89
143
144
“The missionaries sent amongst the several tribes are, no doubt, sincere in their intentions. I believe them to be so, from what I have seen; but, unfortunately, they commence their labours where they should end them. They should teach the Indians to work, by establishing schools of that description among them; induce them to live at home, abandon their restless and unsettled life, and live independent of the chase. After they are taught this, their intellectual faculties would be more susceptible of improvement of a moral and religious nature; and their steps towards civilization would become less difficult.”
The Pawnees are divided into four bands, or families—designated by the names of Grand Pawnees—Tappage Pawnees—Republican Pawnees, and Wolf Pawnees.
Each of these bands has a chief at its head; which chiefs, with all the nation, acknowledge a superior chief at whose voice they all move.
At the head of the Grand Pawnees, is Shon-ka-ki-he-ga (the horse chief, [plate 138]); and by the side of him, Haw-che-ke-sug-ga (he who kills the Osages, [plate 139]), the aged chief of the Missouries, of whom I have spoken, and shall yet say more.
La-doo-ke-a (the buffalo bull, [plate 140]), with his medicine or totem (the head of a buffalo) painted on his breast and his face, with bow and arrows in his hands, is a warrior of great distinction in the same band.