_Journey to the Republican Village, and Reception._
In about half an hour, our whole troop were safely landed on the bank of
the Platte, opposite the town of the Grand Pawnees. In the faint distance
we could perceive the inhabitants, still standing upon the tops of the
lodges, and watching our movements. A few who had lingered in our train,
and crossed the river with us, now prepared to return. After sunning
themselves for a short time on the dry grass, to take off the chill they
had received in swimming across the cold current, they again plunged into
the river. Their dark heads and bodies, were seen scattered over its
whole breadth; until shut out from our view by one of the hills of the
prairie.
The distance between the Grand Pawnee, and the Pawnee Republican Village,
is about twenty miles. The last is situated upon what is called the
Loup Fork of the Platte river, and is about the same in size, as that
of the Grand Pawnees. The different portions of the tribe who live upon
this river, were formerly united. In the course of time, however, as
their numbers increased, the difficulty of obtaining timber for fuel and
building, also increased, until at last they divided into four distinct
bands, each under a separate chief. The first seated itself upon the
Republican Fork of the Platte, and is known by the name of the Grand
Pawnee tribe. The other three located themselves upon the Loup Fork of
the same river, and are distinguished by the names of the Republican
Pawnees, the Tappaye Pawnees, and the Pawnee Loups. They are altogether
distinct from the Pawnee Picks, and speak not the same tongue. During
our stay among the Grand Pawnees, we found a Pawnee Pick residing among
them, but his language was unintelligible to the whole nation, with the
exception of one Indian, who had resided among his people.
Our journey now lay across the prairie. An advance guard of about twenty
Pawnees took the lead, conducting a number of loaded mules. Sometimes
they were only ten or fifteen rods ahead, and then would push forward
until we nearly lost sight of them. Behind us straggled our little band
of Otoes; all on foot, except the wife of the Iotan chief. She had
contrived by her winning arts, to soften the flinty nature of the old
iron-sided soldier who drove one of the wagons, so as to get a seat upon
a pile of bear-skins, composing our bedding. Here she exerted herself,
to maintain her hold in the good will of the veteran Jehu, by narrating
to him by gestures, an account of her passage over the Platte.
The soldier listened to her patiently, and occasionally condescended to
smile, when by her gesticulation, the story appeared to warrant it the
most. At length one of his comrades rode up and asked:
“What are you and the wife of Iotan laughing at, Mack?”
“Curse me if I know,” retorted the other. “The squaw keeps up such a
_bloody_ cackling, I suppose there must be some joke, and so I laughed.”
After travelling a few hours over the prairie, we passed a single tree.
It stood like a solitary sentinel, to guard the waters of a small
spring, which gushed out at its foot; the source of the only brook,
which had crossed our path, during the whole route. The tree was an aged
one; short, and sturdy. If aught might be judged from its gnarled and
fantastically twisted limbs, it had maintained its station for centuries,
contending against the fierce storms and tornados, which had swept the
prairie. We felt a kind of companionship with this “veteran of the
storms;” and as if by common consent, the party, both Indians and whites,
came to a halt, to rest under its branches, and drink of the water which
gurgled along at its roots.
In a quarter of an hour we again pushed forward. After an hour more of
laborious travel, through long waving grass, we descried large droves
of horses, with uplifted heads and erect manes, gazing at us from the
different eminences. We perceived also the flying forms of mounted
Indians, in the distance, and groups of others clad in flowing robes, and
standing like statues upon the heights. This showed us that the town was
not distant, and that its warriors were on the watch for our coming.
Intervening hills, however, still shut it out from our sight. As we
proceeded, the groups disappeared one after another, and as we mounted
the eminences where they had stood, we could perceive them, dashing
forward, until they sank behind the brow of a high ridge, which still hid
the town.
In half an hour, we ascended this ridge, and halted upon its top. A large
plain, of about two miles in extent, lay at its foot. It was bounded by
the waters of the Loup Fork, glittering through the verdant foliage which
fringed its borders. On the opposite side of the river, was a high bluff,
on which was situated the dingy lodges of the Republican village.
The plain in front of us, was alive with Indians. We had come upon them
before they were prepared for our reception. Large troops were scouring
the plain, apparently without an object. Single Indians were galloping
in different directions; some up the banks of the river, and others
towards the village. The tall form of the chief, mounted on his white
horse, was seen dashing to and fro among the bands, giving his orders,
and assigning to all their several stations. In a few moments, a torrent
of warriors poured down the steep bank, which led from the village. They
plunged into the river, forced a foaming path through its water, broke
their way through the thicket on its brink, and bounded over the plain,
to the spot where the chief awaited their coming. A second confusion
now seemed to take place, and all the different squads of horsemen
congregated together, as if awaiting directions. This continued for a
short time. The chief then detached himself from the crowd and galloped
a few yards in front, and calling out a single warrior sent him towards
us. The whole scene at our feet, was like the distant perspective of a
panorama. The approaching warrior seemed at first to crawl along at a
snail’s pace. But when he drew nearer, we could hear the heavy tramp of
his horse’s hoofs, and see that his speed was furious.
He plied the lash, and kept at full stretch, until within a few paces
of us. Then by a powerful effort, the horse was drawn almost erect in
the air, and stopped in his mad career, as suddenly as if converted into
stone. His rider sprang from him, and advanced to the Interpreter. He
bore a request from the chief, that the party would descend into the
plain, where his warriors could receive them in better style.
The request was obeyed, and in about twenty minutes, upon receiving a
second message from the chief, we drew up to await the coming of his
warriors.
The leader, who still maintained his stand in front of the mass, then
waved his arm. At this motion the band separated. A large body remained
stationary, while an equal number galloped several hundred yards, to the
right and left of the main division, and halted with their horses heading
towards the party.
For a short time the chief stood watching the actions of both. It was not
until he saw that every man was at his post, and every form as unmoved
as stone, that he gave the signal. Then raising his arm, he wheeled his
horse round, and sent up a long quavering whoop. Before it died away, a
thousand throats had echoed back its ringing tones, and a thousand voices
lent their aid in raising a cry, which almost shook the prairie. Although
accustomed to its sound, and although we knew, that there was not a hand
in that band, but would be extended towards us in friendship, yet its
wild fierceness fairly caused us to shiver. At the same time the impulse
was given to the horses. At first their movements were regular, but
before a hundred yards had been passed, each man sent up his shrillest
cry, urged his steed forward to the utmost stretch of his speed, and the
whole band came dashing forward in wild confusion. At the distance of
about a hundred yards in front of us, the three divisions met, but for a
moment; then separating, the torrent whirled in a circle round us at the
same mad gait. Through the whole mass, we could perceive the powerful
form of the chief. He was urging his steed round in the innermost circle;
and above the loud din of whoops and yells, we could hear the tones of
his trumpet voice, cheering his warriors onward in their wild course.
After this had continued for a short time, he made another signal,
and one after another the whole band checked their horses, and became
motionless. Then dismounting, a great number of them loosed the tugs
from their beasts, and cast them loose to career at will over the
prairie. The chiefs, however, and the principal men of the nation, still
remained on horseback to escort the party into the village.
When the band had seated themselves around, the same ceremony of
presenting horses was repeated, which had taken place at the arrival of
the party at the village of the Grand Pawnees.
About the same number were given as on the preceding occasion. As before,
the old men who had nothing to offer, made up for it in speeches,
exhorting others to munificence. They possessed in a high degree that
generosity which is indulged at the expense of one’s neighbours, and
gains great applause from the world.
When this ceremony was finished, the circle opened, and our troop again
mounting, prepared for their journey to the village.