'4
Teras, $l! per Annum. ' .- ;r '';CHARL(jnE ' N. 'v
THE
WIST 111 BMOCB&T
(QPublishcd every Tuesday,Q)
BY
AM J. YATES,
KDITOB AND PH0PR1KT0R.
O
ff t Ti T Tl VVTM t ..r.o
jT Transient advertisemettts must be paid for
-in Adyince. Obituary notices are charged advertis
ing ratea.
Advertiseraenta not marked on the manuscript
fra specific time, will be inserted until forbid, and
charged accordingly. .
THE INDIANS OP THE PLAINS.
Some Account of tlucir Present Strength and
Condition.
From the Missouri Democrat.
A few days ago we met with Col. Jesse II.
Leavenworth, of tbe 2d Colorado cavalry, aud
obtained from him eoiue reliable facts relative
to the Indian tribes of the plains, their present
strength and condition.
The prinical tiibes now at war with the Uni
ted States are the Sioux, tbe Choyennes. and a
portion of the Arrapahoes. Last year the Kio
was committed some depredations upon trains
crossing the plains, but Ool. Leavenworth went
to see them, and obtained from them a promise
not to molest the whites Until he should return
from Washington. The hostile tribes inhabit
the country bordering on the Platte River,
nortU of that stream, and the headwaters of the
emote mil. Jjasc year tney came aown as iar
south as the Santa Fe road, but their range is
further north.
The Friendly Indians.
The Caraanches, Arrapahoes, Apaches and
Kiowas are on friendly terms vith the whites,
and will remain so, if they are u6t molested. In
addition to (hese tribes, there are several small
bands, the remnants of once powerful tribes,
who live on the Osage lands, south of the Ar
kansas river. These are the Caydoes, number
ing about 300; the Waycoes, 174; Keicbis, 150;
Wichitas, -300; Towacoroes, 150; all half civi
lized,' and are from the neighborhood of Fort
ohu Texas. At the commencement of the re
bellion the rebels endeavorefd to induce these
bands to join them in making war upon the Un
ion, but they refused, and were so firm in their
loyalty that, rather than go towar against the
jrovernment, they abandoned their pleasant
homes, fields and houses, and came within the.
I'niou lines. They have suffered much, and
are very poor.
Having acquired civilized habits, they were
unable to provide for their wants in their new
homes, and were compelled to part with the
greater portion ef their cattle and horses, to
jirocure the necessaries lire. The Caydoes are
the moat advanced in civilization; they cultivate
the soil, raise, poultry, cattle, &c , and their wo
men dress pretty much as ours do, with the ex
ception of the uupleielliptical hoops and long
skirts. The Government has given the Caydoes
two annuities of $5,000 each, whieh proved of
Kreat benefit to them. They live in. thatched
lodges, in permanent towns. A. lodge usually
consists of a brave, his wives and children, the
number of persons to each lodge averaging
about five.
The YVichiras are the only people among these
bands who understand the art of tanning. This
band is a branch of the Catnanches, and came
originally from the Wichitas Mountains, in
Texas. They now reside near the mouth-of the
Little Arkansas, south of. the Arkansas "River,
('olonel Fotd is now on au expedition among
these Indians.
The Caftianches.
The largest of all the prairie tribes, is the
'Jauianche nation. It consists of nine bands, of
from. five to seven hundred warriors to a band.
Allowing three women and children to a lodge,
the total population my bey estimated at about
L'5,000 souls. Each band is a separate organi
zation, but tbe head chief directs the other
chiefs. The Camanches range over a country
about fifteen huodred miles in length by five or
eix hundred broad, extending from the Rocky
mountains to the Arkansas. Tbey are, perhaps,
the most skillful horsemen in the world, and are
always supplied with good animals, their stables
eing constantly replenished by captures from
the wild mustangs that range the plains of
Northern Texas in large numbers.
These chiefs have assured Colonel Leaven
worth that they were the firm friends of the
Whea one of Colonel Leavenworth's men killed
V-aeyennet and he was Eunounqed by a nost i
f angry Indians, threatening to'take his life, j
these chiefs stood by him like brothers, and, by
their influence, prevented the further effusion
Ut VIUUU.
Hit Chevennes and Arrojmhoes.'
Th'e Cheynnes number from seventeen to
eighteen hundred, souls, and the Arrapahoes
have about the same population. The two tribes
pcoupy a reservation near Fort Lyon, on toe
Arkansas. The head chief qf the Cbeyennesis
Black Kettle; Little Raven is the chief of the
Arrapahoes. They have always professed friend
ship for the whites, but have not always kept
their pledges. Roth tribes are much diminish
ed in numbers, aud are fast fading away from
the earth.
The Kioicas and Apaches. "
The Kiowas number about 180 lodges with
from 4 to 5 persons to a lodge. The head chief
is To-haw-sen (Little Mountain.)
The Apaches have forty lodges. Their head
chief is called Boor Be.ar. Iron Shirt is one of
their leading warriors. There are several tribes
of Indians called Apaches, some of them inhab
iting Arizona, Southern New Mexico and Chi
huahua, but the band we speak of has no con
nection with the others. Tbe Apaches of the
plains are good Indiansfriendly with the whites,
and averse to going to war with them. The
hunting grounds, once prolific in buffalo, and
other game, are becoming depleted, and they of
ten suffer for. want of food.
. - The "Dog Soldiers."
Among the Cheyennes and Arrapahoes is an
independent band, called "Dor Soldiers," com
prising eighty lodges. They are under the con
trol of their own chiefs, and are nearly always
on the war path. Tbey have always refused to
treat with the whites, and plunder trains when
ever they get an opportunity.
A GAME DINNEB.- : y
Shortly after the war with Great Britain, an
aristocratic English gentleman built a residence
i the vicinity of , Fort George, on the Viagra
H""ier anq, in accordance witn- the old coun
try idea pf exclusiveness, he enclosed bis ground
with a highlight fence. Here halved like an
old English gentleman,' (one of the olden time,)
with the exception that none but the elite of the
province and the officers of the garrison T were
permuted to pass in bis gate. There wssavery
good urideKtanding between the American offi
cers at Fort Niagara and the British at Fort
(ieorge, and the men were permitted occasion
ally to visit back and forth. Among tbe Amer
ican soldiers was a queer chap wha stuttered
terribly, and was very fond of hunting, and "who
was always getting into 'every sort of mischief.;
One. day this chap took tbe small boat that
lay moored at the foot of the walla of th fort,
and crossed over to. the Canadian shore for A
hunt, lie wandered over several niite in thi
rear of Fort George, without meeting any garni
and on his Teturn, seeing a crow on a tree in the
enclosure of the aristocratic Englishman, he
sedied the high ien'ee, fired and bi ought aown
! - ' ANMUSING STOBu ,
$ Hooper, the editor, of an .Alabam joornal,.
flose nam we-just now forget, bat -which has
lays something: in it'to make us laughs tdl
pi the followtog yarn : . . u f?
f "Shall I tell -yon a jbit of a story, haviDg ' no.
fctobection with politics1,' tfes not, dry weather ?
Jjy permission--' '-'r - "'
f Old Col. D-7 -,'of the Mobile1 disirict,
;as one of the most singular ' c.aractera eYet
loown in Alabama.' He was "testy and eccen-J
trie; but possessed many fine uaruie's, ' which
were fully: appreciated by .the people of tfie is.
tries. Many of his Treuks are yet fresh in thf
memory of the 'old uns' of Mobile and all will
tell you that the Colonel, though" bard "to beat,'
was once terribly-taken in 'by a couple'of legal,
tyros It is George Woodward, I belie re, tells .'
tne story; but however that may be, ittsinr
keeping with others related, of the ol4 4 gentle-.
man. ; ' ' ' .
Vlt seeits that Col. D had a mfsunder-
standirrg with1 the two gentlemen alluded, toi
THE LOVER'S LAMENT.
BY PETER SNIPKINS.
As thin as a hatched I've grown,
And poor as Job's turkey, by golly ;
I stand, like a scare crow alone,
And victim of Love's Lemoncolly!
1 feel most confoundedly blue,
Life's rose are turned into a thistle;
My sweetheart ar,e turned out nntrue,
And kicked me as slick as a vhistle!" v "'
Of village girls she was the bell,
As plump as a partridge she grows;
Her lips, for two cherries would sell;
Andher checks ate as ted as a rose.
I courted her day after day,
And expected a weddin td foller; ,
But alas ! for my love and away,
llcr heart, like a pumpking was holler !
I hates it so awful indeed;
I've lost ail my appetite;
1 &careely eats one bit 'o feed,
And never sleep one wink at night.
It bores me so awfully scarce,
And my gizzard's so brim full of sorrow,
If only the power I had,
I'd be off for Kamskatky to-morrow.
But the tin are so awfully scarce,
That I'm saved from becoming a ninny;
And so lor a lightness Of purse,
I must die here in good old Virginny.
And when in the gravel shall be,
And folks ax about me above,
If they ax what it was made me die,
TbtrB, my gizzard was cracked with pure love.
Proverbs by Joshua Billings, Es
Don't swop with your relashuns unlessyu kin
afford to give them the big end of the trade.
Marry young, and if circumstances require it,
often. If you can't get good c loathes and cdi
cation too, git the cloathes. Say how are you
to everybody. Kultivate modesty, but mind
and keep a good stock of impudence '. on hand.
Bee charitable three-cent pieces were made on
purpose. It costs more to borry money than it
does to buy. Ef a man flatters yu, yu can kal
kerlate he is a rogue, or yu are a fule. Keep4
both ize open, but dou't see morn harlf yu not is.
If yu ich for fame, go into tbe grave-yard and
scratcn yourseit agin a tumstone. xoung man,
be more
leave
iog to leave yu. Sin is like weeds- self-sone
and sure to cum. Two lovers, like two armies,
generally git along quietly until tbey are engag
ed. '
his game.
Colonel, or whatever his title might have
been we will call Mm Colonel any how wit
nessed the transaction, and advanced while our
soldier was reloading. He . was very angry, bu2
seeing the Yankee standing coolly with a loaded
gun in his hand, be gulped -down bis passidn
for a moment, aqd merely asked him if he kill
ed the crow..
The sold ier replied that he did.
'I am sorry,'' said the Colonel, "for he was a
pet.' By the by, that is a very pretty gun. Will
you be so kind -as to let me look at it?"
The soldier complied wuh the request. The
Englishman took the gun, stepped back a few
paces took deliberate aim, and then broke forth
in a tirade of abuse, concluding with an order
to stoop down aud take a bite of the crow, or he
would blow his brains out. The soldier tx
plained, apologized, and entreated. It was of
douse. The Colonel kept his finger ois the
trigger, and he sternly repeated his comoiaid.
-Th'ere was shoot in the Englishman's eyi
there was no help, for it and the stuttering sol-
f dier stooped a&d - took a -irita nf jhe crow,, but
swallow it he could nft. Upcame his bmk
fast -his dinner the 'day before, arid it retlly
appeared as if he would throw up his toe mils.
The Englishman gloated on the misery of his
victim, and smiled complacently at every addi
tional heave. 1
When he had got through vomiting ahdwip-'
ed his eyes, the (jolodel handed him tbe gun,
with the remark: . ,
"Now, you rascal, that will teach you fow to
poach on a gentleman's enclosure." j
The Yankee soldier took Lis gun, anl the
Colonel might have seen the devil in his eye if
he had looked close. Stepping back, hi took
deliberate aim at the heart of his host, aad or
dered him iostintly to finish the crow. Angry
expostulations, prayers and entreaties were use
less things. There was shoot then in the Amer
ican's eye, as there had been in the Inglish
man's eye before. .
There was no help at hand, and hi took a
bite of the crow. One bite was enougb to send
all the good dinners he had -lately eatea on the.
same journey with the garrison fare of the sol
dier; and while the Englishman was in agony of
sickness Jonathan escaped to the lmtncan
shore. . .
The next morning early the comtmndant at
Fort Niagara was sitting in his quttfers, when
Col. was announced.
"Sir," said Col. , "I come to cemand the
punishment of one of your men, who yesterday
entered my premises and committed i great out
rage r
"We have" three hundred med liere, and it
would be difficult for me to know bo it is you
mean' said the American officer.
The Englishman described hint as a Jon
dangling, stuttering, stoop shouldeired devil
Of
The wealthiest revenue district in the United
States, according to the Commissioner's report,
is the first District of Illinois, including Chicago.
"All ! I know who you mean," said the officer;
"he is always getting into mischief. Orderly,
call Tom' . . ;
In a few moments Tom entered and steod at
re at.xius about theedigre yur-going to win MBrraigm as nis natural DUUd wouw
than yu are atxrut the wun somebody's geJ fUw whllf not a trace of ctkn was visiblq
"Tom," said his officer, "do feu know this
gentleman?"
"Ye-ye-ye-ycs, sir." ,
"Where did you ever see him before?"
"I-I-I," said Tom, stuttering awfully, trot re
gaining the grave expression natural te his face,
"I di-di-di-dined with bim yesterday."
We belieye Tom wa. not punished. ' '
ana was not on speaking terms with them, 'al
though all three of them were : professionally
riding the circuit pretty much together;' "'The
young oues being well aware of the. Colonel's
erascible nature, determined, as they left one of
the courts for another, to have some sport at. his
expense by the :way. They accordingly got
about half an hour's . start in leaving, and pre
sently tbey arrived at a broad, dark stream, that
looked as if itj might be a dozen feet' deep,' but
which in reality was hardly more than, as many
inches. Crossing it, they alighted, and'pulling
off their coats and boots, sat quietly down to
fritch for the old Tartar. . 4
"Jogging along, at length came up the old
fellow. He looked first at the youngsters-, wh
were gravely drawing on their boots; and coats
as if they had just had a swim, and then he
looked t the broad creek that rolled before him!,
like a -fluent, translucent star. The Colonel was
awfully puzzled. ., ' ' JPJv . v
"Is this creek swimming?' be growled ifter
a pause of some moments. , .. ;i
"No reply was made the young men simply
mounted their horses, and code off some little
distance, and stopped to Watch our hero." ,
"The Colonel slowly divested himself of hoots,
coat, pantaloons and drawers. These he neatly
tied tip in his hVhkerghiet', and hupgthem ou.
the horn of the saddle then he remounted, and
as he was a short, fat man, with, a paunch. of in-,
ordinate size, rather inadequate legs, a face,
like a withered appl and a brown wig, there is
no doubt he made an interesting picture ' as he
bestrode his siued, with the breeze holding gen-
tie dalliance wun tne extremity ox nis only gar
1 ujent. '..-.'...'':, . (
"SJowly and cautiously the ' old gentleman ,
took the creek. Half a length, and the i water .
was not fetlock deep.4 Here the horse stopped
to drink. A length and a half, and the stream. .
was no deeper. Thirty feet farther, ami ; a de
cided shoaling. ' ' ' , ' , , i
"Here Col. D reigned up. "There must,
said he bc a h 11 of a s wift, deep channel be
tween this and the bank. See how it runs I ,;
We'll dash through, here.' '
A sharp lash made the horse spring this wat
ery waste, and another carried the horse and ri
der safely to the opposite hank. :The creek was
no where more than a' foot deep. , , : ,
A wild yell from the ybung 'uns announced
their approbation of the sport as they galloped
away.
"I'll catch you, you rascals," was then ground
between Col. .Da teeth; an.d away he gal
loped ia hot pursuit, muttering, vengeance on
his foes. . i ' j
On, on tbey sped, pursuer and pursued. The
youngsters laughed, the ColoDel, swore with
mighty emphasis, while his shirt flattered and
cracked in the wind, like a loose flying jib.
' On, pn, and the pursued reached: the farm .
house on the roadside. Thet passing startled
a flock pf geese from a fence corner, whieh, as ,
the Colonel dashed up, met htm with outspread
wings, elongated necks, -and hissea dire. His
horse swerved suddenly, aud the Colonel, ; in a
moment, was on. the ground, in a most romantic
"heap," with his brown wig lying by his - aide, t
and the bundle of clothes scattered all around.
The white-headed children of the house came
out first, took a distant view of Che monster,
it teemed to them, and hen returned to report
progress. After a little whiles the father of the
family came, and the affair explained, assisted
the Colonel in making' his toilet: ' Colonel -
swearing, and the countryman laughing 11 the
while. - vJf ' -
Dressed and "moun ted, our hero started off
with a woeful phiz, ao was , very , soon T out cf (
sight,"-. ' "