|
|
|
THE INDIAN
DELEGATION FROM NEBRASKA |
|
January
27, 1866, pages 49-50 (Illustrated Article) |
|
|
|
We give
on our first page portraits of four of the Indian delegates from
Nebraska. The delegation, consisting altogether of eight Indians,
arrived in Washington on the evening of January 2, in company with
Major J. A. Burbank, United States Indian Commissioner for the Great
Nebraska Agency. There were five Indians of the Iowa tribe and three
of the Sac and Fox tribe. Three of our portraits are of Iowas,
namely: Lag-er-lash, or British, Too-hi, or Brier Rose, and Tar-a-kee,
or Deer-ham, the two first being half –civilized, while Deer-ham
represents the wild portion of the tribe. Pe-ti-o-ki-ma, or
Hard-fish, is a wild representative of the Sacs and Foxes.
Many of the delegation are
dressed in wild aboriginal costume. Some years ago one of them,
Moless, was sent to Kentucky, and received a very liberal English
education, which, however, he failed to improve upon his return to
his native wilds, and consequently he derived but little benefit
from it. George Gomez, the interpreter of the Sacs and Foxes, is a
fearfully ugly old fellow, who, report among his people says, has
had seventy-five or eighty wives. |
|
|
|
|
|
The tribes
represented by this delegation occupy fifty sections of land, are
surrounded by whites, and are quiet and peaceable. The Iowas are the
most thrifty; cultivate their lands, and carry on extensive dealings
in wood. One of the delegation, Mah-hoe, or The Knife, has an
extensive wood yard on the Missouri River, and Major Burbank thinks
that, next to the Cherokees, they are the most civilized of the
Indian tribes. They are also truly loyal to the Government of the
United States, and during the late war the Iowas sent over one-half
of their braves into the Union army. They served principally in the
Thirteenth and Fourteenth Kansas regiments, but many were scattered
among Missouri and other border regiments. |
|
|
|
|
|
The main object
of the present visit is to have a "talk" with regard to a
treaty made in 1861, and to have it renewed. When they sold their
lands to the Government, they understood the agreement to be that
they were to receive the purchase-money in hand. The United States
hold the principal, however, and the Indians are regularly paid the
interest. |
|
|
|
|
|
But of course
the enjoyment is partly the object of their visit, for an Indian
considers it one of the greatest events of his life to visit
Washington and see his "Great Father," and nothing gives
him more pleasure, or makes him think himself, or be esteemed by
others of his tribe, a great man, than when he can rehearse to a
listening audience what he has seen and heard on his travels. They
will also carry back with them new silver peace medals, a number of
which are now being struck at the Philadelphia Mint. The medals for
President Johnson are of full size. On the face is an excellent cast
of the President, with the words, "Andrew Johnson, President of
the United States." On the reverse is a pedestal bearing in a
wreath of laurel leaves the word "Peace." In front of the
pedestal two figures—an Indian and America—are clasping hands.
At the feet of the Indian lie the pipe of peace and the tomahawk,
and in the back-ground are a herd of buffaloes. In the back-ground,
near America, are represented a train of cars passing over a bridge,
and a binnacle wheel and an anchor lie at her feet. The medals are
beautifully designed, and are about two inches and a half in
diameter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
January 27,
1866, pages 49-50 (Illustrated Article) |
|
|
|
|
|
This
site is brought to you by…
Website and all Content © 1998-1999 HarpWeek, LLC
Please report problems to webmaster@harpweek.com |