DEATH OF BLACK-BIRD, THE OMAHA CHIEF. 217 



the number of vibrations per second by the inverse ratio |4. By example on the 

 piano-forte it is necessary to add to the seven white keys of an octave seven 

 black keys and not give as is done in practice : as raising to a sharp means rising 

 through the interval If, and this interval does not exist in the simple musical 

 scale. For illustration, between E and F there is an interval of a major semi- 

 tone if. If E then be raised to its sharp a note is found, by rising through the 

 smaller interval ||, which is near F but lower; E sharp then does not coincide 

 with F. 



The foregoing remarks, which contain the truth, and nothing but the truth, 

 though not the whole on the boundless subject here in part advanced, are based 

 upon the teachings of some of our most eminent theorists of modern times, among 

 whom I may mention the distinguished Professor of Music in the University of 

 Cambridge, Sir George Arthur Macfarren, Mus. Doc. M. A., Principal of the 

 Royal Academy of Music, and Sedley Taylor, Esq., M. A., Trinity College, 

 Cambridge. 



Kansas City, Mo., May, 1884. 



DEATH OF BLACK-BIRD, THE OMAHA CHIEF. 



OSCAR W. COLLETT, CUSTODIAN MUSEUM MO. HIST. SOCIETY, 



The sixteenth annual report of the Peabody Museum contains a letter to 

 which Prof. Putnam calls attention as of especial interest, written by Mr. Frank 

 La Flesche, an educated Omaha Indian, relating to the history of his tribe, in 

 which certain statements are made that seem to be inaccurate. According to 

 Mr. La Flesche: "It is said that Black-Bird was buried with but very little 

 ceremony, as he died when the Omahas were being very much troubled wiih the 

 small-pox, and was not buried riding a live horse, as is stated by some. A grand- 

 son of his is still living, and is about a hundred years old; he cannot remember 

 when his grandfather died, but thinks it was shortly before he was born." 

 Mr. La Flesche then proceeds to assume, hypothetically, on the testimony of the 

 grandchild and tribal traditions, that Black-Bird died more than a hundred years 

 ago; and as the migrations of the- Omahas northwardly "from near St. Louis" 

 took place according to the same traditions, a century earlier, we are thus enabled 

 to determine that these movements began a little previous to 1684. 



An English naturalist who spent some time in the west during the first decade 

 of the present century, in his journal of travel, gives the following account of 

 Black-Bird : 



"This chief, called by the French Viseau Noir (Black-Bird), ruled over the 

 Mahas with a sway the most despotic. He had managed in such a manner as to 

 inspire them with the belief that he was possessed of supernatural powers; in 

 council no chief durst oppose him — in war it was death to disobey. It is related 

 of him at St. Louis, that a trader from that town arrived at the Mahas with an 



