| OCR Text |
Show SIOUX VILLAGES- CHOLERA. 45 coffee, sugar, or biscuit. I gave them what we could spare. They told us there was another and larger band encamped about two miles above, many of whom were very sick with the cholera: they themselves had been afflicted with it, but had in a great measure recovered, although they ^ ere in great dread of its return. As soon as they were told I had a doctor, or " medicine- man," with me, and received assurances that some medicines should be prepared for them, and left with the trader, ( who had married among them,) they expressed much delight, and returned to their village, where, soon after, the sound of the drum and the song, expressive of the revival of hope, which had almost departed, resounded from the " medicine lodge," and continued until a late hour of the night. In the mean time, I directed a quantity of medicine to be prepared, with the necessary directions for using it. The following morning we paid a visit in passing, to the upper village, which contained about two hundred and fifty souls. They were in the act of breaking up their encampment, being obliged to move farther up the river to obtain fresh grass for their animals. A more curious, animated, and novel scene I never witnessed. Squaws, papooses, dogs, puppies, mules, and ponies, all in busy motion, while the lordly, lazy men lounged about with an air of listless indifference, too proud to render the slightest aid to their faithful drudges. Before the lodge of each brave was erected a tripod of thin slender poles about ten feet in length, upon which was suspended his round white shield, with some device painted upon it, his spear, and a buckskin sack containing his " medicine" bag. It reminded me forcibly of the scenes of Ivanhoe and the Crusaders, and impressed me with the singularity of the coincidence in the customs of what were then the most refined nations of the world, with those of these wild and untutored savages. The cholera had been quite bad among them, and was still raging. I visited nearly every lodge, in company with the doctor and Mr. Bissonette the trader, and medicine was administered to all who required it. It was touching to witness the moral effect produced by the mere presence of a " medicine- man" upon these poor wretches. They swallowed the medicine with great avidity, and an absolute faith in its efficacy, which, I have little doubt, saved many a life that would otherwise have been lost. I shall never forget one poor fellow, a tall, fine-looking young man of about twenty- five. He had been sick three days, and we found him sitting on the ground, his blanket drawn closely around him, and his chin resting upon his knees, the i |
