GRAND "PEACE" SMOKE--TABLE ETIQUETTE--NO DISH-WASHING--WHITE FRIENDS
DISCOURAGED.
Two hours before the Indians left for their winter hunting ground a few
of the chiefs came to Bishop Miller to smoke the pipe of peace with him
and our camp. This pipe of peace had been smoked with us many times
before; and, as it may be a question how this is done, I will explain
it to my young readers. When there is a sufficient number to form a
circle, they always do so. The chief who invites the party fills his
large pipe with tobacco (more than one pipe is used when the company
is large). As soon as it is filled, the chief holds the bowl of the
pipe upwards, and says a few words appropriate to the occasion, calling
always upon the Great Spirit, whom they call "Wurconda."
These speeches were always made at feasts of importance, or councils,
and at every "big smoke," or when they send off a war party, and when a
party goes to make peace with another nation.
I was at a meeting once where a number of chiefs were in council, and
were about to send off a peace party, consisting of four young braves
and a chief, all of whom were present during the ceremony. The pipe was
filled, and the head chief held the bowl upwards, made a short speech
and passed it to the next chief, who said a few words and handed it to
the next. After all had received it and spoken, the chief, who presided
lit the pipe, and all smoked. A small, dried bladder was produced after
this by the chief. This was passed around with the same ceremony as
the pipe was. Some very fine grass was next handed around in the same
manner. After this the marrow from a large bone of the buffalo and a
piece of plug tobacco were each served in the same manner as the other
articles. The pipe, tobacco, grass and marrow were then placed in the
bladder and tied up. When this was done the young chief who had charge
of the party was asked to step into the circle of chiefs. The bladder
and its contents were then held up by the presiding chief, who made a
few remarks and handed it to the young man, and he handed it to each
chief in turn. After some remarks by the head chief the party started
upon their important mission.
During this ceremony no one spoke but those in council. It was as
quiet as any religious meeting I ever attended. Each speech was like a
prayer, and was delivered in a very solemn manner.
After this peaceable smoke the Indians shook hands with their white
friends and jumped into their saddles and left.
It was a novel scene to us, and I am sure it would be to my young
readers, to see this Indian nation on the move. In advance could be
seen the chiefs and some of their braves on horseback. Next came the
squaws, leading horses packed with their lodges and camp-equipage. Next
came the old men and old women, with their lodges packed and drawn by
dogs with poles strapped on their backs. With these were young men and
maidens, all on foot. Those who had babies strapped them upon a board,
and carried them as the Utah Indians do.
All the young men and boys had bows and arrows; and when traveling they
had a good time, testing their skill by shooting rabbits and small
birds. When in camp a great deal of their time was spent in shooting at
a mark.
The first day we traveled about eight miles.
We had been invited to stay in one of the chief's lodges, he having
three of them and three wives. At sunset the chief invited us to
supper, which consisted of dried buffalo meat, boiled, and put into one
large, wooden bowl with the liquor it was boiled in. One large horn
spoon was provided with which to eat, and the meat was cut up into
small pieces.
The chief took a spoonful of meat and liquor, then handed the spoon
to the one next to him, who did likewise, and so the spoon was passed
around until all had used it, and partaken of as much food as they
wanted. The meat was as tough as leather and about as palatable, and
was truly the hardest and toughest meat I ever ate.
We slept in the tent that night, and rested well. My legs pained me
some, but I felt that the Lord was with us.
Brother John Kay had a little flour with him, and on the following
morning, he invited us to breakfast on cakes fried in fat, which we ate
with a relish.
About nine o'clock, a. m., one of the chiefs went through the village,
telling the people that they were going to a certain place that day,
and that they could prepare for the journey as soon as they pleased.
The women commenced immediately to pack up their things, and take down
their lodges, while the men started for their horses.
The women among the Indians have most of the work to do. They put up
and pull down the lodges, get the wood, cook, make and mend their
clothes, and dress all the robes and skins, for their own use and for
the market.
The men hunt, look after their horses, fight, if necessary, smoke, eat
and sleep.
We traveled on in this way, eating the same kind of meat, only broiled
at times for a change (which was far preferable) instead of being
boiled. You may ask if the meat and the dish or bowl we ate from were
clean.
I thought not, for the meat, the bowl and kettle were carried in dirty,
greasy sacks. In fact, all the eatables and cooking utensils were in
these sacks, packed upon the backs of horses, when traveling, and when
in camp, thrown around a dirty and dusty lodge.
I scarcely ever saw a piece of meat, a kettle or a bowl washed by them
while I was with them.
At first we partook of our meals with but little relish, but after a
week's travel, we found our appetites improved.
Up to this time we traveled near the Running Water River, without
seeing any buffalo, or game of any kind. Here our young brethren became
perfectly discouraged, not finding game nor immediate prospects for
any, and they concluded to leave.
We were then about fifty miles from our camp. I was asked to accompany
them, but declined, feeling that I had not accomplished my mission.
This far we had crossed a number of small, clear streams, from three to
seven feet wide, and often three feet deep. In crossing these I found
the water gave relief to my sore and painful legs, and, as often as
I could, I bathed the sores and found relief. Three of the sores had
entirely healed, and for this I thanked the Lord.
We parted here with our young brethren, wishing them a pleasant
journey, while we marched on and camped again near the same stream.
Soon after we had partaken of our evening meal, two Indians came riding
into camp, bringing good news, that buffaloes were a few miles west of
us.
This filled the Indians with joy, so much so that bonfires were built
outside the lodges to give light, so that the young folks could dance,
and the old men might smoke and talk over things of the past.
It was a very interesting sight to me, to see some eight or ten circles
of young men and women, dancing in the same way, and to the same music,
that I have described before, as a "war dance." And let me here say
that women join the men in a real, genuine war dance, (when they have a
scalp of some unfortunate Indian who has crossed their path,) and seem
to enjoy it quite as well as the men; for they jump as high, and as
often, and do a great deal of horrible yelling.
With this dancing by the young folks, and the smoking by the old men,
(women never smoke) and the multitude looking at the dancers, it was a
happy time for all.
After enjoying these pleasures about three hours the whole company,
except the guard, retired to their lodges, many, no doubt, to dream of
the good time coming--of killing buffaloes and eating fresh meat.
At day-break a chief notified the camp to prepare to move. No sooner
was the word given, than the people commenced to pack up, and take down
lodges, and in one hour we were again on the move.
At the time the chief gave the word for the Indians to prepare to move,
another chief was giving orders to those who had hunting horses to
prepare and leave for the slaughter. By the time we reached a small
stream about five miles ahead, we found these hunters with ten fine
buffaloes ready for the two thousand hungry souls. Lodges were soon up,
fires lighted, and the whole camp busy cooking and eating fresh meat. I
had an invitation, with my brethren, to cat roast or broiled buffallo,
which I accepted and enjoyed it very much. I believe I ate two pounds
of solid meat before I slept that night, without feeling the least
inconvenience. We had no bread nor potatoes with it, which, of course,
makes a great difference.
The camp was up early the next morning and moved on about four miles,
without breakfast, when we stopped, hoping our hunters, who were ahead
of us, would find more game. At sunset, four Indians brought in two fat
deer, and soon others came, bringing two buffaloes. Shortly after the
deer arrived, we were invited to dine on deer meat, which we found very
good. At first I found it rather strange to eat so much meat and no
bread with it; but I soon got used to it. I had been ten weeks living
on bread without meat, and if any one had asked me at the time which I
would prefer of the two, if I could have but one, I should have chosen
bread; but after I had lived on meat a few weeks, I would have said,
give me meat, rather than bread alone.