember, it is said, in the first chapter of Genesis, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." And, in the second chapter, "And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed." Now, it is known, by the names of the rivers which are mentioned in the chapter, that the garden of Eden was in Asia; so that you see our first parents, whence the whole of mankind have sprung, dwelt in Asia.

_Austin._ Yes, that is quite plain.

_Hunter._ Well, then, you recollect, I dare say, that when the world was drowned, all mankind were destroyed, except Noah and his family in the ark.

_Brian._ Yes; we recollect that very well.

_Hunter._ And when the ark rested, it rested on Mount Ararat, which is in Asia also. If you look on the map of the world, you will see that the three continents, Europe, Asia, and Africa, are united together; but America stands by itself, with an ocean rolling on each side of it, thousands of miles broad. It is easy to suppose that mankind would spread over the continents that are close together, but difficult to account for their passing over the ocean, at a time when the arts of ship-building and navigation were so little understood.

_Austin._ They must have gone in a ship, that is certain.

_Hunter._ But suppose they did, how came it about that they should be so very different from all other men? America was only discovered about four hundred years ago, and then it was well peopled with red men. Besides, there have been discovered throughout our country, monuments, ruins, and sites of ancient towns, with thousands of enclosures and fortifications. Articles, too, of pottery, sculpture, glass, and copper, have been found at times, sixty or eighty feet under the ground, and, in some instances, with forests growing over them, so that they must have been very ancient. The people who built these fortifications and towers, and possessed these articles in pottery, sculpture, glass, and copper, lived at a remote period, and must have been, to a considerable degree, cultivated. Who these people were, and how they came to America, no one knows, though many have expressed their opinions. But, even if we did know who they were, how could we account for the present race of Indians in North America being barbarous, when their ancestors were so highly civilized? These are difficulties which, as I said, have puzzled the wisest heads for ages.

_Austin._ What do wise men and travellers say about these things?

_Hunter._ Some think, that as the frozen regions of Asia, in one part, are so near the frozen regions of North America--it being only about forty miles across Behring's Straits--some persons from Asia might have crossed over there, and peopled the country; or that North America might have once been joined to Asia, though it is not so now; or that, in ancient times, some persons might have drifted, or been blown there by accident, in boats or ships, across the wide ocean. Some think these people might have been Phenicians, Carthagenians, Hebrews, or Egyptians; while another class of reasoners suppose them to have been Hindoos, Chinese, Tartars, Malays, or others. It seems, however, to be God's will often to humble the pride of his creatures, by baffling their conjectures, and hedging up their opinions with difficulties. His way is in the sea, and his path in the great waters, and his footsteps are not known. He "maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof."

_Austin._ Well, if you cannot tell us of the Indians in former times, you can tell us of the Indians that there are, for that will be a great deal better.

_Brian._ Yes, that it will.

_Hunter._ You must bear in mind, that some years have passed since I was hunting and trapping in the woods and prairies, and that many changes have taken place since then among the Indians. Some have been tomahawked by the hands of the stronger tribes; some have given up their lands to the whites, and retired to the west of the Mississippi; and thousands have been carried off by disease, which has made sad havoc among them. I must, therefore, speak of them as they were. Some of the tribes, since I left them, have been utterly destroyed; not one living creature among them being left to speak of those who have gone before them.

_Austin._ What a pity! They want some good doctors among them, and then diseases would not carry them off in that way.

_Hunter._ I will not pretend to give you an exact account of the number of the different tribes, or the particular places they now occupy; for though my information may be generally right, yet the changes which have taken place are many.

_Austin._ Please to tell us what you remember, and what you know; and that will quite satisfy us.

_Hunter._ A traveller[1] among the Indian tribes has published a book called "Letters and Notes on the Manners, Customs, and Condition of the North American Indians;" and a most interesting and entertaining account it is. If ever you can lay hold of it, it will afford you great amusement. Perhaps no man who has written on the Indians has seen so much of them as he has.

[Footnote 1: Mr. Catlin]

_Brian._ Did you ever meet Catlin?

_Hunter._ O yes, many times; and a most agreeable companion I found him. He has lectured in most of our cities, and shown the beautiful collection of Indian dresses and curiosities collected during his visits to the remotest tribes. If you can get a sight of his book, you will soon see that he is a man of much knowledge, and possessing great courage, energy, and perseverance. I will now, then, begin my narrative; and if you can find pleasure in hearing a description of the Indians, with their villages, wigwams, war-whoops, and warriors; their manners, customs, and superstitions; their dress, ornaments, and arms; their mysteries, games, huntings, dances, war-councils, speeches, battles, and burials; with a fair sprinkling of prairie dogs, and wild horses; wolves, beavers, grizzly bears, and mad buffaloes; I will do my best to give you gratification.

_Austin._ These are the very things that we want to know.

_Hunter._ I shall not forget to tell you what the missionaries have done among the Indians; but that must be towards the latter end of my account. Let me first show you a complete table of the number and names of the tribes. It is in the Report made to Congress by the Commissioners of Indian Affairs for 1843-4.

_Statement showing the number of each tribe of Indians, whether natives of, or emigrants to, the country west of the Mississippi, with items of emigration and subsistence._

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Names of |Number |Number |Present |Number |Number |Number |Daily | |tribes. |of each |removed |western |remain- |removed|of each|expense| | |tribe |of each |popula- |ing east|since |now |of sub-| | |indigenous|tribe |tion of |of each |date of|under |sisting| | |to the |wholly or|each |tribe. |last |subsi- |them. | | |country |partially|tribe | |annual |stence | | | |west of |removed. |wholly or| |report.|west. | | | |the Missi-| |partially| | | | | | |ssippi. | |removed. | | | | | |----------+----------+---------+---------+--------+-------+-------+-------| |Chippewas,| | | | | | | | |Ottowas, | | | | | | | | |and Potta-| | | | | | | | |watomies, | | | | | | | | |and Potta-| | | | | | | | |watomies | | | | | | | | |of Indiana| -- | 5,779 | 2,298 | 92[a] | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Creeks | -- | 24,594 | 24,594 | 744 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Choctaws | -- | 15,177 | 15,177 | 3,323 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Minatarees| 2,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Florida | | | | | | | | |Indians | -- | 3,824 | 3,824 | -- | 212 | 212 |$7 681/2 | | | | | | | | | | |Pagans | 30,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Cherokees | -- | 25,911 | 25,911 | 1,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Assina- | | | | | | | | |boins | -- | 7,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Swan Creek| | | | | | | | |and Black | | | | | | | | |River | | | | | | | | |Chippewas | -- | 62 | 62 | 113 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Appachees | 20,280 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Crees | 800 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Ottowas | | | | | | | | |and Chip- | | | | | | | | |pewas, to-| | | | | | | | |gether | | | | | | | | |with Chip-| | | | | | | | |pewas of | | | | | | | | |Michigan | -- | -- | -- | 7,055 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Arrapahas | 2,500 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |New York | | | | | | | | |Indians | -- | -- | -- | 3,293 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Gros | | | | | | | | |Ventres | 3,300 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Chickasaws| -- | 4,930 | 4,930 | 80[b] |288[c] | 198[d]| 9 401/2 | | | | | | | | | | |Eutaws | 19,200 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Stock- | | | | | | | | |bridges | | | | | | | | |and Mun- | | | | | | | | |sees, and | | | | | | | | |Delawares | | | | | | | | |and | | | | | | | | |Munsees | -- | 180 | 278 | 320 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Sioux | 25,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Quapaws | 476 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Iowas | 470 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Kickapoos | -- | 588 | 505 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Sacs and | | | | | | | | |Foxes of | | | | | | | | |Missis- | | | | | | | | |sippi | 2,348[e]| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Delawares | -- | 826 | 1,059 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Shawnees | -- | 1,272 | 887 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Sacs of | | | | | | | | |Missouri | 414[e] | | | | | | | |Weas | -- | 225 | 176 | 30 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Osages | 4,102 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Pianke- | | | | | | | | |shaws | -- | 162 | 98 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Kanzas | 1,588 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Peorias | | | | | | | | |and | | | | | | | | |Kaskaskias| -- | 132 | 150 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Omahas | 1,600 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Senecas | | | | | | | | |from | | | | | | | | |Sandusky | -- | 251 | 251 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Otoes and | | | | | | | | |Missourias| 931 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Senecas | | | | | | | | |and | | | | | | | | |Shawnees | -- | 211 | 211 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Pawnees | 12,500 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Winneba- | | | | | | | | |goes | -- | 4,500 | 2,183 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Camanches | 19,200 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Kiowas | 1,800 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Mandans | 300 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Crows | 4,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Wyandots | | | | | | | | |of Ohio | -- | 664 | -- | 50[g]| 664 | | | | | | | | | | | | |Poncas | 800 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Miamies | -- | -- | -- | 661 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Arickarees| 1,200 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Menomonies| -- | -- | -- |2,464 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Cheyenes | 2,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Chippewas | | | | | | | | |of the | | | | | | | | |Lakes | -- | -- | -- |2,564 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Blackfeet | 1,300 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Caddoes | 2,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Snakes | 1,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Flatheads | 800 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Oneidas | | | | | | | | |of Green | | | | | | | | |Bay | -- | -- | -- | 675 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Stock- | | | | | | | | |bridges of| | | | | | | | |Green Bay | -- | -- | -- | 207 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Wyandots | | | | | | | | |of | | | | | | | | |Michigan | -- | -- | -- | 75 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Pottawato-| | | | | | | | |mies of | | | | | | | | |Huron | -- | -- | -- | 100 | | | | +----------+----------+---------+---------+--------+-------+-------+-------+ | | 168,909 | 89,288 | 83,594 |22,846 | 1,164 | 410 | 17 09 | +----------+----------+---------+---------+--------+-------+-------+-------+

NOTES.

[Footnote a: These 92 are Ottowas of Maumee.]

[Footnote b: This, as far as appears from any data in the office; but, in point of fact, there are most probably no, or very few, Chickasaws remaining east.]

[Footnote c: In this number is included a party, assumed to be 100, who clandestinely removed themselves; but they are withheld from the next column, because, it is not yet known what arrangement has been made for their subsistence, though instructions on that subject have been addressed to the Choctaw agent.]

[Footnote d: Ten of these emigrated as far back as January, 1842; but, as the number was so small, the arrangements for their subsistence were postponed until they could be included in some larger party, such as that which subsequently arrived.]

[Footnote e: These Indians do not properly belong to this column, but are so disposed of because the table is without an exactly appropriate place for them. Originally, their haunts extended east of the river, and some of their possessions on this side are among the cessions by our Indians to the Government, but their tribes have ever since been gradually moving westward.]

[Footnote g: This number is conjectural, but cannot be far from the truth, as Mr. McElvaine, the sub-agent, states that but 8 or 10 families still remain.]

_Hunter._ And now, place before you a map of North America. See how it stretches out north and south from Baffin's Bay to the Gulf of Mexico, and east and west from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. What a wonderful work of the Almighty is the rolling deep! "The sea is His, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land." Here are the great Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario; and here run the mighty rivers, the Mississippi, the Missouri, the Ohio, and the St. Lawrence: the Mississippi itself is between three and four thousand miles long.

_Basil._ What a river! Please to tell us what are all those little hills running along there, one above another, from top to bottom.

_Hunter._ They are the Rocky Mountains. Some regard them as a continuation of the Andes of South America; so that, if both are put together, they will make a chain of mountains little short of nine thousand miles long. North America, with its mighty lakes, rivers, and mountains, its extended valleys and prairies, its bluffs, caverns, and cataracts, and, more than all, its Indian inhabitants, beavers, buffaloes, and bisons, will afford us something to talk of for some time to come; but the moment you are tired of my account, we will stop.

_Austin._ We shall never be tired; no, not if you go on telling us something every time we come, for a whole year. But do tell us, how did these tribes behave to you, when you were among them?

_Hunter._ I have not a word of complaint to make. The Indians have been represented as treacherous, dishonest, reserved, and sour in their disposition; but, instead of this, I have found them generally, though not in all cases, frank, upright, hospitable, light-hearted, and friendly. Those who have seen Indians smarting under wrongs, and deprived, by deceit and force, of their lands, hunting-grounds, and the graves of their fathers, may have found them otherwise: and no wonder; the worm that is trodden on will writhe; and man, unrestrained by Divine grace, when treated with injustice and cruelty, will turn on his oppressor.

_Austin._ Say what you will, I like the Indians.

_Hunter._ That there is much of evil among Indians is certain; much of ignorance, unrestrained passions, cruelty, and revenge: but they have been misrepresented in many things. I had better tell you the names of some of the chiefs of the tribes, or of some of the most remarkable men among them.

_Austin._ Yes; you cannot do better. Tell us the names of all the chiefs, and the warriors, and the conjurors, and all about them.

_Hunter._ The Blackfeet Indians are a very warlike people; _Stu-mick-o-sucks_ was the name of their chief.

_Austin._ Stu-mick-o-sucks! What a name! Is there any meaning in it?

_Hunter._ O yes. It means, "the back fat of the buffalo;" and if you had seen him and _Peh-to-pe-kiss_, "the ribs of the eagle," another chief dressed up in their splendid mantles, buffaloes' horns, ermine tails, and scalp-locks, you would not soon have turned your eyes from them.

_Brian._ Who would ever be called by such a name as that? The back fat of the buffalo!

_Hunter._ The Camanchees are famous on horseback. There is no tribe among the Indians that can come up to them, to my mind, in the management of a horse, and the use of the lance: they are capital hunters. The name of their chief is _Ee-shah-ko-nee_, or "the bow and quiver." I hardly ever saw a larger man among the Indians than _Ta-wah-que-nah_, the second chief in power. Ta-wah-que-nah means "the mountain of rocks," a very fit name for a huge Indian living near the Rocky Mountains. When I saw _Kots-o-ko-ro-ko_, or "the hair of the bull's neck," (who is, if I remember right, the third chief,) he had a gun in his right hand, and his warlike shield on his left arm.

_Austin._ If I go among the Indians, I shall stay a long time with the Camanchees; and then I shall, perhaps, become one of the most skilful horsemen, and one of the best hunters in the world.

_Brian._ And suppose you get thrown off your horse, or killed in hunting buffaloes, what shall you say to it then?

_Austin._ Oh, very little, if I get killed; but no fear of that. I shall mind what I am about. Tell us who is the head of the Sioux?

_Hunter._ When I was at the upper waters of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, _Ha-won-je-tah_, or "the one horn," was chief; but since then, being out among the buffaloes, a buffalo bull attacked and killed him.

_Basil._ There, Austin! If an Indian chief was killed by a buffalo, what should _you_ do among them? Why they would toss you over their heads like a shuttlecock.

_Hunter._ _Wee-ta-ra-sha-ro_, the head chief of the Pawnee Picts, is dead now, I dare say; for he was a very old, as well as a very venerable looking man. Many a buffalo hunt with the Camanchees had he in his day, and many a time did he go forth with them in their war-parties. He had a celebrated brave of the name of _Ah'-sho-cole_, or "rotten foot," and another called _Ah'-re-kah-na-co-chee_, "the mad elk." Indians give the name of _brave_ to a warrior who has distinguished himself by feats of valour, such as admit him to their rank.

_Brian._ I wonder that they should choose such long names. It must be a hard matter to remember them.

_Hunter._ There were many famous men among the Sacs. _Kee-o-kuk_ was the chief. Kee-o-kuk means "the running fox." One of his boldest braves was _Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak_, "the black hawk." The history of this renowned warrior is very curious. It was taken down from his own lips, and has been published. If you should like to listen to the adventures of Black Hawk, I will relate them to you some day, when you have time to hear them, as well as those of young Nik-ka-no-chee, a Seminole.

_Austin._ We will not forget to remind you of your promise. It will be capital to listen to these histories.

_Hunter._ When I saw _Wa-saw-me-saw_, or "the roaring thunder," the youngest son of Black Hawk, he was in captivity. _Nah-se-us-kuk_, "the whirling thunder," his eldest son, was a fine looking man, beautifully formed, with a spirit like that of a lion. There was a war called The Black Hawk war, and Black Hawk was the leader and conductor of it; and one of his most famous warriors was _Wah-pe-kee-suck_, or "white cloud;" he was, however, as often called The Prophet as the White Cloud. _Pam-a-ho_, "the swimmer;" _Wah-pa-ko-las-kak_, "the track of the bear;" and _Pash-ce-pa-ho_, "the little stabbing chief;" were, I think, all three of them warriors of Black Hawk.

_Basil._ The Little Stabbing Chief! He must be a very dangerous fellow to go near, if we may judge by his name: keep away from him, Austin, if you go to the Sacs.

_Austin._ Oh! he would never think of stabbing me. I should behave well to all the tribes, and then I dare say they would all of them behave well to me. You have not said any thing of the Crow Indians.

_Hunter._ I forget who was at the head of the Crows, though I well remember several of the warriors among them. They were tall, well-proportioned, and dressed with a great deal of taste and care. _Pa-ris-ka-roo-pa_, called "the two crows," had a head of hair that swept the ground after him as he walked along.

_Austin._ What do you think of that, Basil? No doubt the Crows are fine fellows. Please to mention two or three more.

_Hunter._ Let me see; there was _Ee-hee-a-duck-chee-a_, or "he who binds his hair before;" and _Ho-ra-to-ah_, "a warrior;" and _Chah-ee-chopes_, "the four wolves;" the hair of these was as long as that of Pa-ris-ka-roo-pa. Though they were very tall, Ee-hee-a-duck-chee-a being at least six feet high, the hair of each of them reached and rested on the ground.

_Austin._ When I go among the Indians, the Crows shall not be forgotten by me. I shall have plenty to tell you of, Brian, when I come back.

_Brian._ Yes, if you ever do come back; but what with the sea, and the rivers, and the swamps, and the bears, and the buffaloes, you are sure to get killed. You will never tell us about the Crows, or about any thing else.

_Hunter._ There was one of the Crows called The Red Bear, or _Duhk-pits-o-ho-shee_.

_Brian._ Duhk-pitch a--Duck pits--I cannot pronounce the word--why that is worse to speak than any.

_Austin._ Hear me pronounce it then: _Duhk-pits-o-hoot-shee_. No; that is not quite right, but very near it.

_Basil._ You must not go among the Crows yet, Austin; you cannot talk well enough.

_Hunter._ Oh, there are much harder names among some of the tribes than those I have mentioned; for instance there is _Au-nah-kwet-to-hau-pay-o_, "the one sitting in the clouds;" and _Eh-tohk-pay-she-pee-shah_, "the black mocassin;" and _Kay-ee-qua-da-kum-ee-gish-kum_, "he who tries the ground with his foot;" and _Mah-to-rah-rish-nee-eeh-ee-rah_, "the grizzly bear that runs without fear."

_Brian._ Why these names are as long as from here to yonder. Set to work, Austin! set to work! For, if there are many such names as these among the Indians, you will have enough to do without going to a buffalo hunt.

_Austin._ I never dreamed that there were such names as those in the world.

_Basil._ Ay, you will have enough of them, Austin, if you go abroad. You will never be able to learn them, do what you will. Give it up, Austin; give it up at once.

Though Brian and Basil were very hard on Austin on their way home, about the long names of the Indians, and the impossibility of his ever being able to learn them by heart, Austin defended himself stoutly. "Very likely," said he, "after all, they call these long names very short, just as we do; Nat for Nathaniel, Kit for Christopher, and Elic for Alexander."