[page 178, unnumbered:] |
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CHAPTER IV.  [WE left
our travellers, on the fifth of September, apprehending a present
attack
from the Sioux. Exaggerated accounts of the ferocity of this
tribe
had inspired the party with an earnest wish to avoid them; but the tale
told by the friendly Ponca made it evident that a collision must take
place. The night voyages were therefore abandoned as impolitic, and it
was
resolved
to put a bold face upon the matter, and try what could be effected by
blustering. The remainder of the night of the fifth was spent in
warlike
demonstration. The large boat was cleared for action as well as
possible, and the
fiercest
aspect assumed which the nature of the case would permit. Among
other
preparations for defence, the cannon was got out from below, and placed
forward upon the cuddy deck, with a load of bullets, by way of
cannister
shot. Just before sunrise the adventurers started up the river in
high bravado, aided by a heavy wind. That the enemy might
perceive
no semblance of fear or mistrust, the whole party joined the Canadians
in an uproarious boat song at the top of their voices, making the woods
reverberate, and the buffaloes stare. The Sioux, indeed, appear to have
been Mr.
Rodman's
bugbears par excellence, and he dwells upon them and their
exploits
with peculiar emphasis. The narrative embodies a detailed account
of the tribe — an account which we can only follow in such portions as
appear to possess novelty, or other important interest. Sioux
is the French term for the Indians in question — the English have
corrupted
it into Sues. Their primitive name is said to be Darcotas.
Their original seats were on the Mississippi, but they had gradually
extended
their dominions, and, at the date of the Journal, occupied almost the
whole
of that vast territory circumscribed by the Mississippi, the
Saskatchawine,
the Missouri, and the Red River of Lake Winnipeg. They were
sub-divided
into numerous clans. The Darcotas proper were the Winowacants,
called
the Gens du Lac by the French — consisting of about five hundred
warriors,
and living on both sides of the Mississippi, in the vicinity of the
Falls
of St. Anthony. Neighbors of the Winowacants, and residing north
of them on the river St. Peters', were the Wappatomies, about two
hundred
men. Still farther up the St. Peters' lived a band of one
hundred,
called the Wappytooties, among themselves, and by the French the Gens
des
Feuilles. Higher up the river yet, and near its source, resided
the
Sissytoonies, in number two hundred or thereabouts. On the
Missouri
dwelt the Yanktons and the Tetons. Of the first tribe there were
two branches, the northern and southern, of which the former led an
Arab
life in the plains at the sources of the Red, Sioux, and Jacques
rivers,
being in number about five hundred. The southern branch kept
possession
of the tract lying between the river Des Moines on the one hand, and
the
rivers Jacques and Sioux on the other. But the Sioux most
renowned
for deeds of violence are the Tetons; and of these there were four
tribes
— the Saonies, the Minnakenozzies, the Okydandies, and the
Bois-Brulés. These last, a body of whom were now lying in wait
to intercept the
voyagers,
were the most savage and formidable of the whole race, numbering about
two hundred men, and residing on both sides of the Missouri near the
rivers
called by Captains Lewis and Clarke, The White and Teton. Just
below
the Chayenne river were the Okydandies, one hundred and fifty. The
Minnackennozzies — two hundred and fifty — occupied a tract between the
Chayenne and the Watarhoo; and the Saonies, the largest of the Teton
bands,
counting as many as three hundred warriors, were found in the vicinity
of the Warreconne. Besides these four divisions — the
regular Sioux
— there were five tribes of seceders called Assiniboins; the
Menatopæ
Assiniboins, two hundred, on Mouse river, between the Assiniboin and
the
Missouri; the Gens de Feuilles Assiniboins, two hundred and fifty,
occupying
both sides of White river; the Big Devils, four hundred and fifty,
wandering
about the heads of Porcupine and Milk rivers; with two other bands
whose
names are not mentioned, but who roved on the Saskatcawine
[[Saskatchawine]], and
numbered
together, about seven hundred men. These seceders were often at
war
with the paren [[parent]] or original Sioux. In person, the Sioux generally are an
ugly
ill-made
race, their limbs being much too small for the trunk, according to our
ideas of the human form — their cheek bones are high, and their eyes
protruding
and dull. The heads of the men are shaved, with the exception of
a small spot on the crown, whence a long tuft is permitted to fall in
plaits
upon the shoulders; this tuft is an object of scrupulous care, but is
now
and then cut off, upon an occasion of grief or solemnity. A full
dressed Sioux [page 180:] chief presents a striking appearance.
The whole
surface
of the body is painted with grease and coal. A shirt of skins is
worn as far down as the waist, while round the middle is a girdle of
the
same material, and sometimes of cloth, about an inch in width; this
supports
a piece of blanket or fur passing between the thighs. Over the
shoulders
is a white-dressed buffalo mantle, the hair of which is worn next the
skin
in fair weather, but turned outwards in wet. This robe is large
enough
to envelope the whole body, and is frequently ornamented with porcupine
quills (which make a rattling noise as the warrior moves) as well as
with
a great variety of rudely painted figures, emblematical of the wearer's
military character. Fastened to the top of the head is worn a
hawk's
feather, adorned with porcupine quills. Leggings of dressed
antelope
skin serve the purpose of pantaloons, and have seams at the sides,
about
two inches wide, and bespotted here and there with small tufts of human
hair, the trophies of some scalping excursion. The moccasins are
of elk or buffalo skin, the hair worn inwards; on great occasions the
chief
is seen with the skin of a polecat dangling at the heel of each
boot. The Sioux are indeed partial to this noisome animal; whose fur is
in
high
favor for tobacco-pouches and other appendages. The dress of a chieftain's squaw is
also
remarkable. Her hair is suffered to grow long, is parted across the
forehead, and
hangs
loosely behind, or is collected into a kind of net. Her moccasins
do not differ from her husband's; but her leggings extend upwards only
as far as the knee, where they are met by an awkward shirt of elk-skin
depending to the ancles, and supported above by a string going over the
shoulders. This shirt is usually confined to the waist by a
girdle,
and over all is thrown a buffalo mantle like that of the men. The
tents of the Teton Sioux are described as of neat construction, being
formed
of white-dressed buffalo hide, well secured and supported by poles. The region infested by the tribe in
question
extends
along the banks of the Missouri for some hundred and fifty miles or
more,
and is chiefly prairie land, but is occasionally diversified by
hills. These latter are always deeply cut by gorges or ravines, which
in the
middle
of summer are dry, but form the channels of muddy and impetuous
torrents
during the season of rain. Their edges are fringed with thick
woods,
as well at top, as at bottom; but the prevalent aspect of the country
is
that of a bleak low land, with rank herbage, and without trees. The
soil is strongly impregnated with mineral substances in great variety —
among others with glauber salts, copperas, sulphur, and alum, which
tinge
the water of the river and impart to it a nauseous odor and
taste. The wild animals most usual are the buffalo, deer, elk, and
antelope. We again resume the words of the Journal.] September 6. The
country was open,
and
the day remarkably pleasant: so that we were all in pretty good spirits
notwithstanding the expectation of attack. So far, we had not
caught
even a glimpse of an Indian, and we were making rapid way through their
dreaded territory. I was too well aware, however, of the savage
tactics
to suppose that we were not narrowly watched, and had made up my mind
that
we should hear something of the Tetons at the first gorge which would
afford
them a convenient lurking-place. About noon a Canadian bawled out "The
Sioux! —
the
Sioux" — and directed attention to a long narrow ravine, which
intersected
the prairie on our left, extending from the banks of the Missouri as
far
as the eye could reach, in a southwardly course. This gully was
the
bed of a creek, but its waters were now low, and the sides rose up like
huge regular walls on each side. By the aid of a spy glass I
perceived
at once the cause of the alarm given by the voyageur. A large
party
of mounted savages were coming down the gorge in Indian file, with the
evident intention of taking us unawares. Their calumet feathers
had
been the means of their detection; for every now and then we could see
some of these bobbing up above the edge of the gulley, as the bed of
the
ravine forced the wearer to rise higher than usual. We could tell
that they were on horseback by the motion of these feathers. The
party was coming upon us with great rapidity; and I gave the word to
pull
on with all haste so as to pass the mouth of the creek before they
reached
it. As soon as the Indians perceived by our increased speed that
they were discovered, they immediately raised a yell, scrambled out of
the gorge, and galloped down upon us, to the number of about one
hundred. Our situation was now somewhat
alarming. At
almost any other part of the Missouri which we had passed during the
day,
I should not have cared so much for these freebooters; but, just here,
the banks were remarkably steep and high, partaking of the character of
the creek banks, and the savages were enabled to overlook us
completely,
while the cannon, upon which we had placed so much reliance, could not
be brought to bear upon them at all. What added to our difficulty
was that the current in the middle of the river was so turbulent and
strong
that we could make no headway against it except by dropping arms, and
employing
our whole force at the oars. The water near the northern shore
was
too shallow even for the piroque, and our only mode of proceeding, if
we
designed to proceed at all, was by pushing in within a moderate stone's
throw of the left or southern bank, where we were completely at the
mercy
of the Sioux, but where we could make good headway by means of our
poles
and the wind, aided by the eddy. Had the savages attacked us at
this
juncture I cannot see how we could have escaped them. They were
all
well provided with bows and arrows, and small round shields, presenting
a very noble and picturesque appearance. Some of the chiefs had
spears,
with fanciful flags attached, and were really gallant-looking
men. The portrait here annexed is that of the commander-in-chief of the
party
which now interrupted us, and was sketched by Thornton, at a subsequent
period. [page 181:]
Either good luck upon our own parts,
or great
stupidity
on the parts of the Indians, relieved us very unexpectedly from the
dilemma. The savages, having galloped up to the edge of the cliff just
above us,
set up another yell, and commenced a variety of gesticulations, whose
meaning
we at once knew to be that we should stop and come on shore. I
had
expected this demand, and had made up my mind that it would be most
prudent
to pay no attention to it at all, but proceed on our course. My
refusal
to stop had at least one good effect, for it appeared to mystify the
Indians
most wonderfully, who could not be brought to understand the measure in
the least, and stared at us, as we kept on our way without answering
them,
in the most ludicrous amazement. Presently they commenced an
agitated
conversation among themselves, and at last finding that nothing could
be
made of us, fairly turned their horses' heads to the southward and
galloped
out of sight, leaving us as much surprised as rejoiced at their
departure. In the meantime we made the most of
the
opportunity,
and pushed on with might and main, in order to get out of the region of
steep banks before the anticipated return of our foes. In about
two
hours we again saw them in the south, at a great distance, and their
number
much augmented. They came on at full gallop, and were soon at the
river; but our position was now much more advantageous, for the banks
were
sloping, and there were no trees to shelter the savages from our
shot. The current, moreover, was not so rapid as before, and we were
enabled
to keep in mid-channel. The party, it seems, had only retreated
to procure an interpreter, who now appeared upon a large gray horse,
and,
coming into the river as far as he could without swimming, called out
to
us in bad French to stop, and come on shore. To this I made one
of
the Canadians reply that, to oblige our friends the Sioux, we would
willingly
stop, for a short time, and converse, but that it was inconvenient for
us to come on shore, as we could not do so without incommoding our
great
medicine (here the Canadian pointed to the cannon) who was anxious to
proceed
on his voyage, and whom we were afraid to disobey. At this they began again their
agitated
whisperings
and gesticulations among themselves, and seemed quite at a loss what to
do. In the meantime the boats had been brought to anchor in a
favorable
position, and I was resolved to fight now, if necessary, and endeavor
to
give the frebooters [[freebooters]] so warm a reception as would
inspire them with
wholesome
dread for the future. I reflected that it was nearly impossible
to
keep on good terms with these Sioux, who were our enemies at heart, and
who could only be restrained from pillaging and murdering us by a
conviction
of our prowess. Should we comply with their present demands, go
on
shore, and even succeed in purchasing a temporary safety by concessions
and donations, such conduct would not avail us in the end, and would be
rather a palliation than a radical cure of the evil. They would
be
sure to glut their vengeance sooner or later, and, if they suffered us
to go on our way now, might hereafter attack us at a disadvantage, when
it might be as much as we could do to repel them, to say nothing of
inspiring
them with awe. Situated as we were here, it was in our power to
give
them a lesson they would be apt to remember; and we might never be in
so
good a situation again. Thinking thus, and all except the
Canadians
agreeing with me in opinion, I determined to assume a bold stand, and
rather
provoke hostilities than avoid them. This was our true
policy. The savages had no fire arms which we could discover, except an
old
carabine
carried by one of the chiefs; and their arrows would not prove very
effective
weapons when employed at so great a distance as that now between
us. In regard to their number, we did not care much for that. Their
position
was one which would expose them to the full sweep of our cannon. When Jules (the Canadian) had
finished his speech
about incommoding our great medicine, and when the consequent agitation
had somewhat subsided among the savages, the interpreter spoke again
and
propounded three queries. He wished to know, first, whether we
had
any tobacco, or whiskey, or fire-guns — secondly, whether we did not
wish
the aid of the Sioux in rowing our large boat up the Missouri as far as
the country of the Ricarees, who were great rascals — and, thirdly,
whether
our great medicine was not a very large and strong green grass-hopper. [page
182:] To these questions, propounded with
profound
gravity,
Jules replied, by my directions, as follows. First, that we had
plenty
of whiskey, as well as tobacco, with an inexhaustible supply of
fire-guns
and powder — but that our great medicine had just told us that the
Tetons
were greater rascals than the Ricarees — that they were our enemies —
that
they had been lying in wait to intercept and kill us for many days past
— that we must give them nothing at all, and hold no intercourse with
them
whatever; we should therefore be afraid to give them anything, even if
so disposed, for fear of the anger of the great medicine, who was not
to
be trifled with. Secondly, that, after the character just given
the
Sioux Tetons, we could not think of employing them to row our boat —
and,
thirdly, that it was a good thing for them (the Sioux) that our great
medicine
had not overheard their last query, respecting the "large green
grasshopper;"
for, in that case, it might have gone very hard with them (the
Sioux). Our great medicine was anything but a large green grasshopper,
and that they should soon see, to their cost, if they did not
immediately
go,
the whole of them, about their business. Notwithstanding the imminent danger
in which we
were
all placed, we could scarcely keep our countenances in beholding the
air
of profound admiration and astonishment with which the savages listened
to these replies; and I believe that they would have immediately
dispersed,
and left us to proceed on our voyage, had it not been for the
unfortunate
words in which I informed them that they were greater rascals than the
Ricarees. This was, apparently, an insult of the last atrocity,
and
excited them to an incontrollable degree of fury. We heard the
words
"Ricaree! Ricaree!" repeated, every now and then, with the utmost
emphasis and excitement; and the whole band, as well as we could judge,
seemed to be divided into two factions; the one urging the immense
power
of the great medicine, and the other the outrageous insult of being
called
greater rascals than the Ricarees. While matters stood thus, we
retained
our position in the middle of the stream, firmly resolved to give the
villains
a dose of our cannister-shot, upon the first indignity which should be
offered
us. Presently, the interpreter on the
gray horse came
again into the river, and said that he believed we were no better than
we should be — that all the pale faces who had previously gone up the
river
had been friends of the Sioux, and had made them large presents — that
they, the Tetons, were determined not to let us proceed another step
unless
we came on shore and gave up all our fire-guns and whiskey, with half
of
our tobacco — that it was plain we were allies of the Ricarees, (who
were
now at war with the Sioux,) and that our design was to carry them
supplies,
which we should not do — lastly, that they did not think very much of
our
great medicine, for he had told us a lie in relation to the designs of
the Tetons, and was positively nothing but a great green grasshopper,
in
spite of all that we thought to the contrary. These latter words,
about the great green grasshopper, were taken up by the whole
assemblage
as the interpreter uttered them, and shouted out at the top of the
voice,
that the great medicine himself might be sure to hear the taunt. At the
same time, they all broke into wild disorder, galloping their
horses
furiously in short circles, using contemptuous and indecent
gesticulations,
brandishing their spears, and drawing their arrows to the head. I knew that the next thing would be
an attack,
and
so determined to anticipate it at once, before any of our party were
wounded
by the discharge of their weapons — there was nothing to be gained by
delay,
and every thing by prompt and resolute action. As soon as a good
opportunity presented itself, the word was given to fire, and instantly
obeyed. The effect of the discharge was very severe, and answered
all our purposes to the full. Six of the Indians were killed, and
perhaps three times as many badly wounded. The rest were thrown
into
the greatest terror and confusion, and made off into the prairie at
full
speed, as we drew up our anchors, after reloading the gun, and pulled
boldly
in for the shore. By the time we had reached it, there was not an
unwounded Teton within sight. I now left John Greely, with three
Canadians, in
charge of the boats, landed with the rest of the men, and, approaching
a savage who was severely but not dangerously wounded, held a
conversation
with him, by means of Jules. I told him that the whites were well
disposed to the Sioux, and to all the Indian nations; that our sole
object
in visiting his country was to trap beaver, and see the beautiful
region
which had been given the red men by the Great Spirit; that when we had
procured as many furs as we wished, and seen all we came to see, we
should
return home; that we had heard that the Sioux, and especially the
Tetons,
were a quarrelsome race, and that therefore we had brought with us our
great medicine for protection; that he was now much exasperated with
the
Tetons on account of their intolerable insult in calling him a green
grasshopper
(which he was not); that I had had great difficulty in restraining him
from a pursuit of the warriors who had fled, and from sacrificing the
wounded
who now lay around us; and that I had only succeeded in pacifying him
by
becoming personally responsible for the future good behavior of the
savages. At this portion of my discourse the poor fellow appeared much
relieved,
and extended his hand in token of amity. I took it, and assured
him
and his friends of my protection as long as we were unmolested,
following
up this promise by a present of twenty carrots of tobacco, some small
hardware,
beads, and red flannel, for himself and the rest of the wounded. While all this was going on, we kept
a sharp look
out for the fugitive Sioux. As I concluded making the presents,
several
gangs of these were observable in the distance, and were evidently seen
[page 183:] by the disabled savage; but I thought it
best to pretend not to
perceive
them, and shortly afterwards returned to the boats. The whole
interruption
had detained us full three hours, and it was after three o'clock when
we
once more started on our route. We made extraordinary haste, as I
was anxious to get as far as possible from the scene of action before
night. We had a strong wind at our back, and the current diminished in
strength
as we proceeded, owing to the widening of the stream. We
therefore
made great way, and by nine o'clock, had reached a large and thickly
wooded
island, near the northern bank, and close by the mouth of a
creek. Here we resolved to encamp, and had scarcely set foot on shore,
when
one
of the Greelys shot and secured a fine buffalo, many of which were upon
the place. After posting our sentries for the night, we had the
hump
for supper, with as much whiskey as was good for us. Our exploit
of the day was then freely discussed, and by most of the men was
treated
as an excellent joke; but I could by no means enter into any merriment
upon the subject. Human blood had never, before this epoch, been
shed at my hands; and although reason urged that I had taken the
wisest,
and what would no doubt prove in the end the most merciful course,
still
conscience, refusing to hearken even to reason herself, whispered
pertinaciously
within my ear — "it is human blood which thou hast shed." The hours
wore
away slowly — I found it impossible to sleep. At length the
morning
dawned, and with its fresh dews, its fresher breezes, and smiling
flowers,
there came a new courage, and a bolder tone of thought, which enabled
me
to look more steadily upon what had been done, and to regard in its
only
proper point of view the urgent necessity of the deed. September 7. Started
early, and
made
great way, with a strong cold wind from the east. Arrived about
noon
at the upper gorge of what is called the Great Bend, a place where the
river performs a circuit of full thirty miles, while by land the direct
distance is not more than fifteen hundred yards. Six miles beyond
this is a creek about thirty-five yards wide, coming in from the
south. The country here is of peculiar character; on each side of the
river
the
shore is strewed thickly with round stones washed from the bluffs, and
presenting a remarkable appearance for miles. The channel is very
shallow, and much interrupted with sand-bars. Cedar is here met
with
more frequently than any other species of timber, and the prairies are
covered with a stiff kind of prickly pear, over which our men found it
no easy matter to walk in their moccasins. About sunset, in endeavoring to avoid
a rapid
channel,
we had the misfortune to run the larboard side of the large boat on the
edge of a sand-bar, which so heeled us over that we were very near
getting
filled with water, in spite of the greatest exertion. As it was,
much damage was done to the loose powder, and the Indian goods were all
more or less injured. As soon as we found the boat careering, we
all jumped into the water, which was here up to our arm-pits, and by
main
force held the sinking side up. But we were still in a dilemma,
for
all our exertions were barely sufficient to keep from capsising, and we
could not spare a man to do any thing towards pushing off. We
were
relieved, very unexpectedly, by the sinking of the whole sand-bar from
under the boat, just as we were upon the point of despair. The
bed
of the river in this neighborhood is much obstructed by these shifting
sands, which frequently change situations with great rapidity, and
without
apparent cause. The material of the bars is a fine hard yellow
sand,
which, when dry, is of a brilliant glass-like appearance, and almost
impalpable. September 8. We were
still in the
heart
of the Teton country, and kept a sharp look-out, stopping as seldom as
possible, and then only upon the islands, which abounded with game in
great
variety — buffaloes, elk, deer, goats, black-tailed deer, and
antelopes,
with plover and brant of many kinds. The goats are uncommonly
tame,
and have no beard. Fish is not so abundant here as lower
down
the river. A white wolf was killed by John Greely in a ravine
upon
one of the smaller islands. Owing to the difficult navigation,
and
the frequent necessity of employing the tow-line, we did not make great
progress this day. September 9. Weather
growing
sensibly
colder, which made us all anxious of pushing our way through the Sioux
country, as it would be highly dangerous to form our winter encampment
in their vicinity. We aroused ourselves to exertion, aud [[and]]
proceeded
rapidly, the Canadians singing and shouting as we went. Now and
then
we saw, in the extreme distance, a solitary Teton, but no attempt was
made
to molest us, and we began to gather courage from this
circumstance. Made twenty-eight miles during the day, and encamped at
night, in high
glee, on a large island well stocked with game, and thickly covered
with
cotton-wood. [We omit the adventures of Mr. Rodman
from this
period
until the tenth of April. By the last of October, nothing of
importance
happening in the interval, the party made their way to a small creek
which
they designated as Otter creek, and, proceeding up this about a mile to
an island well adapted for their purpose, built a log fort and took up
their quarters for the winter. The location is just above the old
Ricara villages. Several parties of these Indians visited the
voyagers,
and behaved with perfect friendliness — they had heard of the skirmish
with the Tetons, the result of which hugely pleased them. No
farther
trouble was experienced from any of the Sioux. The winter wore
away
pleasantly, and without accident of note. On the tenth of April
the
party resumed their voyage.][[Continued . . . ]] |
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