CUSTOMS OF THE INDIANS. 



109 



gesture, stated that their word was as good as their mark ; hut that they avouIJ make any of 

 their signs, such as '' kneeling upon one knee," "raising the handle heaTcn," or " embra- 

 cing. " Immediately putting his words into effect, he walked up to Pa5sr[nal, find taking his large 

 frame in his arms, gave him a long and tight embrace. After the ceremony was oyer, rations 

 were issued to them, which they devoured with right good will. They then went ahout begging 

 for old clothes, and in the evening celebrated one of their games. 



The association of the Indian with the white tends to cause a rapid decrease by the intro- 

 duction of diseases among them heretofore unknown ; war, too, among themselves is a great 

 exterminator, but has the advantage of making them more dependent upon the whites. Think- 

 ing the military will protect all^ they draw near to the posts, and from presents learn the use of 

 various articles of clothing and food ; these, now regarded as luxuries, will, in time, become to 

 them necessities. They, too, learn and see the advantages which the whites possess over them 

 in every respect, and are not slow either to admit or account for it. They say that whites and 



Indians at one time were all 



f 



implements of husbandry and of all useful articles. Differing upon the choice of a chief, they 

 quarrelled, and daring the night the whites stole a march upon them, carrying away everything, 

 and leaving the poor Indian in the dark. These Indians are of a dark brown color ; during 

 the cold weather, of dull and dirty appearance, but in summer bright and glossy from bathing 

 in the river. They are most expert swimmers. They are of the medium height, well formod, 



muscular 



peculiar mode of throwing the arms while swimming ; active and clean-limbed ; their features not 

 disagreeable, although they have large noses, thick lips, and high cheek-bones ; their chests are 

 well developed and figures manly, indicating activity but not strength. The women are imder 

 the medium height : their figures are fine and plump ; the bust is well developed, the mamma 

 firm ; the arms finely moulded ; the hands small and pretty ; the legs beautifully formed and well 

 rounded, and nicely-turned ankles ; the feet are natually small, but become much enlarged by 

 not being protected. Altogether they present a very voluptuous appearance. Their deport- 

 ment is modest, and their carriage and bearing erect and graceful. They all travel on foot, 

 and when going long distances, at a slow trot. 



An essential article of dress worn by the men is a piece of coarse cotton cloth, three or four 

 feet long, passed between the legs, the ends drawn over a cord tied around the waist, and then 

 allowed to fall loosely down. The women wear a very becoming and a very pretty dress. 

 They take the inner bark of willow, cut into strips about an inch wide and sufficiently long to 

 extend from the waist to the knee. A number of these pieces are woven together at one end 

 and selvedged, the edge long enough to go half-way round the body ; two of these pieces 

 one called the a-be-hike, and the other the al-ter-dick-are secured in front and behind by means 

 of a girdle of strips composed of the same material, and covering the body from the hips to 

 the knees. The front portion is woven plain, but the back into an angular shape, wi h a lump 

 at each side, answering the same purpose and appearing like a bustle. On this protuberance 

 the women carry their children of two or three years of age, a rope passing around the groins 

 of the child and the ends tied together in front of the mother ; as she -VVr^^'^^l^'^^^^^^^^^ 

 ing is seen but a little foot dangling down on each side. The , , , , , ., 



when they can obtain the material, make the front of white woolen cord; they take a white 

 blanket, pick the wool loose, and twi.t it into cords of some thickness, and use this in place of 



belles of the tribe 



