MATTHEW BRAYTON'S NARRATIVE CONTINUED.
Climate -- Esquimaux -- Trading -- Mode of Sleeping -- Method
of Taming Ponies and Elks -- Weapons -- Making Pipes.
The territory occupied by the Copper Heads and the associated tribes
lies west of the Rocky Mountains in the high latitudes, extending so
far north as the Russian possessions. Their hunting grounds cover a
space of several hundred miles, and the natural characteristics of the
country are much diversified. Baren mountain ranges alternate with
wide plains, fruitful valleys and dense forests. We met with but few
rivers in our hunt, but from the Esquimaux and a few stragglers
belonging to tribes on the east side of the mountains we had reports
of many rivers and big waters on the other side. Our northern
head-quarters was about three weeks' journey from the Artic ocean.
To the northeast of us, about two weeks' journey, was Big Esquimaux
village.
The climate in the northern part of our hunting grounds is cold
through the greater part of the year and the ground mostly covered
with snow. The trees in this region are of pine, cedar, white hemlock
and some other kinds. During the greater part of the year they remain
bare, but as soon as the temperature begins to moderate a little the
leaves come out about the size of a squirrel's ear. They continue out
but for a short time, when they drop off, and the tree is once more
bare. The elk, reindeer and the ponies of the Indians all feed on the
bark of the trees and the moss.
Snow falls repeatedly during the year, but no rain. There are numerous
storms.
With the Esquimaux, who live on the shores of the Arctic Ocean, our
tribes often had skirmishes. The Esquimaux are a dirty people,
generally short, thick set, with matted hair, and afflicted with the
scurvy. They wrap themselves up in furs and live on any kind of
carion. They will eat worms, bugs or snakes when they cannot get game;
but their principal luxury is oil. They make oil from the carcasses of
the animals they obtain and enjoy it as a great luxury. They live in
huts made of snow and ice, and when moving from place to place they
have tents made of furs and skins. In traveling, they use sleds drawn
by reindeer and dogs. The Copper Heads never have sleds, but use
ponies and elk, both for riding and packing game and other burdens.
The Copper Heads principally traded with the Russian posts, and made
trips to them several times a year. They also sent an expedition twice
a year to the Red River settlement, and from there to St. Paul. All
the dried meats, furs and other articles are packed on the backs of
ponies and elks or carried by women and such captives as are in the
keeping of the tribe. The mode of packing on the backs of women is for
a belt, three fingers wide, to be passed across the forehead and lie
down the back. The pack is placed so as to rest on the bottom of the
belt and lie on the shoulders and neck. The bearer is obliged to stoop
forward in walking, and the back is frequently bent from this cause.
Being a captive, I was sometimes compelled to carry a load but about
fifteen pounds less than my own weight, and the squaws have to carry
within about twenty pounds of their own weight.
From the Russians we obtained blankets, powder, rifles and other
necessary articles in exchange for furs and dried meats. Among other
things purchased of the Russians the tribe possessed a compass and a
watch, enclosed in a copper case. They learned the use of the compass
sufficiently to enable them to travel by its aid.
The lodges are made of poles stuck in the ground and tied together at
the top so as to leave a hole in the center. Furs and skins are then
fastened around and made tight, except at the entrance. A fire is
built in the center of the lodge and the members of the lodge creep in
and sleep with their feet to the fire and their heads to the side of
the lodge.
In traveling, when the snow is on the ground and the party do not take
the lodge fixtures along, the snow is stamped down and blanket spread
on the hardened snow. On this the Indian lies down and rolls himself
up in the blanket. With this mode of sleeping there is no danger of
taking cold.
When the snow is very deep and light the hunters wear wide snow shoes
to prevent their sinking at every step. The ponies are also shod with
wide moccasins stuffed with hair when the snow is so deep that they
cannot travel with ease.
The beasts of burden used by the Indians are ponies, elks and dogs.
Both elks and ponies have to be broken into submission to man before
they can be used. When the Indians want to break in a pony for riding,
one of them mounts a well broke pony, and, after riding around for a
little while, suddenly dashes up to the untamed pony, and seizing it
by the mane, leaps on its back. The first effort of the surprised
animal is to throw the unexpected burden over its head, or failing in
this to rise on its hind legs and throw its rider backwards. To
prevent either of these purposes being accomplished the rider clasps
his arms around the neck of the pony and crosses his legs under its
belly so that the toes are inserted between the forelegs of the
animal. By these means the pony is rendered unable to jerk the rider
off in any direction. Foiled in its efforts to dislodge the unusual
encumbrance on its back the pony generally sets off in a wild gallop,
in which it is indulged by the rider, and an unexpected difficulty of
breathing soon brings the unruly beast to terms. As soon as it gets
somewhat tired of its useless excitements, the rider steals his hand
down to its nose and there holds some sugar and salt. If the animal
prove insensible to the temptation thus held out, the rider gradually
works his hand up until he gets some of the mixture into its mouth.
The taste of these articles is generally sufficient to subdue the
strong will of the pony, and to complete the work the rider puffs
tobacco smoke up its nostrils. It is now thoroughly broken in, and
will sit easily under a rider or follow its owner like a dog. The
Indian never abuses his horse, but always treats it as a friend.
The elk is of great service to the Indians in high latitudes, and
shares with the pony the attentions of its owner. The method of
catching and taming elk is for one hunter to throw a lasso, or running
noose at the end of a long line, on one horn, whilst another hunter
does the same to the other horn. The lines are then quickly made fast
to two trees, and the hind legs tied to two other trees in a similar
manner. Whilst thus fastened in a nearly immovable position the man
who is to break in the animal comes up and leaps on his back. The
ropes are simultaneously cut by the other Indians, and the elk dashes
off with its burden. The rider embraces the horns with his arms and
crosses his feet below the belly of the animal, as in breaking ponies.
The elk pursues his headlong career for miles, the branching horns
preventing his dashing among the trees in such a manner as to hurt the
rider. After the elk is thoroughly spent by his long scamper, it is
treated in the same manner as in the case of ponies.
The weapons of the Snakes and Copper-Heads consist of rifles, bows and
arrows, spears, tomahawks, hunting knives, scalping knives, and war
clubs. The arrow heads are made of flint, and much care is used in
digging up, selecting and splitting the proper kind of flint. The
pipes are also made of flint, and take a large amount of patience and
labor in their manufacture. The pipe I made for my self was first
squared out from a flint and then drilled with a steel implement,
worked by hand. I worked thirty days to complete the boring process,
using bear's oil and water to moisten the stone. After the hole was
bored, another steel chisel was taken, and the pipe chipped into
proper shape. In doing the chiseling, the pipe was placed between two
other stones to act as a vice, and the whole pressed between my knees.
Then I chipped away, using my clenched hand as a mallet. After the
pipe had been chipped into shape and then ornamented with cut designs,
it was first oiled and then dyed a pale red with a pigment extracted
from a root. A stem of cherry or other wood inserted in this pipe
completes it.