SIOUX VILLAGES — CHOLERA. 45 



coffee, sugar, or biscuit. I gave them what we could spare. They 

 told us there was another and larger band encamped about two 

 miles above, many of whom were very sick with the cholera : they 

 themselves had been afflicted with it, but had in a great measure 

 recovered, although they were in great dread of its return. As 

 soon as they were told I had a doctor, or ''medicine-man," with me, 

 and received assurances that some medicines should be prepared 

 for them, and left with the trader, (who had married among them,) 

 they expressed much delight, and returned to their village, where, 

 soon after, the sound of the drum and the song, expressive of the 

 revival of hope, which had almost departed, resounded from the 

 ''medicine lodge," and continued until a late hour of the night. 

 In the mean time, I directed a quantity of medicine to be prepared, 

 with the necessary directions for using it. The following morning 

 we paid a visit in passing, to the upper village, which contained 

 about two hundred and fifty souls. They were in the act of break- 

 ing up their encampment, being obliged to move farther up the 

 river to obtain fresh grass for their animals. A more curious, 

 animated, and novel scene I never witnessed. Squaws, papooses, 

 dogs, puppies, mules, and ponies, all in busy motion, while the 

 lordly, lazy men lounged about with an air of listless indifference, 

 too proud to render the slightest aid to their faithful drudges. 

 Before the lodge of each brave was erected a tripod of thin slender 

 poles about ten feet in length, upon which was suspended hia 

 round white shield, with some device painted upon it, his spear, 

 and a buckskin sack containing his "medicine" bag. It reminded 

 me forcibly of the scenes of Ivanhoe and the Crusaders, and im- 

 pressed me with the singularity of the coincidence in the customs 

 of what were then the most refined nations of the world, with those 

 of these wild and untutored savages. The cholera had been quite 

 bad among them, and was still raging. I visited nearly every 

 lodge, in company with the doctor and Mr. Bissonette the trader, 

 and medicine was administered to all who required it. It was 

 touching to witness the moral effect produced by the mere presence 

 of a "medicine-man" upon these poor wretches. They swallowed 

 the medicine with great avidity, and an absolute faith in its efficacy, 

 which, I have little doubt, saved many a life that would otherwise 

 have been lost. I shall never forget one poor fellow, a tall, fine- 

 looking young man of about twenty-five. He had been sick three 

 days, and we found him sitting on the ground, his blanket drawn 

 closely around him, and his chin resting upon his knees, the 



