No. II. A Dakota killed an Arikara as he was about to shoot an eagle. The sign gives the head and shoulders of a man with a red spot of blood on his neck, an arm being extended, with a line drawn to a golden eagle. The Arickaras, a branch of the Pawnee (Pani) family, were at the date given a powerful body, divided into ten large bands. They migrated in recent times from southeast to northwest along the Missouri River.
No. III. A Ree Indian hunting eagles from a hole in the ground killed by the Two Kettle Dakotas.
Battiste Good says: “Killed-them-while-hunting-eagles winter.” Some Dakota eagle-hunters were killed by enemies.
White-Cow-Killer calls it “Killed-while-hunting-eagles winter.”
Mato Sapa says: A Ree hunting eagles from a hole in the ground was killed by Two Kettles.
Major Bush says the same without the words “hole in the ground.”
There is no doubt that the drawing represents an Indian in the act of catching an eagle by the legs, as the Arickaras were accustomed to catch eagles in their earth-traps. They rarely or never shot war eagles. The enemies probably shot the Arikara in his trap just as he put his hand up to grasp the bird.
1807-’08.—No. I. Red-Shirt killed by Rees.
No. II. Red-Coat, a chief, was killed. The figure shows the red coat pierced by two arrows, with blood dropping from the wounds.