470 THE SIOUX OR DAKOTA INDIANS. 



bead to the wearer's heels. The feathers stand upright, adding greatly 

 to the apparent stature of the individual. Some of the Indians have 

 fine figures, but their features are large and heavy, and their complex- 

 ions dark and coarse. The noses of all of them are large and bulbous 

 and far from being handsome. Their eyes are black, cheekbones high, 

 lips thick and heavy, ears large, hair very coarse, eyebrows and beard 

 carefully plucked out, and the skin of the face has many small inden- 

 tations, like those on the skin of an orange. The hands and feet are 

 finely shaped and small, and the limbs perfectly formed. In walking 

 they carry their heads erect, and move along in a springy sort of a way, 

 showing great bodily vigor and a healthy constitution. Ordinarily they 

 are cheerful in disposition, and apparently take life easy. In couucil, 

 however, they are very grave in demeanor, and move slowly, in the most 

 dignified manner ; these councils are exceedingly clear to the heart 

 of every Indian. Wrapped in their blankets, they sit down, silently 

 waiting with the greatest patience until it is their turn to speak, and 

 then making use of the most flowery and picturesque language they 

 are able to command. 



So far as I have been able to find out anything in regard to the 

 religion of the Indians, they are all what might be called Spiritualists. I 

 questioned Sitting Bull on this point, who told me that he frequently 

 saw the spirits of the dead on the hills round about ; and all youug war- 

 riors, when, they go through the fasting, prior to their initiation among 

 the braves, always see the spirits of the dead who have gone before 

 them. I asked Sitting Bull whether he saw the spirits best in the night 

 or in the day time. He answered that it made no difference, as he 

 could see them as well at one time as at another. The spirits of all 

 warriors were seen in this way, as well as those of the women; but 

 those of very young children were taken little account of. 



When an Indian dies, there is placed on the platform where the body, 

 rests, or near it, all of his arms, clothing, pipe, &c, and a good horse 

 is generally killed aud left with his remains, in order that he may be 

 well mounted in the spirit-laud. When a rich man loses a relative, as 

 a beloved wife or favorite daughter, he sometimes, in the excess of his 

 grief, destroys all his property, including his lodge or tent, and kills all 

 his horses, leaving himself utterly poverty-stricken. For many days 

 he holds no communication with any one, but sits bowed down with 

 grief, and alone. Ho bears his sorrow in silence. The squaws, on the 

 other hand, howl and make the most dismal sounds, tearing their hair, 

 and gashing their bodies with knives. I have seen some Indians who 

 even cut off the joints of their fingers in the excess of their grief. When 

 Bed Dog's sou died in March, 1872, he sat beside the body the whole 

 day, naked, with his flesh cut and slashed, and blood running from every 

 wound. 



Of all the bauds of the Sioux, the Yanktons appear to be making the 

 greatest progress in the way of agriculture, and are rapidly learning 



