Among the Indians.

I now returned to the neighbourhood of the grand monarch, who continued to stand where I had last seen him. I now came into contact with a young gentleman of a very interesting type, named Mr. G. C. Crager, the Sioux interpreter of the Wild West. He has spent sixteen years among the Sioux Indians of the West, and was during the late troubles with the tribe the principal intermediary between them and the American Government. Subsequent acquaintance with Mr. Crager convinced one that in him the American Government have an exceedingly valuable public servant in dealing with the spirited Sioux tribe. When the Indian referred to saw Mr. Crager and I speaking he walked away. Mr. Crager called after him, and he instantly faced about and returned towards us with what, from an Indian point of view, must be supposed to be a pleasant expression. The interpreter now informed me that this Indian was Lone Bull, who, with Scatter and Revenge, was a leading brave with the chiefs Short Bull and Kicking Bear during the late rebellion of the tribe against the American Government. I am convinced Lone Bull does not care to be made an exhibition of, but he submitted quietly to an examination of his dress and general appearance. Around one of his   arms was a flat brass circle, with his name engraved thereon. Mr. Crager and he conversed in the Sioux language. Later on I proceeded, in company with other journalists, including Mr. Lascelles Carr, towards what must be described as the refreshment place of the Indians. It was a large marquee, and on my opening the canvas entrance a strange, not to say thrilling, scene met the view. The moment my face appeared in the opening all the Redskins who were engaged at their meal lifted up their faces and gazed earnestly at the intruder. I can only describe the scene before me as a truly horrible one. Each face was besmeared with paint of divers colours, and each countenance seemed diabolical in its expression. There was one face there which I shall never forget. It was besmeared with light brown paint, and it seemed, as if by way of novelty, to be spotted with black. The brave seemed conscious of the horrible impression his appearance had made upon me, and he glowered at me like a tiger preparing to spring at a foe. Casting a glance in the direction of all the others at the same table, not a smile lit up the countenance of a single one of them. Led by Major J. M. Burke, who was accompanied by Mr. Crager, we passed into the marquee. Sitting at his meal, facing several squaws at the opposite side of the same table, was a chief somewhat advanced in years. This was the renowned Short Bull, the late leader of the Sioux tribe. He was painted like the rest, and on Major Burke saying "This is the chief, Short Bull," the old warrior, who has often trod the war-path in earnest, nodded his head repeatedly, but did not cease eating. The squaws opposite were handling their knives and forks in such an awkward fashion as to convey the impression that they were longing for us to depart that they might use their fingers as Adam and Eve must have done in the Garden of Eden. I saw one of the squaws lifting a boiled cabbage on the point of her fork in such an awkward manner as to induce one to feel pity for her. I sat down by Short Bull's side, and remained there after the rest of the visitors had gone. "Now, chief," said I, "speak English?" He glanced askance at me for a second. He then patted the long black hair which concealed his right ear, and murmured something inarticulate, and proceeded with his dinner. The squaws opposite uttered a low sounding whine while I was making another attempt to draw out this remarkable Indian. This is the very chief who thrilled, not only the Indian nations, but the people of the whole of the United States little more than a year ago by preaching with great Sioux eloquence the advent of the Indian Messiah. According to Mr. Crager, the burden of his discourse to the Indians was that the Messiah came to the white men many hundreds of moons ago, and that, instead of according Him a becoming reception, they crucified Him! That he was now about to appear—he, the Wakan Nuka, or the great God—to redeem the red men! We must believe the chief Short Bull suffered from what must be supposed to be a religious mania. But what a new light the statement sheds on the cause of the late Sioux rising. They, the simple children of the forests of America had come to believe that their Redeemer was at hand, and they assembled in their thousands, to employ the words of Mrs. Hemans, [2] in their forest sanctuaries, to afford Him a fitting welcome!

One naturally felt extremely anxious to discover whence the Sioux Indians had obtained their notion of a Messiah Redeemer and that he was Divine. I questioned Mr. Crager on the point. He did not know, but believed it was a forest echo of the teachings of the Christian Churches of America, "or that some Mormon had been among them." Mr. Crager added that the Sioux legends associated with the promised advent of the Indian Messiah were beautiful beyond belief, and he seemed quite enthusiastic when referring to them. This very intelligent interpreter is preparing a work on Sioux legends, about fifty pages of which are devoted to the chief Short Bull and his craze about the Wakan Nuka. Short Bull declares he has seen the Messiah in the forests, and the entire Sioux people believe him.

By three o'clock in the afternoon the two immense sides and the space across the top of the vast square within which the various exhibitions were to take place were well filled. At three o'clock to the minute the entertainment was commenced by the orator standing on a stage in the centre of the vast square and proclaiming the nature of the performance about to take place, the idea of appointing an orator being, no doubt, borrowed from the Olympic Games. Although speaking in the open air, everyone present could hear every syllable he said. Here is an admirable suggestion for the National Eisteddfod: Place a similar orator in the middle of the vast pavillion, and let him there proclaim beforehand each event about to come off on the platform or "llwyfan." In obedience to a signal, a large body of horsemen entered from the lower side of the square, the display of colours in the garments being the first thing to attract attention. Their small horses came up at great speed. As the cavalcade drew nearer it was seen that the riders were Indians, with the chiefs at the head of each tribe. All wore their native costumes, and the chiefs wore a circle of eagle feathers around their faces, giving them a very owlish appearance. The horsemen ranged themselves in picturesque lines in front of the grand stand, with the chiefs a short distance in front. The cowboys came next and afterwards all the squaws, riding astride their horses. Then the Union Jack was carried forward, followed by the stars and stripes of the United States. Suddenly, Colonel W. F. Cody, riding a splendid bay charger, galloped to the forefront and saluted the company by lifting his sombrero. He was well received. During the whole time the Indians uttered sharp cries, as if in imitation of the voice of large birds, At a signal from Colonel Cody, the entire body of horsemen and squaws galloped at full speed along the centre of the green enclosure, and disappeared through the lower opening. That commenced the exceedingly novel and interesting entertainment already described.