History, Manners, and Customs of the North American Indians — John Shaqi
History, Manners, and Customs of the North American IndiansOld Humphrey
History
History, Manners, and Customs of the North American Indians
Old Humphrey
Indians of North America
_Basil._ There, Austin! If an Indian chief was killed by a buffalo,
what should _you_ do among them? Why they would toss you over their
heads like a shuttlecock.
_Hunter._ _Wee-ta-ra-sha-ro_, the head chief of the Pawnee Picts, is
dead now, I dare say; for he was a very old, as well as a very
venerable looking man. Many a buffalo hunt with the Camanchees had he
in his day, and many a time did he go forth with them in their
war-parties. He had a celebrated brave of the name of _Ah'-sho-cole_,
or "rotten foot," and another called _Ah'-re-kah-na-co-chee_, "the mad
elk." Indians give the name of _brave_ to a warrior who has
distinguished himself by feats of valour, such as admit him to their
rank.
_Brian._ I wonder that they should choose such long names. It must be
a hard matter to remember them.
_Hunter._ There were many famous men among the Sacs. _Kee-o-kuk_ was
the chief. Kee-o-kuk means "the running fox." One of his boldest
braves was _Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak_, "the black hawk." The history
of this renowned warrior is very curious. It was taken down from his
own lips, and has been published. If you should like to listen to the
adventures of Black Hawk, I will relate them to you some day, when you
have time to hear them, as well as those of young Nik-ka-no-chee, a
Seminole.
_Austin._ We will not forget to remind you of your promise. It will be
capital to listen to these histories.
_Hunter._ When I saw _Wa-saw-me-saw_, or "the roaring thunder," the
youngest son of Black Hawk, he was in captivity. _Nah-se-us-kuk_, "the
whirling thunder," his eldest son, was a fine looking man, beautifully
formed, with a spirit like that of a lion. There was a war called The
Black Hawk war, and Black Hawk was the leader and conductor of it; and
one of his most famous warriors was _Wah-pe-kee-suck_, or "white
cloud;" he was, however, as often called The Prophet as the White
Cloud. _Pam-a-ho_, "the swimmer;" _Wah-pa-ko-las-kak_, "the track of
the bear;" and _Pash-ce-pa-ho_, "the little stabbing chief;" were, I
think, all three of them warriors of Black Hawk.
_Basil._ The Little Stabbing Chief! He must be a very dangerous fellow
to go near, if we may judge by his name: keep away from him, Austin,
if you go to the Sacs.
_Austin._ Oh! he would never think of stabbing me. I should behave
well to all the tribes, and then I dare say they would all of them
behave well to me. You have not said any thing of the Crow Indians.
_Hunter._ I forget who was at the head of the Crows, though I well
remember several of the warriors among them. They were tall,
well-proportioned, and dressed with a great deal of taste and care.
_Pa-ris-ka-roo-pa_, called "the two crows," had a head of hair that
swept the ground after him as he walked along.
_Austin._ What do you think of that, Basil? No doubt the Crows are
fine fellows. Please to mention two or three more.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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