LAST TWO BRETHREN LEAVE ME--HOME-SICK--TONSORIAL
EXPERIENCE--"WHADEE-SHIPPER," A NEW NAME FOR ME--KINDNESS OF THE
INDIANS.
The part of the country we were traveling in was so rough and hilly
that it was impossible to travel with a wagon, so Brothers Kay and
Bainbridge concluded to leave, which they did that morning.
I have not forgotten the time when we parted, and I saw them for the
last time passing over the top of a high hill, each swinging his hat as
a token of good by and good wishes.
How different our positions! They were going to their families and
friends, while I was to remain with a few Indians, or wild men of the
desert.
I must confess that for awhile I felt a little homesick. I started for
a deep ravine near by, out of sight of the village, where I knelt down
and prayed to the Lord for strength and an increase of faith, that I
might accomplish the work before me with cheerfulness of heart.
After this I felt better, and went to the chief's lodge and got out my
journal to write. No one else was in the lodge at the time, but just as
I was about to commence writing, a couple of young squaws entered the
lodge and sat down beside me. The eldest asked me, as I understood, for
my comb, and I took it from my pocket and offered it to her, thinking
they wished to comb their hair; but, to my surprise, she leaned her
head towards me, asking and making signs for me to comb and braid her
hair, as our white women did theirs. At first I concluded something
evil was intended, and they were sent to prove me; but I soon changed
my mind, and believed them innocent of any wrong. I was somewhat
confused, I assure you, in making the attempt to dress a lady's hair,
and blushed considerably when I commenced, which they observed, and
both laughed.
As soon as I had finished one side I handed my comb over to her
companion, for her to do the other side, which she did, and much better
than I had done. When this was done, lady No. 1 combed and braided the
hair of lady No. 2, very nicely. She then returned the comb to me. This
was the first and last hair-dressing I was called upon to perform while
with them. The next day many of the young women had their hair arranged
in the same style.
I remained in the same lodge and with the same chief as when I started
with them. This same evening several Indians came to his lodge, and,
after talking awhile, sent for an old Frenchman who had been with them
a number of years, and could speak some English. They told him they
were pleased that I was going to remain with them. It was good, and I
was a _sargey morie tongar_, [1] which is "hardy American," and they
would give me the name of their fire steel (one they use with a flint,
to strike fire with, which they call _whadee shipper_). This was my
Indian name from that time. This was soon known by the Indians in the
village, for the next day all who met me called me by my new name.
I continued to pass through every stream we came to, and after awhile I
found myself almost free from sores. For this I felt truly thankful and
much encouraged.
One day two Indians came to the village who had been visiting their
sister, who was married in the Sioux nation. These men informed the
chief that a band of the Yankton Sioux were short of meat and robes and
had but little game on their land, and had been driving off buffalo
from the Poncas' lands, which was the cause of not finding buffalo
sooner than we did.
We took early starts in the morning, traveling sometimes until two or
three o'clock in the afternoon without food. All Indians that I saw on
this trip preferred traveling before breaking their fast, and after
awhile I concluded it was better than starting off after eating a
hearty meal.
This was the beginning of November; the nights were frosty but the days
were very pleasant. We were now in a bleak and cold country, with but
little grass or timber. By this time my legs were quite healed, for
which I gave thanks to the Lord.
Five weeks had passed since I left our camp to accompany the Indians,
and thus far I had enjoyed myself.
The Indians were very kind to me, and all were anxious that I should
learn their language. While traveling, the young men would walk with
me, show me the "cut off," or nearest way to a certain point we would
have to pass, and every day I would learn a new word or two.
I started with one pair of old shoes, which lasted me but two weeks,
when one of the chiefs presented me with a new pair of buckskin
moccasins. For this kind act I blessed him in the name of the Lord. I
found them very easy to my feet, and could walk much better with them
than with shoes. After a time, though, they began to show signs of
wear, and one day when walking with the son of a chief, he looked at my
feet and saw my toe sticking through my moccasin. He immediately said,
_pashee_ (which means "no good,") pulled off his own moccasins and
handed them to me, telling me to put them on, which I did, and he put
on mine. His were new, but he appeared quite pleased that he had them
to give to me.
Footnotes
1.--_Morie-tongar_, is the name they give to all Americans. _Morie_ is
knife, and _Tongar_ is large knife. The first Americans they ever saw
all had swords, which they called large knives; hence their name.