884. CHARLES PAPINEAU. _Interpreter._
Born in Montreal in 1820. Has lived in the Mandan country since 1839. Speaks Arickaree, Crow, Sioux, Gros Ventres, Mandan, French, and English.
6. MISSOURIAS.
The Missourias are a tribe of Dakota descent, living on the Missouri River, their name being one given them by the Illinois, and means the people living by the muddy water. They style themselves _Nudarcha_. Were first heard of in 1673, as the first tribe up the river which bears their name. Became allies of the French at an early day, and a.s.sisted them in some of their operations against other tribes. Were hostile to the Spanish and also opposed to the ascendency of English influence. In 1805, when Lewis and Clarke pa.s.sed through their country, they numbered only 300 in all, living in villages south of the Platte, and at war with most of the neighboring tribes. They were affiliated with the Otoes, having deserted their own villages near the mouth of the Grand some time previously in consequence of their almost entire destruction by small-pox. The two have ever since been cla.s.sed as one tribe. In 1862 the combined tribes numbered 708, and in 1876 only 454. Since their consolidation with the Otoes their history has been the same as of that tribe.
_List of ill.u.s.trations._
481. THRACH-TCHE. _True Eagle._
A full-blood Missouria, and nephew of Ah-ho-che-ka-thocka (Quapaw Indian Striker), a t.i.tle gained by his bravery in battle against the Quapaws, and who was head chief. At his (Ah-ho-che-ka-thocka"s) death, the hereditary successor, Good Talker, was a.s.sa.s.sinated by Shungech-hoy and others, when the line of descent fell on True Eagle, who became chief in 1860, and held the position of Missouria chief in the confederated Otoes and Missourias until 1874, when he resigned in favor of his nephew. Is now about 80 years of age, 6 feet in height, with a stout, well-proportioned frame.
503. NOCH-PE-WORA. _The One they are Afraid of._
Is a cousin of True Eagle, and chief of the Eagle band of Missourias. Is of a mild, genial disposition, with but little force of character. Age, 45; height, 5.8-1/2; weight, 155; head, 22-1/2; chest, 35.
484-5. WA-THOCK-A-RUCHY. _One who eats his Food Raw._
His father was of the Bear band of Otoes, and his mother of the Eagle band of Missourias. He inherited a chieftaincy among the Missourias, and succeeded to that position upon the death of his uncle, White Water, in 1868, when he took the name of LOD-NOO-WAH-HOO-WA, or _Pipe-Stem_. Lacks force of character, but is of a mild disposition and well disposed. Is about 5 feet in height, and of a well-developed physical organization.
486. MUNCHA-HUNCHA. _Big Bear_, or _Joseph Powell_.
Is a full-blooded Missouria. Succeeded his grandfather, Cow-he-pa-ha, as chief of the Bear band, in 1870. When a young man he lived much of his time among the whites. Possessing more than ordinary intelligence, he is at present the leading spirit of the Otoes and Missourias in the industrial pursuits of civilized life.
These qualities have engendered much jealousy in the b.r.e.a.s.t.s of the older chiefs, who throw many obstacles in his way. Besides his good mental qualities he possesses a splendid physique. Height, 5.11; weight, 225; head, 23-1/2; chest, 42.
498. BLACK ELK.
7. OMAHAS.
The Omahas were one of the tribes noticed by Marquette in 1673, and by Carver in 1766, who found them located on the Saint Peter"s River. They were divided into two bands, the Istasunda, or Grey Eyes, and the Hongashans, and cultivated corn, melons, beans, &c. In 1802, from a tribe numbering about 3,500, they were reduced to less than a tenth of that number by small-pox, when they burned their village and became wanderers, pursued by their relentless enemy, the Sioux. Lewis and Clarke found them on the L"Eau qui Court, numbering about 600. Since 1815 many treaties have been made with them, always accompanied by a cession of lands on their part in return for annuities and farming implements. In 1843 they returned to their village, between the Elkhorn and the Missouri, and made a peace with some of the Sioux, but their great chief, Logan Fontanelle, was killed by them not long after. Since then they have devoted themselves mainly to agriculture, and, under the fostering care of the Friends, are very much improved in their condition. In 1875 they numbered 1,005, depending entirely upon their crops for their subsistence, of which they have considerably more than enough for their own use. They have three good schools, which are largely and regularly attended. The older Indians are also abandoning their old habits and a.s.sisting in building for themselves upon forty-acre allotments of their lands.
_List of ill.u.s.trations._
885. SHU-DTHE-NUZHE. _Yellow Smoke._
A leading and influential chief among the Omahas, and a man of more than ordinary intelligence and executive ability. Holds his position by hereditary descent. Is well off, possessing a large number of horses and a very well furnished house.
465. GRE-DTHE-NUZHE. _Standing Hawk and squaw._
The oldest chief in the tribe, and consequently one whose words always command attention in their councils. This view represents him leading his pony, followed by his faithful squaw.
467. O-HUN-GA-NUZHE. _Standing at the End._
A brave, nearly nude, decorated with "war-paint" and astride a characteristic Indian pony.
468. MO-HA-NUZHE. _Standing Bent._
A policeman, or one appointed by the chiefs to preserve order in the village.
463. GI-HE-GA. _Chief._
One of the nine chiefs who govern the tribe, holding their positions by hereditary descent.
469-470. BETSY.
A noted character among the Omahas, an exponent of women"s rights.
Has always accompanied the tribe on their annual buffalo-hunts, and partic.i.p.ates in the chase with the men. Speaks three Indian languages, besides French and English.
457. AGENCY BUILDINGS.
462. THE VILLAGE OF THE OMAHAS. (1871.)
461. THE VILLAGE. Near view, showing lodges.
464. GI-HE-GA"S LODGE.
459-460. VIEW FROM BLACKBIRD HILL.
In Irving"s Astoria is a short sketch of some of the romantic deeds of Wa-shinga-sah-ba, or Blackbird, a famous chief of the Omahas, who died in 1802, which concludes as follows: "His dominant spirit and his love for the white man were evinced in his latest breath with which he designated his place of sepulture. It was to be on a hill, or promontory, upward of 400 feet in height, overlooking a great extent of the Missouri, from which he had been accustomed to watch for the barks of the white men. The Missouri washes the base of the promontory, and after winding and doubling in many links and mazes in the plains below, returns to within 900 yards of its starting-place, so that for thirty miles, navigating with sail and oar, the voyager finds himself continually near to this singular promontory, as if spell-bound.
"It was the dying command of the Blackbird that his tomb should be upon the summit of this hill, in which he should be interred, seated on his favorite horse, that he might overlook his ancient domain, and behold the barks of the white men as they came up the river to trade with his people."
The river has now changed its course, running far to the eastward, leaving at the foot of the hill a lake in the old bed of the river.
The mound which was raised over the chief and his horse is now nearly obliterated, "yet the hill of the Blackbird continues an object of veneration to the wandering savage, and a landmark to the voyager of the Missouri."
472-476. GROUPS OF SCHOOL-CHILDREN.
478. EBA-HOM-BA"S LODGE.
479. VILLAGE SCENE.
477. A BRAVE.
471. INDIAN CARPENTERS BUILDING HOUSES FOR THE TRIBE.
8. OSAGES.
The Osages were placed on the Missouri in 1673 by Marquette, who called them the Wasashe; were allies of the Illinois, and near the last of the past century had been driven down to the Arkansas. Coming in contact with the French, they became their firm allies, and joined them in many of their operations against Spanish and English and other Indians; in 1804, made peace with the Sacs and Foxes, with whom they had been at war, and settled on the Great Osage River. Their numbers were estimated then at 6,300. The usual succession of treaties ceding lands, and wars with neighboring Indians followed, reducing them very much in numbers, until the breaking out of the civil war, when 1,000 of them went South and joined the Confederacy. Treaties of 1865, 1866, and 1870 provided for the conveying of their lands in trust to the United States, and for their removal to the Indian Territory, where they have been placed under the care of the Society of Friends, and are now making rapid progress toward a self-supporting condition. They now number 3,001, of whom 323 are civilized, self-supporting mixed-bloods.
_List of ill.u.s.trations._