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Show THE NOBLE EED MAN. 555 sparser still. But there we find some of the races on the soil where first discovered. The Sioux have steadily contracted their eastern border, while maintaining their western border intact. But if, leaving history we take tradition, we find that the Indian tribes have been engaged for centuries in a series of migrations, the northern ones as a rule slowly pushing southward. As all our mountain chains run north and south, it follows that the people of this country can not grow into distinct races as in Europe, where different climates and soils are partitioned off by natural barriers. Hence the Indian, from Manitoba to the Gulf of Mexico is one; hence, too, half a million men of the West rose in. arms to prevent the mouth of the Mississippi being " held by an alien government." Of the Indian migrations, the best authenticated are those of the Shoshonees and Sioux, which are referred to in the following legend, as related to the interpreter by Susuceicha, a Sioux chief: " Ages past the Lacotas ( or Dakotas, i. e. } Sioux) lived in a land far above the sun- of winter. " Here then the Shoshonee had all, but these basins were yet full of water, and the buffalo ranged even to the Salt Land ( Utah). " Ages passed. The Shoshonees gave place to the Scarred Arms ( Cheyennes). The Lacotas came toward the sun and fought long with the Scarred Arms. A great party came far into the inner plain ( Laramie) and fell into a snare ; all were killed by the Scarred Arms but six; these hid in a hole in the mountain. " They built a fire and dressed their wounds ; they hoped to stay many days till the Scarred Arms left the plain. But a form rose from the dark corner of the cave ; it was a woman old as the red mountain that was scarred by Waukan. Her hair was like wool; she was feeble and wrinkled. She spoke : " ' Children, you have been against the Scarred Arms. You alone live. I know it all. But your fire has waked me, and the full time of my dream has come. Listen : "' Long ago the Shoshonees visited the Lacotas; the prairie took in the blood of many Lacota braves, and I was made captive. The Shoshonees brought me here, but I was not happy. I fled. I was weak. I took refuge in this cave. "' But look! Where are the Shoshonees? The Lacotas will soon know them, and bring from their lodges many scalps and medicine dogs. They have fled before the Scarred Arms. One- half crossed the snow hills toward sunset; the other went toward the sun, and now hunt the buffalo east of the Ispanola's earth lodges. But my- eyes |
