Blackfoot lodge tales : the story of a prairie people / by George Bird Grinnell.

  • George Bird Grinnell
Date:
1893
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Blackfoot lodge tales : the story of a prairie people / by George Bird Grinnell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    201/336 page 181
    Indians are usually represented as being a silent, sullen race, seldom speaking, and never laughing nor joking. How- ever true this may be in regard to some tribes, it certainly was not the case with most of those who lived upon the great Plains. These people were generally talkative, merry, and light-hearted; they delighted in fun, and were a race of jokers. It is true that, in the presence of strangers, they were grave, silent, and reserved, but this is nothing more than the shyness and embarrassment felt by a child in the presence of strangers. As the Indian becomes acquainted, this reserve wears off; he is at his ease again and appears in his true colors, a light-hearted child. Certainly the Blackfeet never were a taciturn and gloomy people. Before the disappearance of the buffalo, they were happy and cheer- ful. Why should they not have been? Food and clothing were to be had for the killing and tanning. All fur animals were abundant, and thus the people were rich. Meat, really the only food they cared for, was plenty and cost nothing. Their robes and furs were exchanged with the traders for bright-colored blankets and finery. So they wanted nothing. It is but nine years since the buffalo disappeared from the land. Only nine years have passed since these people gave up that wild, free life which was natural to them, and ah ! how dear ! Let us go back in memory to those happy days and see how they passed the time. The sun is just rising. Thin columns of smoke are creep- ing from the smoke holes of the lodges, and ascending in i8i
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3