 | CHAPTER IV. Dahcotah, or, Life and legends of the Sioux around Fort Snelling |  |
4. CHAPTER IV.
While the wife of Red Face lived from day to day in
suspense as to her fate, her husband made every effort for
her recovery. Knowing that she was still alive, he could
not give up the hope of seeing her again. Accordingly, the
facts were made known at Fort Snelling, and the Chippeway
interpreter was sent up to Hole-in-the-Day's village,
with an order from the government to bring her down.
She had been expected for some time, when an excitement
among a number of old squaws, who were standing
outside of the gate of the fort, showed that something unusual
was occasioning expressions of pleasure; and as the
wife of Red Face advanced towards the house of the interpreter,
their gratification was raised to the utmost.
Red Face and some of the Dahcotah warriors were soon
there too—and the long separated husband and wife were
again united.
But whatever they might have felt on the occasion of
meeting again, they showed but little joy. Red Face entered
the room where were assembled the Indians and the
officers of the garrison. He shook hands with the officers
and with the interpreter, and, without looking at his wife,
took his seat with the other Dahcotahs.
But her composure soon left her. When she saw him
enter, the blood mantled in her pale cheek—pale with long
anxiety and recent fatigue. She listened while the Dahcotahs
talked with the agent and the commanding officer;
she arose, crossed the room, and took her seat at his feet!
The chief Hole-in-the-Day has been dead some years,
and, in one of the public prints, it was stated that he was
thrown from his carriage and killed. This was a genteel
mode of dying, which cannot, with truth, be attributed to
him.
He always deplored the habit of drinking, to which the
Indians are so much addicted. In his latter years, however,
he could not withstand the temptation; and, on one occasion,
being exceedingly drunk, he was put into an oxcart,
and being rather restive, was thrown out, and the
cart wheel went over him.
Thus died Hole-in-the-Day—one of the most noted Indians
of the present day; and his eldest son reigns in his
stead.
EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWING.
1. The giant.
2. A frog that the giant uses for an arrow-point.
3. A large bird that that the giant keeps in his court.
4. Another bird.
5. An ornament over the door leading into the court.
6. An ornament over a door.
7. Part of court ornamented with down.
8. Part of do. do. with red down.
9. A bear; 10, a deer; 11, an elk; 12, a buffalo.
13, 14. Incense-offering.
15. A rattle of deer's claws, used when singing.
16. A long flute or whistle.
17, 18, 19, 20. Are meteors that the giant sends out for his defence, or to
protect him from invasion.
21, 22, 23, 24. The giant surrounded with lightnings, with which he kills all
kinds of animals that molest him.
25. Red down in small bunches fastened to the railing of the court.
26. The same. One of these bunches of red down disappears every time
an animal is found dead inside the court.
27, 28. Touchwood, and a large fungus that grows on trees.—These are
eaten by any animal that enters the court, and this food causes their death.
29. A streak of lightning going from the giant's hat.
30. Giant's head and hat. 31. His bow and arrow.
| CHAPTER IV. Dahcotah, or, Life and legends of the Sioux around Fort Snelling | |