Near Here Was A Quarry Of Red Pipestone,
Dear To The Indian Fancy As A Mine Of Material For Their Pipes;
Traces Of This Deposit Still Remain.
So fond of this red rock were
the Indians that when they went there to get the stuff, even lifelong
and vindictive enemies declared a truce while they gathered the material,
and savage hostile tribes suspended their wars for a time.
On the north side of the Missouri, at a point in what is now known
as Clay County, South Dakota, Captains Lewis and Clark, with ten men,
turned aside to see a great natural curiosity, known to the Indians
as the Hill of Little Devils. The hill is a singular mound in the midst
of a flat prairie, three hundred yards long, sixty or seventy yards wide,
and about seventy feet high. The top is a smooth level plain.
The journal says: -
"The Indians have made it a great article of their superstition:
it is called the Mountain of Little People, or Little Spirits;
and they believe that it is the abode of little devils, in the human form,
of about eighteen inches high, and with remarkably large heads;
they are armed with sharp arrows, with which they are very skilful,
and are always on the watch to kill those who should have the hardihood
to approach their residence. The tradition is, that many have
suffered from these little evil spirits, and, among others,
three Maha Indians fell a sacrifice to them a few years since.
This has inspired all the neighboring nations, Sioux, Mahas, and Ottoes,
with such terror, that no consideration could tempt them to visit the hill.
We saw none of these wicked little spirits, nor any place for them,
except some small holes scattered over the top; we were happy enough
to escape their vengeance, though we remained some time on the mound
to enjoy the delightful prospect of the plain, which spreads itself
out till the eye rests upon the northwest hills at a great distance,
and those of the northeast, still farther off, enlivened by large
herds of buffalo feeding at a distance."
The present residents of the region, South Dakota, have preserved
the Indian tradition, and Spirit Mound may be seen on modern maps
of that country.
Passing on their way up the Missouri, the explorers found several
kinds of delicious wild plums and vast quantities of grapes;
and here, too, they passed the mouth of the Yankton River,
now known as the Dakota, at the mouth of which is the modern
city of Yankton, South Dakota. The Yankton-Sioux Indians,
numbering about one thousand people, inhabited this part
of the country, and near here the white men were met by a large
band of these Sioux who had come in at the invitation of Lewis
and Clark. The messengers from the white men reported that they
had been well received by the Indians, who, as a mark of respect,
presented their visitors with "a fat dog, already cooked,
of which they partook heartily and found it well-flavored."
From this time, according to the journal, the explorers
tasted occasionally of roast dog, and later on they adopted
this dish as a regular feature of their bill-of-fare. They
do tell us, however, that they had some difficulty in getting
used to so novel an article of food.
The Sioux and the white men held a grand council under an
oak-tree, from the top of which was flying the American flag.
The head chief was presented with a gold-laced uniform of
the United States artillery, a cocked hat and red feather.
The lesser chiefs were also presented with suitable gifts
of lesser value. Various festivities followed the conference.
Next day another powwow was held at which the head chief,
Weucha, or Shake Hand, said: -
" `I see before me my great father's two sons.
You see me and the rest of our chiefs and warriors.
We are very poor; we have neither powder, nor ball, nor knives;
and our women and children at the village have no clothes.
I wish that, as my brothers have given me a flag and a medal,
they would give something to those poor people, or let them
stop and trade with the first boat which comes up the river.
I will bring the chiefs of the Pawnees and Mahas together, and make
peace between them; but it is better that I should do it than my
great father's sons, for they will listen to me more readily.
I will also take some chiefs to your country in the spring;
but before that time I cannot leave home. I went formerly
to the English, and they gave me a medal and some clothes:
when I went to the Spaniards they gave me a medal, but nothing
to keep it from my skin: but now you give me a medal and clothes.
But still we are poor; and I wish, brothers, you would give us
something for our squaws.'
When he sat down, Mahtoree, or White Crane, rose:
" `I have listened,' said he, `to what our father's words were yesterday;
and I am to-day glad to see how you have dressed our old chief.
I am a young man, and do not wish to take much; my fathers have made me
a chief; I had much sense before, but now I think I have more than ever.
What the old chief has declared I will confirm, and do whatever
he and you please; but I wish that you would take pity on us, for we
are very poor.'
"Another chief, called Pawnawneahpahbe, then said:
" `I am a young man, and know but little; I cannot speak well,
but I have listened to what you have told the old chief,
and will do whatever you agree.'
"The same sentiments were then repeated by Aweawechache.
"We were surprised," the journal says, "at finding that the first of
these titles means Struck by the Pawnee, and was occasioned by some blow
which the chief had received in battle from one of the Pawnee tribe.
The second is in English Half Man, which seemed a singular name for a warrior,
till it was explained to have its origin, probably, in the modesty
of the chief, who, on being told of his exploits, would say, `I am
no warrior, I am only half a man.' The other chiefs spoke very little;
but after they had finished, one of the warriors delivered a speech,
in which he declared he would support them.
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