Autobiography of Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak, or Black HawkBlack Hawk, Sauk chief
History
Autobiography of Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak, or Black Hawk
Black Hawk, Sauk chief
Black Hawk War, 1832; Black Hawk, Sauk chief, 1767-1838; Sauk Indians -- Biography
In 1827, a young Sioux Indian got lost on the prairie, in a snow storm,
and found his way into a camp of the Sacs. According to Indian customs,
although he was an enemy, he was safe while accepting their hospitality.
He remained there for some time on account of the severity of the storm.
Becoming well acquainted he fell in love with the daughter of the Sac
at whose village he had been entertained, and before leaving for his own
country, promised to come to the Sac village for her at a certain time
during the approaching summer. In July he made his way to the Rock river
village, secreting himself in the woods until he met the object of his
love, who came out to the field with her mother to assist her in hoeing
corn. Late in the afternoon her mother left her and went to the village.
No sooner had she got out of hearing, than he gave a loud whistle which
assured the maiden that he had returned. She continued hoeing leisurely
to the end of the row, when her lover came to meet her, and she promised
to come to him as soon as she could go to the lodge and get her blanket,
and together they would flee to his country. But unfortunately for the
lovers the girl's two brothers had seen the meeting, and after procuring
their guns started in pursuit of them. A heavy thunderstorm was coming
on at the time. The lovers hastened to, and took shelter under a cliff
of rocks, at Black Hawk's watchtower. Soon after a loud peal of thunder
was heard, the cliff of rocks was shattered in a thousand pieces, and
the lovers buried beneath, while in full view of her pursuing brothers.
This, their unexpected tomb, still remains undisturbed.
This tower to which my name had been applied, was a favorite resort and
was frequently visited by me alone, when I could sit and smoke my
pipe, and look with wonder and pleasure, at the grand scenes that
were presented by the sun's rays, even across the mighty water. On
one occasion a Frenchman, who had been making his home in our village,
brought his violin with him to the tower, to play and dance for the
amusement of a number of our people, who had assembled there, and while
dancing with his back to the cliff accidentally fell over it and was
killed by the fall. The Indians say that always at the same time of the
year, soft strains of the violin can be heard near that spot.
On returning in the spring from oar hunting grounds, I had the pleasure
of meeting our old friend, the trader of Peoria, at Rock Island. He came
up in a boat from St. Louis, not as a trader, but as our Agent. We were
well pleased to see him. He told us that he narrowly escaped falling
into the hands of Dixon. He remained with us a short time, gave us good
advice, and then returned to St. Louis.
The Sioux having committed depredations on our people, we sent out war
parties that summer, who succeeded in killing fourteen.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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