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make fine bows and ar… rows； and to Wachesne no skill to make anything。〃
〃And why do the Big Knives increase so much more in number than
the Dakotas？〃 I continued。
〃It has been said； and I think it must be true； that they have larger
families than we do。 I went into the house of an Eashecha （a German）； and
I counted no less than nine children。 The eldest of them could not have
been over fifteen。 When my grandfather first visited them； down at the
mouth of the Mississippi； they were comparative… ly few； later my father
visited their Great Father at Washington； and they had already spread over
the whole country。〃
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〃Certainly they are a heartless nation。 They have made some of their
people servantsyes； slaves！ We have never believed in keeping slaves；
but it seems that these Washechu do！ It is our belief that they painted their
servants black a long time ago； to tell them from the rest； and now the
slaves have children born to them of the same color！
〃The greatest object of their lives seems to be to acquire possessions
to be rich。 They desire to possess the whole world。 For thirty years they
were trying to entice us to sell them our
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land。 Finally the outbreak gave them all； and we have been driven
away from our beautiful country。
〃They are a wonderful people。 They have divided the day into hours；
like the moons of the year。 In fact； they measure everything。 Not one
of them would let so much as a turnip go from his field unless he received
full value for it。 I understand that their great men make a feast and invite
many； but when the feast is over the guests are required to pay for what
they have eaten before leaving the house。 I myself saw at White Cliff
（the name given to St。 Paul； Minne… sota） a man who kept a brass drum
and a bell to call people to his table； but when he got them in he would
make them pay for the food！
〃I am also informed；〃 said my uncle； 〃but this I hardly believe； that
their Great Chief （President） compels every man to pay him for the land
he lives upon and all his personal goodseven for his own existence
every year！〃 （This was his idea of taxation。） 〃I am sure we could not live
under such a law。
〃When the outbreak occurred； we thought that our opportunity had
come； for we had learned that the Big Knives were fighting among
themselves； on account of a dispute over their slaves。 It was said that the
Great Chief had al… lowed slaves in one part of the country and not in
another； so there was jealousy； and they had to fight it out。 We don't
know how true this was。
〃There were some praying…men who came to us some time before the
trouble arose。 They ob… served every seventh day as a holy day。 On that
day they met in a house that they had built for that purpose； to sing； pray；
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and speak of their Great Mystery。 I was never in one of these meetings。
I understand that they had a large book from which they read。 By all
accounts they were very different from all other white men we have
known； for these never observed any such day； and we never knew them to
pray； neither did they ever tell us of their Great Mystery。
〃In war they have leaders and war…chiefs of different grades。 The
common warriors are driv… en forward like a herd of antelopes to face the
foe。 It is on account of this manner of fightingfrom compulsion and not
from personal braverythat we count no coup on them。 A lone warrior
can do much harm to a large army of them in a bad country。〃
It was this talk with my uncle that gave me my first clear idea of the
white man。
I was almost fifteen years old when my uncle
First Impressions of Civilization 285
presented me with a flint…lock gun。 The posses… sion of the
〃mysterious iron；〃 and the explosive dirt； or 〃pulverized coal；〃 as it is
called； filled me with new thoughts。 All the war…songs that I had ever
heard from childhood came back to me with their heroes。 It seemed as if
I were an entirely new beingthe boy had become a man！
〃I am now old enough；〃 said I to myself； 〃and I must beg my uncle to
take me with him on his next war…path。 I shall soon be able to go among
the whites whenever I wish； and to avenge the blood of my father and my
brothers。〃
I had already begun to invoke the blessing of the Great Mystery。
Scarcely a day passed that I did not offer up some of my game； so that he
might not be displeased with me。 My people saw very little of me during
the day； for in solitude I found the strength I needed。 I groped about in
the wilderness； and determined to assume my po… sition as a man。 My
boyish ways were depart… ing； and a sullen dignity and composure was
taking their place。
The thought of love did not hinder my ambi… tions。 I had a vague
dream of some day courting a pretty maiden； after I had made my
reputation； and won the eagle feathers。
One day； when I was away on the daily hunt； two strangers from the
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United States visited our camp。 They had boldly ventured across the
northern border。 They were Indians； but clad in the white man's garments。
It was as well that I was absent with my gun。
My father； accompanied by an Indian guide； after many days'
searching had found us at last。 He had been imprisoned at Davenport；
Iowa； with those who took part in the massacre or in the bat… tles
following； and he was taught in prison and converted by the pioneer
missionaries； Drs。 Wil… liamson and Riggs。 He was under sentence of
death； but was among the number against whom no direct evidence was
found； and who were finally pardoned by President Lincoln。
When he was re