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Author's Preface
THE greater part of the past thirty-four years of my life has been spent on the frontier in more or less direct contact with Indians. It was not, however, until 1872 that I was induced to attempt to excite for them the interest of others. From and after that year I occasionally wrote short articles on Indians and the Indian question, some of which were contributed anonymously to the press.

In 1877 I published a book entitled "The Plains of the Great West," a work mainly descriptive of the topography, climate, game, etc., of that portion of our country known as the "Plains," to which I added some sketches of Indian life. Determined to be entirely unbiassed in my opinions, and with, I hope, a not unpardonable vanity to be original, I carefully abstained from consulting contemporaneous authorities, either books or men.

The extremely flattering reception which that book met at the hands of the critics, and, more especially the unexpected encomiums bestowed upon the brief and imperfect Indian sketches (which I had added to the volume more as & finale than with any hope of attracting particular attention to the subject) en couraged me to continue my studies of Indian life, but in a wider field. In those sketches I had briefly given my opinions; I now determined to know the facts; and this could only be done by comparison of my opinions with those of other men who had written on the Indian. I therefore procured the works of Catlin, Schoolcraft, and many other w lesser lights," and studied them assiduously, comparing their ideas with my own. For many years past I have been most fortunately situated for such study, having been stationed directly among the wild tribes, whose characteristics have always been of most interest to me. Whenever I have found that my ideas differed from those of " an authority," I have taken the case directly to the Indians themselves. My position as commanding officer "Big Chief " enabled me always to get a hearing and an answer on any subject; and my well-known friendship for the race caused the Indians to give me more frank confidence than a white man usually obtains. I have thus been enabled to get at facts ; to correct the errors of my previous desultory writings, as well as errors of accepted Indian "authorities."

For two years past I have been importuned by friends whose opinions I value most highly, to give to the world the result of my observations and labors. I have consented to do so, not without hesitation, because having previously written on the same subject, I must occasionally repeat myself, or commit the affectation of clothing the same ideas in different words. My friends have overruled this objection, and I present in this volume a detailed account of the characteristics, habits, and, what I particularly desire to invite attention to, a minute and careful study of the social or inner life of the wild Indian of the present day.
Richard I. Dodge

		Table of Contents
		
INTRODUCTION, BY GEN. WILLIAM T. SHERMAN

CHAPTER I. - MY EARLY LIFE FIRST EXPERIENCES WITH INDIANS ADVENTURES AMONG THE COMANCHES.
My Early Home; First Sight of Warriors; A Thrill of Horror Recalled; Sudden Transformation of My Views; A Beardless Lieu
tenant; The Texan; Frontier Nights with the Comanches; Their Cunning and Treachery; The Sleepless Foe; A Fatal Stumble
On a Cavalry Scout; Adventurous Pursuit; Surprising an Indian Camp; Invited to be the Guest of an Indian Chief; Warned of
Danger; Outbreak of Hostilities;Young Warriors with "Bad Hearts;" The Bandera Pass; An Exciting Adventure; Separated
from My Command; Making the Best of It; Ruined Ammunition; On the Edge of Peril; Reconnoitering the Indian Camp; My 
Flight and Pursuit; The Race for Life; My Escape; Rejoining My Command; Thirty Years of Indian Warfare

CHAPTER II. - BEYOND THE MISSISSIPPI - THE LANGUAGE, NUMBERS, HABITS, ETC., OF THE INDIANS OF THE 
GREAT WEST.
Origin of the American Indians; The Defect of Writers on the Indians; Wonderful Diversity of the Indian Language; Curious 
Facts and Tendencies; The Effect of War; Stupendous Vanity; Invention of Dialects; The Passion for War; The Crafty and 
Bloodthirsty Apaches; The Cheyennes and Arrapahoes; A Marvellous Alliance; The Sign Language; Estimates of Population;
Superstitious Dread of being Counted; Indian Extermination; Nomadic Proclivities; The Winter Encampment; Home 
Attachments; Love for an Old Encampment; Cherished Memories; "Home Sickness;" Mental Peculiarities; Acute Perceptions;
Ill-Directed Efforts; Indian Schools; Indian Orators; How they Rehearse their Speeches; Swaying a Savage Audience

CHAPTER III. - WILD LIFE ON THE PLAINS - INDIAN CHARACTER, TRAITS, AND PECULIARITIES.
The Country of the Plains Indians; "The Dream of an Enthusiast;" The Indian as he is; His Conduct in the Presence of 
Strangers; Clothes Only for Show; His Conduct in his Own Camp; A Rollicking Miscreant; Night Scenes in an Indian Camp; The
Disgrace of being Surprised; A Pair of Climbing Boots; The Hero of the Telegraph Pole; How a Lady Excited Surprise and 
Admiration; A Comical Incident; The Story of a Wooden Leg; Carrying a Joke too Far; A Summary Ejectment; Endurance of 
Pain; Patience, an Indian; Virtue; Blowing his Own Trumpet; Extravagant Self-Praise; An Indian's Idea of Modesty; Honor 
among Thieves; Kicked Out of Camp; Early Lessons in Stealing; Apt Pupils; A Flagrant Case; A Fair Field and No Favor; 
Differences of Opinion

CHAPTER IV. - INDIAN CHIEFS AND RULERS TRIBAL GOVERNMENT HOW PLACE AND POWER ARE WON.
Powers of the Head Chief; The Avengers of Blood; The Death Penalty; Deadly Hostility; Sitting Bull's Indomitable Band; 
Ouray's Lost Prestige; Little Robe and Little Raven; Two Tribes that are Firm Friends; Disobeying Spotted Tail's Orders; Fate
of Deserting Warriors; Severe Punishment; A Secret Society; The "Picked Corps" of Warriors; The Chief's Body Guard; 
Expiating a Sin; A Noted Comanche Chief: His Courage and Daring; Death from a Broken Heart; Red Cloud's Career; War to 
the Knife; A Thrilling Episode; Rival Suitors; Spotted Tail's Duel; Locked in Death's Embrace; Big Mouth's Assassination

CHAPTER V. - SWINDLING AND ROBBING THE INDIANS - MY OWN OBSERVATIONS.
The "Treaty System;" Its Absurdity; Stipulations that cannot be Kept; How Indians are Swindled and Robbed; "Wards of the
Nation;" Modoc Jack; General Canby's Murderers; Expiation on the Gallows; The "Indian Agent;" His Absolute Power; How
Massacres are Invited; Poor old Mr. Meeker; Our "Indian Policy;" Forcible Contrasts; My Own Observations; What I Have Seen;
Unexampled Scoundrelism; Stone Calf's Daughter; The Flower of the Wigwam; An Ill-fated Journey; Concealed in a Thicket;
Threatened with Instant Death; Escape to a Friendly Teepe; The Old Chief's Agony; A Heart-broken Warrior; My Inability to 
Help Him; Praying for the "White Man's Road"

CHAPTER VI. - RELIGION OF THE INDIAN - A STRANGE FAITH - THE GREAT MYSTERY OF INDIAN "MEDICINE."
The Indian Idea of God; The Good God; The Bad God; The Perpetual Struggle between Them; "The Happy Hunting 
Grounds;" How the Indian Soul is Excluded from Paradise; Horror of Being Scalped; Desperate Efforts to Save a 
Friend's Soul; How the Soul Escapes from the Body; The Indian Idea of Hell; "Good Medicine" versus "Bad Medicine;" 
Ridiculous Superstition; How "Medicine" is Made; Its Great Mystery; A Sacred Secret; Deciding on the Ingredients; 
Appeasing the Wrath of the Bad God; Sacred Ponies; Driving a Sharp Bargain with the Devil; Sticking to the Faith of 
their Fathers; Spotted Tail's Argument with Captain Randall; "Black Beard;" My Talk with an Aged Chief; Who Made 
the World? Fetichism; Digger Indians

CHAPTER VII. - THE MEDICINE CHIEF - HIS GREAT POWER AND INFLUENCE - AN OFFICE WON BY RECKLESS 
DARING.
The Medicine Chief; His Power and Standing in the Tribe; How the Office is Won; Proving His Own Medicine; A First-
Class Aristocrat; The Idol of the Squaws; An Indian Physician; His knowledge of Herbs; No Cure no Pay; A 
Pandemonium of Howls; Incantations Over the Sick; A Remedy Worse than the Disease; Heroic Treatment; My 
Reception in an Indian Camp; Black, Beady Eyes; An Aspirant for Fame; Sitting Bull; Medicine Arrow; A Favorite of 
Fortune; The Most Remarkable Chief of His Time; His Famous Arrows; Arrows for Ponies and Ponies for Rum; End of
a Strange Career; Splendid Types of Courage; The Charge on Forsythe s Rifle Pits; Indian Quacks

CHAPTER VIII. - SECRET RITES AND RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES - AN INDIAN MYSTERY - THE SACRED 
"SOMETHING."
The Sacred Conclave; How One of My Officers Gained Admittance; What He Saw There; Curious Solemnities; Sacred
Mysteries; The Medicine Pipe; How an Indian Smokes a Cigar; A Blazing Stub; How the Pipe is Used for Casting Lots; 
How the Fatal Signal is Determined; Secret Societies, Pass Words, and Grips; Medicine Arrow s Great Influence; The
Sacred "Something" -  What is it? An Object of Awe and Veneration; Capture of the Sacred Symbol by the Pawnees; A
Pious Fraud; The Utes and the Squat Stone; Its Capture by a Hostile Tribe; Their Flight with It; Consternation at its 
Loss; Wild Pursuit and Vengeance; Burial of the Sacred Insignia; The Lost Treasure; Sitting Bull s "Medicine,"

CHAPTER IX. - HOCH-E-A-YUM - THE GREAT MEDICINE DANCE - SUFFERING AND ENDURANCE OF THE 
DANCERS.
The Cotton Wood Lodge; The Medicine Dance; Preparations for the Ceremony; Extent of the Suffering Involved; In 
the Circle; The Spectators; Selection of Warriors for the Dance; Death the Penalty of Failure; Stripped for the 
Struggle; Eyes Fixed; The Suspended Image; Wild Enthusiasm; The Dance of Endurance; The Weary Round; Shouts
of Encouragement; Wail of the Squaws; An Exhausted Dancer Dragged from the Fatal Arena; The Victim; Death of the
Dancer; The Furies of Hell Let Loose; Fleeing From Wrath; Rallying the Bands; Four Days of Suffering; Sticking it Out
to the Bitter End; Recognition and Reward; Rushing in at the Eleventh Hour; Carrying off the Prize

CHAPTER X. - INDIAN METHODS OF SELF-TORTURE ENDURANCE AND DEFIANCE OF PAIN.
The Warrior's Ordeal; Panting for the Knife; How Suffering is Courted; Stalwart Endurance of Pain; The Greatest of 
Indian Virtues; Remarkable Religious Fervor; Indian Pride in Self-Torture; Preparations for the Trying Ordeal; Fasting,
Silence, and Meditation; The Candidates Brought before the Medicine Chief; Deciding on the Kind and Amount of 
Torture; The Merciless Thrust of the Knife; Inserting Horsehair Ropes; The Wounded Devotee; Muscles Torn from the
Breast; Incredible Suffering; The Victim s Tragic Efforts to Break Loose; Suspended in Mid-air; Indescribable Agonies;
Lips that Never Murmur; Dressing the Wounds; The Consequences of Flinching under the Knife; The "Sun Dance" of
the Sioux; Expiation of Crime; Exasperating Forms of Torture

CHAPTER XI. - THE INDIAN'S LAST RESTING - PLACE BURIAL OF THE DEAD.
The Excitement Caused by a Death in Camp; An Indian Cemetery; Depositing the Body in a Tree; The Burial Case; 
How the Body is Dressed; My Horrible Discovery Following the Trail Another Discovery; The Dead Body of the 
Comanche War Chief; How He Died; Treating His Body with Indignity; Comical Epitaph; Stealing a Body for Dissection;
The Body-Snatchers at Work; The Midnight Foray; Unexpected Arrival of Squaws; Consternation of the Thieves; 
Terror and Flight of the Women; What I saw in a Deserted Ute Camp; Graves Safe from Mortal Eyes; Secrets 
Betrayed by Human Bones; Ouray s Death; His Secret Burial; Discovery of His Grave

CHAPTER XII. - MOURNING FOR THE DEAD HOW INDIANS FEEL AND SHOW THEIR GRIEF.
In "Sackcloth and Ashes;" The Mark of God's Displeasure; Parental Anguish; The Death of a Son; A Warrior's 
Tearless Eyes; Real Grief; Mourning for a Dead Wife; What Happens at the Death of a Chief; How the Squaws Mourn;
A Chorus of Howls from the "Blessed Sex;" Self-Mutilation; Inflicting Horrible Wounds; A "Good Cry" versus a "Good 
Howl;" Inconsolable Widows; Midnight Wails; Letting off Superfluous Unhappiness; Joining in the Howl; The "Luxury of 
Grief;" Vigorous Lamentation; How an Indian Makes his Will; Scene at Ouray's Death Bed; His Will; Clamoring for the 
Destruction of his Property; A Narrow Escape; The Sacrifice of Seventeen Horses; Firing the Pyre

CHAPTER XIII. - THE FUTURE LIFE - THE INDIAN'S IDEA OF HEAVEN - THE HAPPY HUNTING GROUNDS.
Conceptions of the Hereafter; Indian Horror of Being Strangled or Scalped Explained; An Eternity of Green Fields and
Pastures; Equipped for the Long Journey; Death Overcome; Touching Traits of Character; Complete Outfit for the 
Dead; The Warrior's Grave; Starvation and Death Preferred to Robbing the Dead; How Physical Defects are Carried
into the Next World; Fate of an Emaciated Form; Mutilations of the Body; Transfixed with Arrows; A Dismal Superstition;
Why Indians Rarely Make Night Attacks; The Effect of Being Killed in the Dark; Crawling into Camp; Stealth and 
Cunning; Avenging the Slain; Incident of the Campaign of 1873; Fate of a Band of Surveyors

CHAPTER XIV. - CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH - LIFE AND TRAINING OF INDIAN BOYS AND GIRLS.
The Redskin Baby; An Original Outfit; Feathers and Fur; A Real "Nest of Comfort;" Tossed into a Corner; "In the Tree
Top;" Learning to Ride; Stopping the Baby's Cry; A Novel Method; Rough Schooling; Adoption of Captive Children; 
The Comanche Women; A Coveted Baby; Ready to Swap or Buy; An Interesting Experience; The Warrior s Pride; A 
Touching Story; Bound to the Stake; The Old Chief s Sacrifice; Childhood Sports; Freedom of the Lodge; Trained for 
the Chase; Roaming at Large; Cold-Blooded Atrocities; Daring Attacks In Pursuit of Fame; A Momentous Hour; What 
I saw at an Indian Dance; Matrimonial Hankerings; Married at Sixteen; Old Age at Thirty-five

CHAPTER XV. - LOVE-MAKING IN AN INDIAN CAMP - COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE.
Indian Lovers; Suitors for a Maiden's Hand; Going to "See His Girl'" At His Inamorata s Lodge; "The Old Folks at 
Home;"  Indian Match-Makers; The First Real Meeting; Picturesque Reluctance and a Pretty Surrender; Tete-a-Tete; 
Engaged at Last; Appearance of Rivals; An Indian Flirt; A Dozen Lovers at Her Feet; Competition the Life of Trade; 
Plans for the Wedding; How Paternal Consent is Obtained; Indian Elopements; Love Defiant of Locks and Bars; 
Escape from the Lodge; Flight and Pursuit; Assessing the Damages; The Gifts Market Value; A White Admirer's 
Perfidy; Gushing Frankness; An Unfortunate Dilemma; "So Glad You Asked Me;" A Widow's Pathetic Appeal

CHAPTER XVI. - INDIAN WOMEN - THEIR VIRTUES AND VICES - LIFE IN AN INDIAN LODGE.
The Life of an Indian Woman; Where the Bead and Feather Work Comes From; A "Model" Wife; A Squaw's Right; 
Seeking a New Husband; How the Custom Originated; The Go-Between; Secret Conferences; Winning the Affections 
of Another Man's Wife; Scandal in the Camp; The Old Warrior's Darling; Flight with a Youthful Admirer; The Honey-
Moon; Housekeeping in a Friendly Teepe; A Dark Day; A Terrible Punishment; Tickling a Girl's Vanity; Liaisons Among
the Arrapahoes; Curious Safeguards; The Story of Powder Face; A Notable Couple; A Precocious Young Rascal; First
-Class Sensation; Madmen and Idiots; A Professional Tramp; His Capture by Hostile Sioux

CHAPTER XVII. - INDIAN NAMES, TITLES, AND EPITHETS - THEIR MEANING AND SIGNIFICANCE - THE TOTEM.
Indian Idea of their Origin; Traditions; The Family Coat of Arms; The Totem, and What It Is; Surnames; Pet Names; 
Titles; Nicknames; Palpable Hits; The Original "Punch;" Odd Traits and Fancies Indicated by Names; Why Indians 
Name Themselves Curious Titles; "White Eagle;" "Lone Wolf;" "Yellow Bear;"  "Powder Face;" 
"Man-Afraid-of-His-Horses;" Loafing "Jims" and Indolent "Tonys;" Unblushing Beggary; Effect of Incident and 
Adventure; An Ill-Fated Expedition; An Unsolved Mystery; The Place of Lost Souls; The "Great American Bull-
Whacker;" The "Picketwire" Indian; Nicknames of Army Officers; Ridiculous Appellations; Gray Beard; General Crook's
Indian Name; Why they Call Him "The Gray Fox"

CHAPTER XVIII. - EVERYDAY INDIAN LIFE - SIGHTS AND SCENES IN INDIAN HOMES, TEEPES, AND WINTER 
CAMPS.
An Indian Teepe; How it is Made; The "Wicky-Up" Its Construction; Teepe Furnishings; Beds that are Never "Made Up;"
Meal Hours; The Luxury of Baker s Bread; Indian Hospitality; The First Chance at the Pot; Scenting a Dinner from Afar;
Entertaining You To-day and Taking Your Scalp To-morrow; How Indians Select a Camping-Place; Looking Out for 
Danger; The "Public Square" and Crier; Selecting a Site for the Winter Camp; An Indian Village; General Custer's 
Exploit; His Fortunate Escape; A Cold-Blooded Ruffian Paid "by the Scalp;" Two Hundred and Fifty Scalps at One 
Fight; Days and Nights of Feasting and Revelry; "Love Rules the Camp;" Sketches from Life

CHAPTER XIX. - INDIAN SKILL AND HANDIWORK - OCCUPATIONS OF CAMP AND LODGE.
In Winter Quarters; Preparations for War and the Chase; How Indian Saddles and Bridles are made; The Mexican 
Device; Fancy Reins; The Art of Plaiting Horsehair; The Lariat and the Lasso; How They are Made; A Winter's Task; 
The Great Fall Hunt; Scenes of Joy and Excitement; Preserved Buffalo; Real Indian Bread; Skill in Dressing Skins; 
Family Heirlooms; The Elkhorn Handle A Priceless Treasure; A Suit of Deer-skin; Original Needlework; Spending a 
Year on a Single Garment; Bead Work; Beautiful Ornamentation; Behind the Plough; The Indian Maiden of Fiction; 
Wrestling with the Sportive Hoe; A Square Day s Work; The Chopping Match; Startling Facts

CHAPTER XX. - TRADE AND BARTER - THE VICTIMS AND PREY OF INDIAN "TRADERS."
Systems of Barter; "Sold Out;" Fleeced and Victimized by the "Trader;" Indian Wants and Necessities; The Charm of 
Novelty; An Incident at Fort Sedgwick; The Ornamented Buffalo Robe; A Warrior with a Sweet Tooth; The First Lot of
Matches; An Astonished Indian; Curiosity Aroused; A Wonderful Box; Testing the Matches One by One; Scorched 
Fingers; My Treasures from the Ute Campaign; Blanket of Rare Beauty and Design; A Dishonored Statute; The 
Trapper Thirty Years Ago; Domiciled with Savages; A Wild Free Life; Admitted to the Indian Brotherhood; Sharing 
Hairbreadth Escapes; The Gaming Table; The Trader's Grip on the Red Man's Throat; Barefaced Swindling; An Open
and Shut Game; Hobson's Choice; The Traders Prey

CHAPTER XXI. - INDIAN COOKS AND COOKING - FAVORITE FOOD AND ODD DISHES - AMUSING 
EXPERIENCES.
Indian Cooks; Teepe Manners; "Fingers before Forks;" The "Tonish" Thing in Serving; How Indians Cook for 
Themselves; An Off-Hand Roast; The Marrow-Bones; The Choicest Bonne Bouche; Enormous Feeders; Eating 
Twenty Pounds at One Meal; Gluttony of the Red Skins; The Call for More; Cunning and Strategy; Accumulated 
Breakfasts; An Astonishing Appetite; Job's Turkey; A Tough One; An Abandoned Fowl; An Odd Superstition; 
Unblushing Cheek; Eating Ten Feet of Marrow Guts; The Use of Salt; Red Pepper and Black; Selection of the Entrails;
The Indian's Most Delicious Morsel; My Invitation to Dine with the Pawnee Chief; A Disgusting Repast; Dog Flesh; Fat
Puppy; Skunk; My Interview with Stone Calf

CHAPTER XXII. - THE BUFFALO AND ITS DESTRUCTION - THE INDIAN'S GREAT FALL HUNT - EXCITING 
ADVENTURES.
The Indian and the Buffalo; The Old Days of Plenty; Habits and Instincts; Immense Herds; A Column Fifty Miles Wide, 
and of Unknown Depth; A Thrilling Adventure at Pawnee Rock; Danger from a Stampeded Herd; Splitting "the 
Column;" Safe at Last; Scenes of Wild Animation; Mistaken Ideas of Old Plains men; How the Indians Hunt Buffalo; 
The "Surround;" Closing In for the Attack; The Signal; Wild Onset of Warriors; Desperate Resistance; The Slaughter;
The Sioux Plan; My Camp on Big Coon Creek; My Adventure with a Panic-stricken Herd; A Camp Aroused at Midnight;
Hairbreadth Escape; The Extinction of the Buffalo; Wanton Slaughter; Barbarous Practices

CHAPTER XXIII. - CLOTHING, FINERY, AND PERSONAL ADORNMENT OF INDIANS.
The Breech-cloth; Donning a "Biled" Shirt; How Little Raven "Received;" "Fixed up" for White Company; Ludicrous 
Combinations; Remarkable Appearance of Turkey Leg in Council; The Green Veil and Stove-Pipe Hat; Bugbears of 
Indian Life; A Disgusted Warrior; Ceremonial Costumes; Fringe Made of Scalp Locks; Dressing the Hair; The "Pig-tail"
Style; The Receptacle for Odds and Ends; Female Attire; The Buckskin Skirt and Jacket; The Kirtle of Fringe; How 
Indians Paint their Bodies; Bracelets and Beadwork; A Good Story; The Captain s False Teeth; A Cheyenne Chief's 
Glass Eye; Terror Caused by its Removal; Kicked out of Camp as Doubtful "Medicine"

CHAPTER XXIV. - DISEASE AND DEATH - THE STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE.
Homesickness; Driven from Pillar to Post; Fate of the Pawnees; Frightful Mortality; The "Policy" that Drives Indians to 
Desperation; The Only Misfortune Over which an Indian Broods; Rude Remedies; The Sweat House; A Cold Plunge;
Disease among Indian Children; A Shocking Suspicion; Wild Flight; Superstitious Terror; Abject Prostration and Alarm;
The Wail of Despair; Dead and Dying; Left by the Wayside; Scenes of Indescribable Horror; Hydrophobia; Curious 
Facts Concerning the Bite of a Skunk; Awaiting the Worst of Fates; Suicide; Defiance of Torture; Preparing for a 
Desperate Raid; Shot Dead in his Saddle; Deathbed Scenes; Chanting the Death Song; The Final Farewell

CHAPTER XXV. - INDIAN GAMBLERS - THEIR GAMES OF SKILL AND CHANCE- DRUNKENNESS - SCENES 
FROM  LIFE.
Indian Gamblers; A Favorite Pastime; Preparations for the Game; The Stakes; The Whirlpool of Fortune; An Exciting
Contest; Dexterous Manipulation; Counting the Points; Sweeping the Stakes; Experts with Cards; The Mysteries of 
"Monte;" "Ways that are Dark;" Cheating a Fine Art; The Loaded Hand; Heavy Stakes; Bad Luck; Wives and Children
Lost; The Comanche Gambler; The Fatal Throw; Gambling Customs; "Passing the Bone;" In a Whirl of Excitement; 
Aboriginal Dice; Lucky Numbers; Favorite Game with the Cheyenne Women; Born and Bred Swindlers; Anything for 
Whiskey; Enjoying his Whiskey Alone; Sneaking off for a Debauch; A Sound Thrashing; A Blubbering Warrior

CHAPTER XXVI. - INDIAN AMUSEMENTS AND SPORTS - WONDERFUL FEATS AND MARVELLOUS EXPLOITS.
An Indian Story Teller; The Favorite of the Women; The Sign Language; Outdoor Sports; Life in the Saddle;
Wonderful Feats of Horsemanship; Marvellous Exploits at Full Gallop; Novel Races; An Arrant Jockey; Tricks of the 
Trade; An Adroit Comanche; Mu-La-Que-Top's Scheme; Sharp Practice; A Sheep of a Pony against a Kentucky 
Mare; Fastest Race on Record; A Put-up Job;  Disgusted Army Officers; Bow and Arrow Games; Scandal Mongers;
Indian Rumors; The Outbreak at Fort Reno; Beating the Telegraph; Incredible Despatch Scouts and Runners;
Something New about Wives; Squaw Fights; Off with the Wrong Man; Facing the Consequences; An Unequal Contest

CHAPTER XXVII. - INDIAN MUSIC AND MUSICIANS - CURIOUS MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS - POETRY AND 
SONGS.
Indian Musical Instruments; The Cheyenne Tom-tom; A Curious Work; Constructive Skill; My Wonderful Present; The
Sioux Rattle; "Flutes and Soft Recorders;" Weird but Winsome Notes; An Indian Serenade; The War Song; The Indian
"German;" Thrilled with Military Frenzy; Transported with Adoration; "Songs Without Words;" Permanence of Indian 
Music; The Celebration of Valor; Selection of the Tune; Fitting the Words; Practising in Chorus; Night After Night at 
Work; The Song Completed; Odd Indian Melodies; Every One His Own Poet; The Cheyenne Courting Song; Winning 
a Married Woman's Love; The Conditional Elopement; The Round Dance; Music of the Kiss Dance; Wild Notes
Recovered; An Interesting Result

CHAPTER XXVIII. - INDIAN DANCES - SCENES OF WILD EXCITEMENT AND FRENZY - LUDICROUS 
EXPERIENCES.
Indian Dancing Customs; Preparations for the Scalp Dance; A Hideous Picture; The Circle of Wands; On the Border 
of Frenzy; Bringing Out Old Scalps; Enlisting for the War; "Striking the Post;" My First Sight of a Scalp Dance; 
Prisoners Gracing the Ceremony; A Boy's Pluck; Exasperated by Ridicule; Begging Dance; Reconciling Old Foes;
Interesting Incident of Crook's Campaign; Indian Diplomacy; Disastrous Blow to New-made Friends; Impoverished by 
Hugs; The Lost Chance; An Everyday Scene; Virtue and Vice Side by Side; Stolen Bodily from the Indians; The Sign 
Dance; The "Kissing Dance;" Mischievous Couples; Practical Jokes; The Indian Love of Humor; Ludicrous 
Experiences; A Delicious Bit of Masquerading

CHAPTER XXIX. - THE SIGN LANGUAGE -WONDERFUL EXPERTNESS OF INDIAN SIGN-TALKERS.
The Need of a Common Language; The Great Battle Ground of the Plains; The Struggle for Existence; Imperilled 
Interests; A Question of Fate; Desperate Encounters; Common Methods of Communication; Signs and Gestures; 
Origin and Extent of the System; The Cheyennes and Arrapahoes; Enforced Companionship; Fighting, Racing and 
Gambling Together; Ignorance of Signs Among the Utes; Ouray's Explanation; Sign Pictures; Rank of the Kiowas as 
Founders of the System; Oral Language; Skeleton Forms of Speech; Individual Styles; First Lessons in Signs Curious
and Interesting Illustrations A Powerful System Its Effect upon Indian Life The Expert Sign-talker Conversation under 
Difficulties Talking under a Blanket

CHAPTER XXX. - INDIAN CHRONOLOGY - DEVICES FOR RECKONING TIME - KEEPING TRACK OF THE YEARS.
Keeping Track of the Years; Counting by "Days," "Sleeps," "Moons," and "Winters;" My Personal Observations; The 
Fruits of Research; The Moon when Corn is Planted; New Year s Day; The First Snow-fall; A Puzzling Interview; An 
Old Cheyenne s Opinion; "Some Years Have More Moons than Others;" The Sioux Calendar;  A Wonderful 
Chronological Chart In the Hands of Curiosity-hunters; Excited Hopes; Provoking Revelations; Facsimile of the 
Calendar; Seventy Years in a Nutshell; Tell-tale Hieroglyphics; Solution of the Mystery; Applying the Key; Finding an 
Old Woman in a Buffalo; Old Folk Lore; A Legend of the Pacific Coast; A "Boston Man"

CHAPTER XXXI. - INDIAN ART AND ARTISTS - SIGNIFICATION OF THEIR PICTURES AND INSCRIPTIONS.
Progress in the Arts; Semi-Civilized Indians; Obtaining an Education; Their Knowledge of the Industrial and Mechanic
Arts; The Pueblos; Spinning, Weaving and Tailoring; The Navahoes; How their Dwellings are Constructed; Beauty and
Excellence of their Blankets; The Apaches; Canoes of Bark; Adepts at Carving; The Making and Ornamentation of 
Pipes; Bead-work, Paint, Feathers, and Fringes; Indian Artists; Their Delight at Pictures Portraying their Remarkable 
Exploits; My Exploring Expedition to the Black Hills; What I Found under a Cairn of Stones; Indian Hieroglyphics;
Inscriptions on Rocks and Trees; Indian Signatures; How Warriors Keep a Record of their Lives; Indian Pictures

CHAPTER XXXII. - INDIAN WEAPONS - HOW THEY ARE MADE - SKILL AND EXPERTNESS IN THEIR USE.
Bows and Arrows; How Indian Boys Learn to Use them; Forays for Scalps and Plunder; The First Gun; An Incident of 
My first Fight with Indians; Why They Still Cling to the Bow; How the Bow is Made; Its Strength and Elasticity; Arrows 
and How they are Made; Their Penetrating Power; War Arrows; Indian Marksman Beaten by a White Man; The War 
Club; The Tomahawk; The Scalping Knife; "Keen as a Razor;" The Lance; A Formidable Weapon; The Shield; 
Patience, Care, and Thought Bestowed upon its Manufacture; How the Indians Obtain their Firearms; A Party of Sioux
Visit my Camp; A Well-Armed Warrior; Fate of a Wealthy Sportsman

CHAPTER XXXIII. - INDIAN DRILL - SIGNAL FIRES AND SMOKES - WONDERFUL METHODS OF 
COMMUNICATION.
How Indian Boys Learn to Ride; Testing the Speed of Every Horse; The Most Skilful Riders in the World; Indian Boys 
Fun; In for a Good Time; Making Bets; In Search of Adventure; How Indians Drill; Show Drills; Secret Signals; 
Sacredness of an Indian Oath; "I have Sworn;" A Well-guarded Mystery; How Warriors are Drilled with a Piece of 
Looking-glass; The Best Cavalry in the World; Indian Methods of Communication at Long Distances; How it is Done;
Signal Smokes; Their Variety and What they Mean; Night Signals; Signal Fires; Indian Scouts; Wonderful System
of Telegraphing; Marvellous Feats of Horsemanship; Practising at Carrying off the Dead and Wounded

CHAPTER XXXIV. - INDIAN FIGHTING - THEIR MODE OF WARFARE - THRILLING ADVENTURES AND 
EXPERIENCES.
Indian Courage, Craft, Patience and Cunning; The Effect of Surprise; Their Fights with Each Other; Danger from a 
Wounded Indian; Tenacity of Life; My Command Ordered to Protect a Railroad; The "Talking Wire;" Discovering the 
Position of the Enemy; Indian Strategy; The Battle of the Rosebud under Gen. Crook; A Terrible Conflict; The " Valley
of the Shadow of Death;" Personal Experiences; "Jumped" by Indians; A Thrilling Adventure; Surrounded by Sixty 
Hostile Sioux; An Exciting Experience; Charge of the Yelling Savages; We are Again Surrounded; A Narrow Escape;
My Adventure near Fort Dodge; Preparations for the Fight; Stowing away "Julia;" A Ludicrous Experience; Diplomacy 
Saves our Lives; A Disgusted Indian

CHAPTER XXXV. - ARMY LIFE ON THE PLAINS - THRILLING ADVENTURES AMONG THE INDIANS.
The Real Pioneer; General Ouster's Attack on Black Kettle; A Desperate Conflict; Undaunted Savages; The Story of
the Massacre of Major Elliott and His Nineteen Men; Three Thousand Warriors Rush to the Assistance of Black Kettle;
Wild Alarm; The Indians surround Major Elliott's Command; Hasty Preparations for the Worst; Attacked on all Sides;
The Fight for Life; The Death of Twenty Brave Men; The Last One to Die; Courage and Heroism of Sergeant-Major 
Kennedy; Alone, Sabre in Hand; Exulting Savages; Inviting Instant Death; Kennedy Suddenly Kills a Chief; An Instant 
of Terrified Surprise; Death of Kennedy, Pierced by Twenty Bullets; The Battle of White Stone Hill; Every Man for 
Himself

CHAPTER XXXVI. - ARMY EXPERIENCES ON THE FRONTIER - POWELL'S FIGHT - THE HEROISM OF THIRTY-
TWO  MEN.
The Phil Kearney Massacre; Annihilation of the Whites; Preparations to Strike Back; Red Cloud's Resentment; War to
the Knife; The Situation at Fort Phil Kearney; Major Powell Ordered to Piney Island; Surrounded by Indians;
Improvised Defences; Iron Walls and Breech-loaders; The Heroism of Thirty-two Men; Cool Heads, Brave Hearts, and 
Steady Nerves; The Carnival of Death; Repulse with Desperate Loss; Red Cloud s Consternation; The Bloodthirsty 
Advance; Awaiting the Deadly Onset; Heroic Defence of the Corral; Routed and Driven Back; Recovering the
Wounded; Dragging off the Dead; The Gallant Band Relieved; An Old Trapper's Story of the Fight

CHAPTER XXXVII. - GENERAL MACKENZIE'S FIGHT WITH THE CHEYENNES - A DESPERATE HAND TO HAND 
COMBAT.
Indian Tactics; Surprises and Ambuscades; Attacking Detachments in Detail; Appalling Massacres; Courage and 
Craft; The Night March; General Crook's Indian Allies; Pursuit of Crazy Horse; His Escape; Discovery of the Cheyenne
Encampment; A Night of Horror; The Surprise at Daybreak; Desperate Attack and Resistance; Hand to Hand Combat;
Death of Dull Knife's Favorite Son; Holding the Victors at Bay; Lieutenant McKinney's Splendid Dash; The Dead Hero;
Reinforcements Summoned; My Command Ordered Forward; Our Forced March in the Dead of Winter; We Lose the 
Trail; Sleeping on the Snow; Flight of the Indians; Untold Hardships Endured; The Fatal Route

CHAPTER XXXVIII. - WINTER ON THE PLAINS - ITS DANGERS AND HARDSHIPS - INCIDENTS AND PERSONAL 
EXPERIENCES.
Difficulty of Surprising Indians; Starvation and Cold their Worst Enemies; The Remarkable Winters of the Plains;
Piercing Winds; Excessive Cold; Certain Death to Every Exposed Living Thing; Flying to Shelter; A " Norther;" Terrible
Hardships and Sufferings of Fifteen Men; Braving the Dangers of the Elements; The Pluck of Captain Mix; Threats of 
Instant Death; An Incident in My Own Experience; Horses Frozen to Death; A Stirring Incident; Captain Henry's 
Experience In the Teeth of a Furious " Norther;" Wandering Blindly through the Snow; Horses Frantic with Cold; Hands
and Faces Frozen; Utter Helplessness of the Party; Looking Death in the Face; The Race for Life

CHAPTER XXXIX. - TAKING THE SCALP - HOW AND WHY IT IS DONE - THRILLING INCIDENTS.
The Indian Custom of Taking the Scalp; Origin of the Practice; What Becomes of the Scalps; Strange Superstition 
attached to them; The Head Chief of the Pawnees Pays me a Visit; He Discloses a Freshly Taken Scalp; A strange 
Performance; How the Pawnees Wear their Hair; Custom of the Cheyennes, Arrapahoes, Kiowas and Comanches;
How the Scalp is Taken; Different ways of Doing it; Taking the Ears with it; What I saw in an Indian Camp; Why 
Colored Soldiers are never Scalped; Mutilation of the Body; Why General Ouster's Body was not Scalped; Sam 
Cherry the Guide; A Thrilling Incident; Fears for his Safety; Working Out the Story of the Tragedy; His Last Shot

CHAPTER XL. - PRISONERS AMONG INDIANS VICTIMS FOR THE TORTURE CAPTIVE WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
Certain Fate of Captives; Held only for Torture; Savage Instincts; Delight in the Agonies of his Enemy; Torture by 
Fire; Terrible Fate of a Little Drummer Boy; Human Fiends; Tied to a Tree; Setting Fire to Pine Knots Stuck in His 
Body; Sufferings of the Poor Boy; Death s Relief; "Staked Out;" Devilish Ingenuity; Horrible Brutality; Building a Fire 
on the Breast of Living Victims; Female Captives; A Fate worse than Death; Unhappy Slaves; A Favorite Stake at the 
Gambling-Board; Passing from Hand to Hand; A dozen Owners in a Single Day; A Terrible Situation; Giving up 
Prisoners; Experiences of Three White Women Captives; A Story of Horrors; Captive Children; Their Fate

CHAPTER XLI. - THE CAPTIVE's FATE - INDIAN CRUELTY AND HORRIBLE DEVICES OF TORTURE - TRAGEDIES.
The Indian's Chief Pleasure in Life; Relishing the Agony of a Victim; Cruelty to Animals; Indian Women in the Role of 
Torturers; Hellish Ingenuity; Exultation over a Captive; Cruelty of the Apaches; The Fate of Chihuahua; A Band of 
Fiends; Bound Naked to the Cactus; Left to Die; The Fate of Captive Women; Bondage Worse than Death; An 
Exciting Scene; Horrible Cruelties; New Devices of Torture; Experimenting with Prisoners; Dissecting Living Human 
Beings; Torture of a Mexican Captive; Digging His Own Grave; Buried Alive with the Head Out of Ground; Partial 
Flaying; Dislocations; Scalped and Abandoned; A Ghastly Tragedy; The Story of an Apache Girl; Yellow Legs

CHAPTER XLII. - A RACE OF THIEVES AND PLUNDERERS - THEIR DARING AND SKILL  - ADVENTURES.
The Successful Thief; His Standing in the Tribe; The Gravest of Crimes; Horse Stealing; Doom of the Captured Thief;
Reckless Warriors; Disguised as Whites; The False Trail; Accomplished Sneak-Thieves; Comanche Experts; Crawling
into a Bivouac; Indian Wiles; Old Texans Caught Napping; My Night Adventure at Fort Lincoln; The Blacksmith's 
Death; Shot Dead in his Tracks; The Prince of Trailers; A Thrilling Incident; My Experience with a Comanche; The 
Fiend's Bravado; A Wild Leap; A Race of Thieves; A Wagon Train Stampeded; The Night Attack; The Old Rifle 
Regiment; A Remarkable Ruse; Horses Frantic with Fear; Unearthly Yells; The Mystery Explained

CHAPTER XLIII. - HOW INDIANS TRAVEL - THEIR MARVELLOUS JOURNEYS AND EXPLOITS - PLAINSCRAFT.
Unerring Instinct; Straight as a Bee Line; Over Trackless Wastes Without Star or Compass; The Only Instance of an
Indian being "Lost;" Memory of Landmarks; Acute Observers; Born Explorers; Penetrating Unknown Lands; The Old 
Guide; Espinosa's Story; A Batch of Young Raiders; The Solitary Wanderer; Exemption from Danger; On the Alert for 
Enemies; The Love of Adventure; Meandering Delawares; A Notable Tribe; An Indian Explorer; A Wonderful 
Story-Teller;  A Strange Ambition Gratified; Across the Rocky Mountains; Life in Mexico; Black Beaver's Career;
General Marcy s Guide; Female Instinct In the Thicket; Breaking Camp; The Advance Guard; The Mound Builders

CHAPTER XLIV. - TRAILING - INDIAN EXPERTNESS IN READING "SIGN" - THE WONDERFUL CAREER OF 
PEDRO  ESPINOSA.
A Savage Art; Expert Trailers; Frontiersmen and Indians; An Inimitable Faculty; Mexican Competitors; The Best Trailer
I, ever Saw; Pedro Espinosa; A Wonderful Career; Captured in Childhood; Made a Warrior at Thirteen; Suspected by
his Captors; Leading a Savage Life; Nineteen Years of Captivity; A Fortunate Bear Hunt; The Midnight Flight; 
Entrusted with Union Despatches; Arrested and Shot by the Enemy; Thrilling Reminiscences; Pursuit of Comanches;
Six Days on the Trail; An Exciting Manoeuvre; Indian Tactics; Cunning and Skill; The Wrong Scent; Scouting for 
Apaches; The Fresh Track; A Successful Ruse; Every Man for Himself; An Extraordinary Feat; Cheyennes at Bay;
Major Munck s Victory; The Pawnee Guide

CHAPTER XLV. - INDIAN HUNTERS - ADVENTURES ON THE PLAINS - EXCITING SCENES - THE HAUNTS OF 
GAME.
The Best Hunters in the World; Their Stealth, Cunning, and Endurance; Getting Position; "Many a Slip;" The Lost 
Chance; An Astonished Indian; My Successful Shot; The Indian's Disgust; The "Pot-Shot;" Exciting Scenes; The 
Buffalo Surround; The Square Chase; Hunting the Elk; Cutting the Hamstring; Butchered at Leisure; The "Good Old
Times;" Terrified Animals; Fun in Mid-Winter; Traps and Snares; Luckless Anglers; Abhorrence of Fish; The Staked 
Plains; Origin of the Buffalo; A Curious Superstition; Stone Calf and the Legend; Lieutenant Ogle and the Sioux;
Preparing for the Surround; The Onslaught; Discovery of a Fresh Herd; The Indians Dissatisfied; Threatened Attack

CHAPTER XLVI. - DOMESTIC ANIMALS - SPEED AND ENDURANCE OF INDIAN PONIES - ANECDOTES AND 
INCIDENTS.
Indian Stockbreeders; Chief Ouray's Ambition; "Animal-Stealing" Tribes; The Cherokee; Ponies An Inseparable 
Companion; Ponies a Necessity, Wives a Luxury; Where "Blood" Doesn't Count; The Express Rider and his 
Wonderful Pony; The Daring Mail Carrier; Riding by Night and Hiding by Day; A Marvellous Roadster; The Indian's 
Treatment of his Horse; An Animated Skeleton; Browzing on Cottonwood; The Diet of Bark; Thrilling Chapter in Indian
History; Escape from the Agency; Marching like Victors; Encounters with Troops; An Ambuscade; Turning the Tables
on the Redmen; Col. Lewis Shot; Flight of the Indians; Horrors of the Kansas Raid; Munck's Cavalry Pursuit; Speed
and Endurance; Race and Trick Animals; The War Pony

CHAPTER XLVII. - ON THE FRONTIER - TRAPPERS AND SQUAW MEN - TRADING POSTS AND INDIAN AGENTS.
On the Frontier; The Border Line; The Early Trappers; Playing the Wild Rover; Romantic Adventures; Adoption by 
the Tribe; The Old Trading Posts; A Winter's Work for Whiskey; The Indian Trader; Perambulating Groggeries; Indian
Wives and Half-breed Children; Growing Rich; Influence with Washington Magnates; The Squaw Men; Adventurers 
and Outcasts; The Asylum of Thieves and Murderers; Pliant Tools of Corrupt Agents; Treachery and Debauchery;
Leading a Band of Sioux Horse-thieves; Inciting the Indians to Deeds of Atrocity; A Thousand of such " Missionaries;"
Indian Marriages; Social Degradation; The Black Hills War; A Costly Sacrifice; Dishonest Interpreters; How the Indians
are Misled; Escape from a Disastrous Contest

CHAPTER XLVIII. - FRONTIERSMEN - TEXAS COW-BOYS AND BORDER DESPERADOES - A STRANGE AND 
THRILLING STORY.
Frontiersmen; Who They Are; The Miners and Gold Hunters; Unsavory Buffalo Hunters; Texas Cow-Boys; A Life of 
Privation, Hardship and Danger; A Plains "Norther;" The Most Reckless of all Desperadoes; Utter Disregard of Life;
Spoiling for a Fight; The Terror of the Frontier; Cattle Thieves; A Strange and Thrilling Story; History of a Bloodthirsty
Combat; A Remarkable Incident of Border Life; A Noted Desperado; His Gorgeous Appearance; Stealing a Herd of 
Cattle; Tracking the Thieves; Their Discovery; Watching for a Favorable Opportunity; Killing his Victims One by One;
A Merciless Foe; Death of the Sixth Ruffian; He Proves to be the Leader of the Band; A Question of Time

CHAPTER XLIX. - BORDER RUFFIANS - A LIFE OF PRIVATION AND DANGER - THRILLING PERSONAL 
EXPERIENCES.
Fugitives from Justice; Escaped Criminals; Beyond the Settlements; Commencing Life Anew; An Exploring Expedition
in Northern Texas; Thrilling Incident in My Early Military Life; My Camp near the Squatter's Cabin; Alone with a 
Frontier Ruffian; A Dangerous Companion; He Threatens my Life; Strange Hospitality; A Reckless Frontiersman; The
Monomania of Assassination; A Wonderful Two-handed Shot; Desperate Combat of Two Border Ruffians; Dying 
Happy; Slade, the Notorious Desperado; An Arrant Coward; The Influence of Drink; Strange Freak of a Man of
Wealth; A Tender Heart Beneath a Rough Exterior; Burying Himself in the Wilderness; A Lawless Life

CHAPTER L. - FRONTIER SCOUTS AND GUIDES - HEROIC ACHIEVEMENT OF AMOS CHAPMAN - FACING 
DEATH.
Plainscraft; Importance of Guides; The Old Trappers; Lessons from the Indians; How an Experienced Guide was Lost;
Old Bridger; Kit Carson; The Requisites of a Good Scout; Boots Hill; California Joe; Wild Bill; Buffalo Bill; Amos 
Chapman; His Wonderful Achievement; What Gen. Miles Said of Him; Heroic Conduct of Chapman; Surrounded by 
Indians; A Thrilling Deed; "Amos! Amos! We have got you now;" Remarkable Pluck; Facing Death to Rescue a 
Wounded Comrade; Major Forsyth's Fight; The Alarm, "Indians!" Gallant Defence; The Charge of Roman Nose and
His Band; Terrific Volley from the Whites; Secret Departure of the Scouts for Help; Threatened Starvation; Living on 
Decaying Mule Flesh; Succor at Last

CHAPTER LI. THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF THE INDIANS - MY IDEA OF WHAT SHOULD BE DONE.
"Wards of the Nation;" Charity Begins at Home; Official Tyranny; Hidden Crimes Against the Indians; Their Need of 
Help and Sympathy; Their Future; Contrasts Between Their Condition a Few Years Ago and Now; On the Verge of 
Starvation; Why They Do Not Progress; The Indian Ring; A Powerful Organization; How the Indian is Robbed, 
Swindled and Imposed Upon; The Source of all Indian Ills; Neglect by the Government; Criminal Responsibility; My 
Idea of What Should Be Done; The Tide of Immigration; Only a Question of Time,

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