BLACK-BIRD. 363 



The Mahas, or Omahas, according to Irving pronounced Omah-haw, were 

 numerous before the small-pox nearly annihilated them. They have been men- 

 tioned by Lewis and Clark, Irving (in Astoria), and Major Long in his Expedi- 

 tion to the Rocky Mountains. 



Lewis and Clark (1804) say that Black-Bird had died about four years before. 



Irving (in Astoria) relates that Wilson P. Hunt passed the mouth of Platte 

 River April 28, 1811. A few days after he passed the place of the burial of 

 Black-Bird (Wash-ing guh-sah-ba), and says he had died about ten years before. 



Lewis and Clark gave the date of the death of Black-Bird about 1800. 

 Washington Irving about 1802, and Major Stephen Long at 1800. Washington 

 Irving says that Black-Bird was one of the first among the Indian chiefs to deal 

 with the whites, and that he showed great sagacity in levying his royal dues. 

 In this way he became rich and also exceeding popular among the traders of the 

 Missouri. But his people finally became dissatisfied. But a trader instructed 

 Black-Bird in the virtues of arsenic, and told him that through its use he could 

 obtain unbounded sway over his people. After that he ruled them by terror, and 

 any one disputing his authority, his downfall was prophesied and death would 

 finally ensue. 



But in Little Bow a rival of Black-Bird arose, who opposed his power. 

 Black-Bird determined to destroy him, and for this purpose his wife was bribed. 

 But she could not effectually conceal the perfidy and confessed her guilt " that 

 Black-Bird had given her some of his terrible medicine to mingle with his food." 

 She thus fell a victim. Little Bow seceded with nearly 200 followers and estab- 

 lished a separate village. ^ 



But Black-Bird was a warrior of the first water and his exploits were the 

 theme of young and old. Under his rule the Omahas obtained great power. He 

 waged a fierce war against the Ottoes, until the whites finally mediated and peace 

 was restored. He also warred against the Pawnees and burned their village. 

 He was fearless in battle and generally victorious. 



At one time a war party of the Poncas had made a foray on the Omahas 

 and carried off a nurtiber of women and horses. He took the field with all his 

 braves and swore that he would eat up the Poncas. He defeated them and they 

 took refuge behind some mounds of earth. The Poncas sent out a herald with a 

 calumet of peace. He was shot down, and so was each one that was sent out. 

 At last the Ponca chief sent out his beatiful daughter arrayed in her best attire. 

 Her charms touched the stony heart of Black-Bird. He accepted the pipe at her 

 hand and smoked it, and from that time peace reigned between the Poncas and 

 the Omahas. The beautiful damsel became Black-Bird's wife and she exerted 

 great power over him. But he was fierce and vindictive, and during one of his 

 passionate fits his wife had the misfortune to offend him, when suddenly drawing 

 a knife he laid her dead at his feet. His passion was at once gone. Drawing his 

 buffalo robe over his head he sat down beside the corpse and remained there 

 without food and apparently sleepless for three days. 



1 LoHg's Exp., Rocky Mountains, 1819. 



