USA > North Dakota > Early history of North Dakota: essential outlines of American history > Part 11
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THE MANDANS
The Mandans are first mentioned in history by Sieur de la Verendrye, who visited them in 1738. In 1750 they were living in nine villages, near the mouth of the Heart River. Two of these on the east side of the river, almost extermi- nated by disease and by war with the Sioux, consolidated, and moved up to near the mouth of Knife River, where they were later joned by the other villages. Here they were found by Lewis and Clark. They were then estimated at 1,250, and in 1837 their number was placed at 1,600. In that year they were stricken with smallpox, but thirty lodges, or about one hundred and twenty-five people. only remaining, and forsaking their villages after the scourge, they finally settled down at Fort Berthold in 1845. Their number in 1905 was 249.
A VISIT TO THE MANDAN VILLAGES
July 7, 1806. Alexander Henry left Pembina for the Mandan villages, accom- panied by Joseph Ducharme and Toussaint Vaudry, interpreter. The roads were heavy from recent rains and the horses often sunk to above their knees in mud
FORT CLARK, ON THE MISSOURI, FEBRUARY, 1834
From a painting by Charles Bodmer from "Travels to the Interior of North America in 1832-3-4," by Maximilian, Prince of Wied, 1843.
FORT UNION, ON THE MISSOURI
From a painting by Charles Bodmer from "Travels to the Interior of North America in 1832-3-4," by Maximilian, Prince of Wied, 1843.
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and water. At night the mosquitoes were intolerable, the horses breaking away from their fetters on several occasions. July 1Ith they reached old Fort de Tremble, on the Assiniboine River, where in 1781 the Crees and Assiniboines and other Indians of that region undertook to inaugurate a massacre of the whites then in the Indian country. Three men were killed at the fort. The Indian loss was fifteen killed, and fifteen more died of wounds. The fort was then abandoned. July 1Ith Henry reached a North-West trading post on the Mouse River (at Brandon). The Hudson's Bay and X. Y. companies also had trading posts there at that time. F. A. Larocque was in charge of the North- West Company post. Charles Chaboillez, Jr., Allen McDonald and Hugh McCracken were also there, and they accompanied Mr. Henry to the Mandan villages.
After crossing the Mouse River they kept a lookout for the Sioux. Mr. Henry writes: "We must be on our guard against the Sioux, the natural ene- mies of all tribes in these parts. They perpetually wander about in search of straggling Mandans or Gros Ventres (Hidatsas) and sometimes cross the River la Souris in hope of falling in with Assiniboines and Crees, who frequently hunt along this river."
July 19th they reached the Mandan villages. The women were hoeing corn some distance from their village with well armed Indians on the lookout for fear of the Sioux.
Mr. Henry speaks of the large quantity of corn, beans, squashes, tobacco and sunflowers raised by these Indians, and of their manner of caching (secreting) their produce where it would not be likely to be disturbed by their enemies in case of an attack.
Mr. Henry's party met Jean Baptiste Lafrance with a small stock of goods, which he brought from the Brandon House for the purpose of trade at the Mandan villages. As soon as Black Cat, their Indian host, learned who Mr. Henry was, he produced the flag given him by Lewis and Clark, October 29, 1804, and kept that flying as long as they remained.
Mr. Henry relates that he saw the remains of an excellent large corn mill which Lewis and Clark had given the Indians. They had broken it and used the iron to barb their arrows; the largest piece, which they could not work into any weapon, was used to break marrow bones of the animals killed in hunting.
Henry's party crossed the Missouri in boats, made of willows and buffalo skins, called bull-boats.
Six Arikaras came into the village while Mr. Henry was there to treat for peace. Some of their people had accompanied a Sioux war party the fall before and killed five Mandans. The Mandans had made a return visit, killing two Arikaras and had sent them word that they intended to exterminate the whole tribe. These emissaries had accordingly come up to make peace. The Hidatsa were called into council, about thirty arriving on horse back at full speed. The Arikaras were directed to return at once to their village and tell their chief, Red Tail, that if he really desired peace he must come in person and then they would settle matters; and if he did not come they would find him as soon as their corn was gathered, and show him what the Hidatsa and Mandans could do when exasperated by Arikara treachery.
About 100 Mandans came in with their horses loaded with meat from a Vol. 1-6
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day's hunt for buffalo. It was the custom of the Mandans to hunt in large bodies and to completely surround one herd and kill all of the animals so as not to alarm the other herds.
When the hunting party returned they would divide with the neighbors, where there was no one to hunt for them, before resting themselves, and some- times all was given away and others in turn divided with the generous givers.
THE MANDAN CIRCULAR HUTS
The circular hut where Henry lodged, measured ninety feet from the front door to the opposite side. The whole space was first dug out to a depth of about 11/2 feet below the surface. In the center was a fire place, about five feet square, dug out about two feet below the surface. The lower part of the hut was con- structed by erecting strong posts about six feet out of the ground, set at equal distances from each other. Upon these were laid logs as large as the posts to form the circle. On the outside were placed pieces of split wood, seven feet long, in a slanting position, one end resting on the ground and the other leaning against the cross logs. Upon these beams rested rafters the thickness of a man's leg, twelve to fifteen feet long, slanting enough to shed water, and laid so close that they touched each other. Four large posts in the center of the lodge supported four square beams on which the upper end of the rafters were laid. At the top there was an opening about four feet square which served for chimney and win- dow. There was no other opening to admit light, and when it rained even this opening was closed. The whole roof was well thatched with willows, laid on to a thickness of six inches or more, fastened together in a very compact manner and well secured to the rafters. Over the whole was spread about a foot of earth. Around the wall to the height of three feet or more, earth was laid to the thickness of about three feet, for security in case of attack and for warmth in winter.
The door was 5 feet broad and 6 high, made of raw buffalo hides, stretched on a frame and suspended from one of the beams which formed the circle. Every night the door was barricaded with a long piece of timber supported by two stout posts on the inside of the hut, one on each side of the door. A covered porch, 7 feet wide and 10 feet long, extended from the door.
At the left of the entrance was a triangular apartment, fronting the fire, con- structed of square timbers, twelve feet high, calked tight to keep out the draft from the door. On the right of the door was an open space to hold fire-wood in winter. Between the partitions and the fire was about five feet, occupied by the master of the hut during the day, seated on a mat of willows, 10 feet long and 4 feet broad, raised from the floor and covered with skins, forming a sofa or couch. Here he sat all day and sometimes through the night, smoking and talking with friends. At the left of this apartment were the beds, at the other end of the hut was the "medicine" stage, containing everything the Indian valued most. Here or on the wall near, he kept his arms and ammunition. Next to this was the mortar and pestle for grinding grain. The remainder of the space was vacant. This was a typical Mandan hut, seldom occupied by more than one family.
July 2Ist in visiting the upper village they passed extensive fields of corn, beans, squashes and sunflowers ; the women and children were employed in hoeing
DOG SLEDGES OF THE MANDAN INDIANS
From a painting by Charles Bodmer from "Travels to the Interior of North America in 1832-3-4," by Maximilian, Prince of Wied, 1843.
INTERIOR OF THE HUT OF A MANDAN CHIEF
From a painting by Charles Bodmer from "Travels to the Interior of North America in 1832-3-4," by Maximilian, Prince of Wied, 1843.
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and clearing their plantations. On the road there were natives passing and re- passing, afoot or on horseback, the whole view presenting the appearance of a country inhabited by civilized people. At the fourth village the inhabitants fol- lowed them in crowds and made fun of them. Here they found Charles McKen- zie, whom Lewis and Clark met at the Mandan villages, and James Caldwell, who had a temporary trading post there in the interest of the North-West Company. Le Borgne was the chief of this village. He was absent at the Chey- enne villages in connection with a proposed treaty of peace, and Henry and party accompanied the representatives of the Mandan village tribes to the place of meet- ing-a point west of Sugar Loaf Butte, southwest of Bismarck, on the west side of the Missouri. The meeting would have resulted in war had not the women and children accompanied the warriors from the Mandan villages. As a peace treaty it was a failure.
In preparing for the trip to the treaty grounds, which was to be somewhat in the nature of a fair, where every one showed his best products and his best clothes, Henry states he was surprised to see what a store of treasures the people of the Mandan villages had on hand ; he was confident they had provisions enough cached to last them at least twelve months.
One of the pastimes of the Mandans was running long foot races in order to be prepared to take care of themselves if dismounted in battle. The race was at least six miles. They made it entirely naked, and, on their return, covered with perspiration and dust, they would plunge into the Missouri. They also indulged in horse racing, during which they would carry on their warlike maneuvers on horseback, feigning their different attacks upon the enemy, giving their strokes of the battle axe and thrusts of the spear.
Mr. Henry speaks of the custom of the Indians to bathe in the river morning and evening, without regard to sex, their neighbors or visiting strangers, and other customs no longer practiced among the tribes since the advent of religious instruction.
AN OLD BATTLEFIELD
Henry visited the battle ground where about 1790, some 600 lodges of the Sioux attacked and attempted to subdue the Hidatsas. They had made peace with the Souliers and Mandans and, therefore, pitched their tents between the Hidatsas and Knife River, thinking they would be able to cut off their water sup- ply. Here they remained fifteen days, keeping guard, but the Hidatsas, mounting their best horses, would reach the Missouri in spite of the Sioux (though several were killed), and thus secured an abundance of water. The Sioux compelled the Mandans to supply them with food, during the siege which was raised after several skirmishes, leaving 300 dead on the field of battle.
Another account states that the Yanktons and Tetons were fiercely engaged with the Hidatsa and the battle was first going in favor of one and then the other, when reinforcements of Hidatsa arrived, accompanied by a large party of Crows. Observing with what fury the battle was raging at the front, they determined to surround the enemy by turning to the left, without being seen, as the country permitted this movement and they rode up a deep valley so far away as not to be in sight of the enemy. Keeping on the south side of these rising
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grounds, they went full speed into the valley which led down to the rear of the enemy. There they fell in with a great number of women who had accompanied their husbands in full expectation of destroying and plundering the Mandan vil- lages. Many of these were killed and others taken prisoners. The party then appeared on rising ground in the rear of the Sioux and attacked with fury, dealing death and destruction on every hand. The Sioux, overpowered by numbers and exhausted by fatigue, were obliged to give way, but their retreat was cut off and they were so hard pressed that they were obliged to throw themselves into the Missouri and attempt to swim across. Many were killed in the river and but few survived to return to their country. The villages were surrounded by a stockade, mainly built of driftwood, at the time of Henry's visit.
July 28th, Henry left the Mandan villages, accompanied by Mr. Charles Mc- Kenzie and James Caldwell. The party consisted of ten men with twenty-five horses. July 30th, they found the plains in many places covered with water. August 3d, they passed the Dog Den, and the next day eight of their horses broke their tethers, being frightened by a herd of buffalo. The buffalo were so numerous that they had to build a barricade around the camp to prevent being run over. It was with the greatest difficulty that they were able to cross the Mouse River, the banks where they reached it being low and miry and the river overflowed. At the head of the Turtle Mountains they found several recent camps of the Assini- boines. The Mouse River region was said to be infested with horse thieves at this time, and that probably accounts for the fact that the lost horses, although hobbled, were not recovered.
The trip was for the purpose of purchasing horses and was a failure, and resulted in the North-West Company withdrawing from the Mandan trade.
THE ARIKARAS
In 1770, French traders established relations with the Arikaras (sometimes mentioned as Rees, Ricarees or Aricarees) then occupying their villages below the Cheyenne River, in what is now South Dakota. There were then ten powerful villages, but they were reduced by war and disease to three, when found by Lewis and Clark. Their number was then estimated at 600 warriors, or about 2,100 people. In 1888 they were reduced to 500, and the census of 1905 placed their number at 380.
THE HIDATSA
The Hidatsa or Gros Ventres, of the Missouri, or Minetarees, as they were called by Lewis and Clark, were first known to the whites when living in the vicinity of Knife River, in North Dakota. They occupied three villages near the Knife River, and when visited by Lewis and Clark, numbered 600 warriors, or about 2,100 people. They learned agriculture of the Mandans, and when the trading post was established at old Fort Berthold, they moved up to that point. Reduced by war and disease, the population in 1905 was only 471.
Since the removal of these allied tribes to Fort Berthold, they have been known as the Berthold Indians.
The census of 1910 shows a slight increase in the number of these Indians
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among whom are many noble specimens of humanity, who have the commendable pride in their ancestry common to all humanity.
IDEAL INDIAN HOMES
When first visited by the whites, these Indians were living in ideal Indian homes. Their circular earth-covered huts were comfortable in summer and shel- tered the old and infirm in winter. Of food and the means of clothing there was an abundance. They were strong and fleet, and as the sun "arose from his bed in the dark"-to adopt an Indian figure of speech-it gave warmth and gladness, and when it "dropped below the light," they slept, with none excepting the Sioux to make them afraid. Their women laughed in their hearts, and the light sparkled in the eyes of their children, like the sunshine dancing on the waterfall. The Great Spirit made their hearts good, and there was no one to tell them lies, until the white man went among them, carrying the blighting curse which has always followed, and always will follow the introduction of intoxicating liquor as a beverage among an ignorant people.
The Mandans, Arikaras and Gros Ventres having spent the summer raising their crops of corn and vegetables, prepared secure places for caching their sur- plus, lest marauding Sioux might capture the camp during their absence. Only the old and infirm, and the young and helpless, were left at the summer home, the active force retiring to the Bad Lands for the winter.
This winter exodus usually occurred in October. The Indians having credit with the traders were trusted for the supplies of ammunition or other things nec- essary for their winter equipment, while some deposited their war bonnets of eagle feathers, or other valuables, as a pledge that they would pay when they returned from the chase. Many left valuables consisting of drums, rattles, lances, not required in the winter camp, in charge of the trader within his fort, feeling that they would be safe in case the ever-feared Sioux should make an attack upon their village during their absence.
During the winter absence the summer camp was in terror lest the Sioux attack them, and great anxiety prevailed in the winter camp, lest their loved and helpless be attacked while defenseless.
The independent traders usually made it a point to accompany the Indians to their winter camps, and gather the fruits of trade in the field, leaving the established traders to glean whatever might be left.
During the hours of preparation, the women would patiently await their turn to sharpen knives and axes on the grindstones furnished by the trader for that purpose, while the young men dressed in their finest trappings, and painted in the height of Indian fashion, would ride their gaily caparisoned horses pell-mell about the camp, or engage in horse racing or games. The old men organized, and the "Soldiers" took charge, and then the duly appointed haranguer announced the orders governing every step in the preparation for the move, commencing with "Pull down your tepees and get ready to move!" Their lodges were quickly pulled down by the women and the poles either tied in bundles for convenience or used for the travois. The women did all of the labor ; they saddled the ponies, har- nessed the horses and dogs to the travois, packed and loaded the goods, and, if necessary to cross the Missouri or other stream, paddled the men across in
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"bull-boats"; their horses, fastened by long lariats, made from strips of buffalo skins, swimming in the rear.
The march being taken up, the head of the family took the lead, followed by his horses, dogs, women and children, household effects, and camp equipage; the very young children and puppies being strapped on the travois.
No chief was so great that he dared disobey the warriors, or head men of the tribe called "Soldiers," who were in absolute command. They directed the march, selected the stopping places, lingered at the rear to prevent loitering, and none could hunt without permission, or separate in any manner from the column.
The winter camps were in the Bad Lands, formed by erosion, usually 200 or 300 feet below the general level of the prairie. They were cut by numerous gullies and ravines, called breaks, giving small valleys, affording shelter, excellent winter grazing, and an abundance of timber for fuel and for erecting their tem- porary homes. There was also an abundance of game, consisting of deer, mountain sheep, bear, beaver, wolves, and as the winter advanced in severity, buf- falo came in for shelter. The grasses matured before frost, and when winter came they were in the condition of hay, and the animals quickly learned to paw away the snow, and feed as contentedly on the sun-cured grasses thus exposed, as the stock in the eastern farmer's barnyard at the hay or straw stack, though on food of much better quality.
It was these features which led Theodore Roosevelt in 1881 to become a citizen of North Dakota, establishing a cattle ranch at Chimney Butte, near Medora, in the very heart of the Bad Lands.
To guard against storm, or in preparation for surrounding the buffalo, when there might be no time or opportunity for grazing, the women stripped bark from the young cottonwood trees, or the limbs of the last year's growth, which made good food for the Indian ponies.
The place having been selected for the winter home-which was liable to change at any time if conditions did not prove satisfactory-the skin lodges were erected, and then the women felled the timber and erected temporary cabins covered with poles, rushes, reeds or long grass and earth. The chimneys were built of sticks and clay. The buildings stood in a circle opening at the rear into an open space, covered in the same manner as the houses, used in common for the horses.
SOCIAL LIFE AMONG THE INDIANS
Notwithstanding the manifold duties of the women, they found time to attend the meetings of the several societies, or clubs, to which they had become attached. Some of these societies, organized much after the plan of the women's clubs of the present day, were known as the "White Cow Band," the white buffalo being a sacred animal; one was the "Goose Band," and still others were distinguished by names descriptive of some esteemed game, such as the "Black Tailed Deer," etc. Indians having several wives, each belonging to different societies, found it rather strenuous sometimes, as it was customary for each to entertain with feasting and dancing in turn. Some of their defenseless husbands made that an excuse for gambling, but when their losses of the necessaries of life became
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unbearable, their wives seldom failed to break up the game, and teach their hus- bands a much-needed lesson.
The men spent most of their time hunting, watching the stock, visiting, gambling and telling stories, until the buffalo made their appearance, when all was hurry and bustle.
Thus the seasons would pass, several "surrounds" of buffalo happening each winter, and in the spring they would return to their permanent camp, where the women would prepare the ground and plant and harvest the crop; the men, as before, devoting their attention to visiting, gambling, hunting and war.
CHAPTER VII
GRAFT IN THE INDIAN TRADE
ETERNAL VIGILANCE THE PRICE OF LIBERTY-THE COUNTRY OVERRUN BY INDIAN TRADERS-THE UNITED STATES AS A FACTOR-ORGANIZATION OF THE AMERICAN FUR COMPANY-THE LORDS OF THE LAKES AND FORESTS-FORT WILLIAM-THE SELKIRK PURCHASE AND COLONY-THE SEVEN OAKS MASSACRE-SELKIRK VISITS THE RED RIVER COLONY-THE CHURCH AND SCHOOLS ESTABLISHED.
"It is the common fate of the indolent, to see their rights become a prey to the active. The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance; which con- dition, if he break, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt."-John Philpot Curran, Speech upon the Right of Election, 1790.
GRAFT IN THE INDIAN TRADE
The use of public office for the purpose of gain to the individual is now called "graft," and those who prey upon and mislead the people for their own personal advantage, are called "grafters," but it is no new thing in the world. In 1804 Captain Lewis commented upon this system then in vogue in Louisiana, under Spanish rule. The governor had assumed to himself the exclusive right to dis- pose of trading privileges among the Indians, selling licenses for personal gain. They were offered to the highest bidder, varying in value according to the extent of the country they embraced, the Indian nations occupying that country, and the period for which they were granted. They yielded all the income to the . authorities the trade would bear. The traders at this period supplied the Indians with arms, ammunition, intoxicating liquors, and, indeed, anything they wished to buy, charging them exorbitant prices, and the governor profited by the excess.
OTHER LINES OF GRAFT
But graft did not end with Spanish rule, nor with the retirement of the British traders. The history of the fur trade, and the development of the West is full of instances, and it is well for the people to remember, even yet, that "eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."
Joseph Rolette, an early Pembina trader, was too successful in the estima- tion of his rivals, and too popular with the Indians to suit their purposes, and so they elected him to the Minnesota Legislature, and by that means got him out of the way for a time at least.
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Gen. William H. Ashley, who was one of the most successful of the early traders, was disposed of by being sent to Congress, and it was charged that at the end of his term he was paid a large salary to stay away from the Indian country.
When Indian treaties were made for the alleged benefit of the Indians and to promote the interests of trade, the "grafter" was on hand to claim his share from both the Indian and the traders. The Minnesota massacre was largely the result of his work.
When the Indian traderships ceased to be attractive, attention was turned to the military traderships. It was freely charged at the time of the impeachment proceedings against United States Secretary of War William W. Belknap, that the Fort Buford, Fort Abraham Lincoln and Fort Rice traderships paid $1,000 per month each for the influence that controlled the appointments. Lesser sums were paid by the smaller posts. It was also charged that the Indian traderships contributed to a fund that paid a salary of $5,000 per annum to the one whose influence secured the appointment of the trader.
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