SPEECH OF MARTO-COGERSIINE. 67 



He appeared to be about eighty years of age, and was gray-headed, 

 spare-visaged, and much wrinkled. His coat, butto«ed close around him, 

 served for a robe, while his matted ear-locks disclosed upon the one side a 

 raven's and upon the other a hawk's feather, for ornaments. His face, 

 like those of his companions, was hberally bedaubed with vermilion, and 

 each cheek embellished with alternate spots of white and black, by way of 

 variety. His only weapons were a bow, arrows, and a tomahawk-pipe. 



As a whole, he presented rather a shabby and ludricrous appearance, 

 that, were it not for the recollection of his worthy conduct, would have ex- 

 cited, in the mind of the beholder, far more of contempt than interest. 



A Sioux squaw, the wife of a French engage, accompanying us on her 

 return from the States, now received the marked attention of our visitors. 

 It is rare that an Indian will shake hands with a woman ; but now, they 

 might break through the restraints of custom ; this was a special case; she 

 had visited the white man's lodge, and could tell them many interesting 

 things, — she was something more than a common squaw, — they might 

 shake hands with her. She was accordingly greeted in a most flattering 

 manner, and found tedious employment in answering the numerous ques- 

 tions with which she was plied. 



Continuing for a few miles further, we made camp just at nightfall, and 

 were promptly joined by a new recruit of inquisitive visitors, from an ad- 

 joining village. 



The whole throng of Indians now numbered some thirty, and demanded 

 a " talk " with the Long-knife. Upon this a circle was formed, with the 

 whites upon one side and Indians upon the other, when Marto-cogershne 

 opened the harangue in behalf of his people. 



He commenced in a low, distinct tone of voice. His robe, dawn loosely 

 around him, was held to its place by the left liand, exposing his right arm 

 and shoulder. As he proceeded he became more animated, and seemed to 

 enter into the full spirit of his discourse. The modulations of his voice, 

 its deep intonations and expressive cadences, coupled with a corresponding 

 appropriateness of every look and gesture, presented one of the most per- 

 fect specimens of delivery I ever witnessed. 



His speech, as imperfectly translated upon the occasion, rnn as follows : 



" Long-knife : We are glad to see you — we are glad to see your people, 

 and shake you all by the hand, that we may smoke together and be 

 friends. 



" Long-knife : We are glad the Great Spirit has put it into your heart to 

 return with the road-travellers, (waggons,) and the white butl'alo, (oxen,) 

 and the medicine-dogs, (horses,) bearing fire-water, (whiskey,) blankets, 

 and many other good things, ere yet the chill winds and snows have com- 

 pelled His children to light the lodge-fires of winter. Tiie Long-knife 

 brings choice things to the red man, and it is good that we trade. (Ap- 

 plause.) 



" The Great Spirit is good to His children. To us He has given the 

 bufialo, the elk, the deer, and the antelope, that we may be fed and clothed, 

 and furnished with lodoes to shelter us frs.'m the storms and cold. To us 

 He has given the mountains and prairies, for hunting grounds. For us He 

 has taught the streams to flow, and planted trees upon their banks, to give 



