Читать книгу Adventures of the Ojibbeway and Ioway Indians in England, France, and Belgium (Vol. 1&2) - George Catlin - Страница 32

No. 1.—Group of Warriors and Braves, in Full Dress, reclining around a fire, regaling themselves with the pipe and a dish of pemican. In the midst of their banquet the chief enters in full dress; the pipe is lighted for him—he smokes it in sadness, and breaks up the party by announcing that an enemy is at hand—that a number of their men have been scalped whilst hunting the buffalo, and they must prepare for war.

No. 2.—Warriors Enlisting, by “smoking through the reddened stem.” The chief sends “runners” (or criers) through the tribe with a pipe, the stem of which is painted red; the crier solicits for recruits, and every young man who consents to smoke through the reddened stem which is extended to him, is considered a volunteer to go to war.

No. 3.—War Dance. The ceremony of “swearing in” the warriors, who take the most solemn oath by dancing to, and striking the “reddened post” with their war-clubs.

No. 4.—Foot War-Party on the March, (“Indian file,”) armed with shields, bows, quivers, and lances—the chief of the party, as is generally the case, going to war in full dress.

No. 5.—War-Party encamped at Night, asleep under their buffalo robes, with sentinels on the watch. The alarm in camp is given, and the warriors roused to arms.

No. 6.—War-Party in Council, consulting with their chief as to the best and most effective way of attacking their enemies, who are close at hand.

No. 7.—Skulking, or advancing cautiously upon the enemy to take them by surprise—a common mode and merit in war among the North American Indians.

No. 8.—Battle and Scalping; showing the frightful appearance of Indian warfare, and the mode of taking the scalp.

No. 9.—Scalp Dance, in celebration of a victory; the women, in the centre of the group, holding up the scalps on little sticks, and the warriors dancing around them, brandishing their weapons, and yelling in the most frightful manner.

No. 10.—Treaty of Peace. The chiefs and warriors of the two hostile tribes in the act of solemnizing the treaty of peace, by smoking mutually through the calumet, or pipe of peace, which is ornamented with eagles’ quills; the calumet resting in front of the group.

No. 11.—Pipe-of-Peace Dance, by the warriors, with the pipes of peace, or calumets, in their hands, after the treaty has been concluded. This picturesque scene will be represented by the warriors all joining in the dance, uniting their voices with the beat of the Indian drum, and sounding the frightful war-whoop.