say, in his tastes, the Indian figures in the lowest sphere of depravity. His life, naturally, creates such a tendency. His love of strong drink is inordinate, and a very small quantity will arouse the most diabolical exhibitions of frenzied and untrameled passion. He seems, under such influences, to be entirely lost to reason, and dances and shouts like an emissary of the infernal regions. Personal encounters are almost certain, and blood is the only propitiatory sacrifice before the heated brain of the drunken savage. War and the chase are the two leading occupations of savage life. The war-path is considered the highest use to which the rowers of manhood can be applied. It is the way to eminence. The number of reeking scalps, attesting the prowess of the warrior, he exposes himself to every bodily danger, in order to secure these fiendish souvenir's of death by his bloody hand. Taking the war-path is always the occasion of great preliminary ceremony, making medicine, or the formal invocation of the powers of good, always takes place before a tomahawk is' raised. This important ceremony is performed by the "medicine men," or doctors of the tribe. Like the impostors of all other heathen people, they are a very shrewd set, and are well posted in all the arts of delusion, fraud, and deception. A large circular space is marked out with stones. A lodge is erected. In this lodge the "medicine men "take themselves apart from the impious gaze of the rest of the tribe. Here they consult the oracles and go through a series of boisterous performances, chanting a monotonous refrain. If this consultation of the great spirit prove favorable to success, the warriors, awaiting in ́suspense outside, armed, equipped, and hideously painted, are so informed. The war-dance follows. War-parties sometimes consist of whole tribes, and more frequently of adventurous young warriors from several tribes, wishing to have an opportunity to murder and pillage, and bring home scalps and ponies, in order to give them character among their fellow-warriors. On these expeditions, a chief, of their own selection, is chosen, and for the time being exercises su preme control. Mounted on his pony and equipped for war, the American savage is the type of martial bearing. His dress is simple. Moccasins, sometimes elaborately worked with beads, buck-skin leggins, a breech-clout, and on the journey a buffalo robe drawn about his shoulders. On his person are the customary decorations. His beardless face is painted hideously, to suit the infernal and bloody mission he has in view. On his left arm he carries his raw-hide shield, painted and ornamented with feathers. Over his shoulder and across his back hangs his quiver, filled with arrows, and his bow-case, from one end of which, projecting, may be seen a powerful bow, his spear he carries suspended vertically, by a loop drawn up over the arm and resting on the shoulder, his rifle in his hand, with the necessary accoutrements about his body. His head is bare, his raven hair streaming over his shoulders. Even his pony is decorated with feathers and strips of red flannel plaited in his tail and mane. In all his expeditions the savage carries little or no supply of food, depending upon the game he may find on the way. In a general war the villages are established at some secluded spot, in a deep canon, or on the banks of a well protected stream. The war-parties then issue forth from this retreat, and commit their depredations unembarrassed by their families. In their military enterprises the details are governed by the will of the soldiers, and in the fight every one seems to rely upon his own exertions, without reference to his comrades. From this fact in Indian tactics there is no harmony of action, which gives organized troops a decided superiority. On the war-path they generally ride in single or Indian file. The "medicine arrow," in possession of the first soldier, always goes ahead, the warriors following according to their recognized merits or known deeds. While the main party is pursuing its course videttes are thrown out in all directions, scouring the country with a vigilant eye. In camping the most retired spots are selected, fires are built as only an Indian can build them. When the camp is asleep one Indian always remains on watch near the fire. The most remarkable power exhibited by the plains Indian is their wonderful strength of vision. Their acuteness of hearing always struck me with astonishment, but their faculty of discerning objects at long distances was even more surprising. Whether they reveal the nature of remote figures by their actual outline, or by their peculiar motion, they are at a loss to explain. A still object, darkening the horizon, they contrive to make out as readily as one in motion. They can tell the difference between a buffalo, an Indian, or a soldier, when to an untrained eye they look the same. Our Osage guides, at the head of the column of troops, scanned the country for miles in advance, and reported every figure that appeared, when our own organs of sight were not only unable to see anything, but at first invariably reflected upon Osage veracity. In their movements, in addition to videttes, stationed upon almost every commanding eminence, the savages use a code of signals, which enables them to communicate with each other at long distances. The waving of a buffalo robe, or a quiver, communicates certain actions of the enemy, gives the alarm, directs the course of the main war-party in any direction, halts them, or signifies in what manner they shall move. Smoke by day and fires by night are more intricate and tedious methods resorted to, but with almost equal detail and success. The color of the smoke, either light or heavy, its volume, the diameter of the column, from a thin thread to a broad dense black mass, are all intelligible to the warrior. The varying brilliancy of a flame can also be interpreted. The secret of these signals is jealously guarded by every tribe, that the knowledge of their meaning may not escape, and thus be used against them in event of hostility. Their use is indispensable in a country the configuration of which opens long ranges of vision, and in their absence would limit the sphere of warlike operations, or hunting-parties, to a very small scope of territory. In the style of tactics employed, it will be seen, the savages have eminently adapted themselves mainly to the open country they inhabit. The herd is always divided into two classes of animals, war and squaw-ponies, the latter being also used for carrying burdens. The war-pony is selected from the best stock, is fearless, quick in his movements, and of great strength and endurance. These valuable qualities are recognized by clipping the pony's ears, or otherwise marking him. This being done he is relieved from all other labor than to carry the warrior upon the war-path. A warrior usually has several of these selected animals, one of which, even in time of* peace, is always lariated near his lodge, ready to be mounted at a moment's notice. These war-ponies are really fine animals, and frequently are very fleet. In action they exhibit remarkable courage, and manoeuvre either to the voice or gesture. CHAPTER XXX. A WAR-PARTY-STRATEGY-PRISONERS-TORTURE-MUTILATION OF BODIES- OLLOWING the war-party upon a hostile expedition, we find each warrior not only frequently casting a quick, uneasy glance along the horizon, but also closely observing almost every foot of the ground over which he treads. The track of a pony-the foot-print of a moccasin-occasions a halt and a minute examination. In moving forward, preserving the same vigilance, the appearance of the enemy is followed by wild whoops and terrific gesticulations at each other. A desultory firing begins; the warriors, on both sides, dash about, and perform many remarkable feats of horsemanship. In the excitement of the contest, a charge is sometimes made by a few warriors engaging, probably, in single combat. The contest is usually brief. In a majority of cases, one or the other gives way before much harm is done. Occasionally the prestige of one party will be too much for the moral courage of the other, in which case the weaker breaks and runs at first sight. A favorite mode of tactics is to draw the enemy into an ambuscade. A small party in advance will engage and fall back, apparently discomfited. The pursuing party, intent upon overtaking the fugitives, dash unconsciously onward, until they find themselves confronted by a strong force. Almost instantly a cloud of whooping and yelling savages rise on all sides. The contest now becomes desperate, and the invested party must fight its way out, or expect to meet the almost inevitable fate |