Letter XVIII.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRECIS HISTORIQUES, BRUSSELS.
The Four Tribes of the Black-Feet-Gros-Ventres, Pégans, Blood-tribe, and Black-Feet proper.
UNIVERSITY OF ST. LOUIS, October 28, 1855.
REV. AND DEAR FATHER:
In some of my letters of 1846, I spoke of my visit to the Black-Feet. I sojourned among the tribes, the Gros-Ventres, Pégans, Gens du Sang, and Black-Feet proper, about six weeks, and had the happiness of regenerating in the holy waters of baptism several hundred children and adults. In the month of October, after having bid adieu to Father Point, who proposed passing the winter in the Indian camps, in order to sound further their dispositions in a religious point of view, I left the country of the Black-Feet, in order, to repair to St. Louis, where the affairs of the missions were awaiting me. During the residence of Father Point among those Indian populations, he collected many interesting traits concerning the character and manners of the savages; he bad the kindness to communicate them to me. 1 sent a copy of his relation to our superiors in Europe; but I do not think it has ever been published. In the hope that it will afford you pleasure, and that it will prove worthy of your attention, I transmit to you some of the principal extracts. In 1847, Father Point wrote me:
I think I can say, to the glory of the only Author of all Good, that with his grace I have not lost my time among the Black-Feet. I have performed six hundred and sixty-seven baptisms, the records of which are in due form; I have taken notes of whatsoever appeared to me 'suitable for interesting the curious or edifying the pious. During the winter I was accustomed, daily, to give three instructions, or catechetical lessons, proportioned to the three very different classes of my auditors. It is unnecessary for me to say that the prayers have all been translated into Black-Foot, and learned in Fort Louis and in the camp of the Pégans, and there is scarcely any camp among the Black-Feet in which the sign of the cross is not held in veneration, and even practised, at least among those individuals who have had any intercourse with the missionary.
“Of the twenty-five or thirty camp-leaders, or chiefs, who visited me, or whom I have visited, there is- not one who. 'has not given ideas of his people or tribe less disadvantageous than those generally entertained, and of course among the whites who inhabit the Indian Teritory as elsewhere. Among the different camps, there is a species of emulation as to which shall have the Black-gown, or rather the mission, on its lands. Concerning this article I have decided-nothing. I have only said, that in case a Reduction were formed, it would be built in the position or locality which would afford the greatest advantages to all the tribes, taken collectively. All found this idea reasonable, and have promised that they would exert their utmost endeavors to satisfy the Blackgowns.
"The Gros-Ventres of the plains appear to me to have the advantage over the others, in being more adroit, more docile, and courageous; but they are more strongly attached to their. old superstitions, and are terrible demanders, as the Canadian employees here call shameless beggars: happily, they are not offended when refused. The Pégans are the most civilized, but the most noted thieves. The Gens du Sang are well made, of fine blood, and generally less dirty. It is said that the Black-Feet proper are the most hospitable.
“Such are the, most striking traits of these four nations, so long at war with almost all their neighbors, and sometimes among themselves, at least, partially. Since they have had the proof that the true prayer renders men more valiant, happier, and generally tends to make him live longer (three advantages which they exalt above all others, and which they believe they perceive united in the Flat-Heads), the medicine-sack; or idolatry, with many, is falling into discredit.
“Several traits of divine justice, against those who have , shown themselves less docile in following our counsels, and, on the contrary, several striking evidences of protection, in favor of those who followed them, have contributed greatly to work an admirable change in their ideas. By that, I do not mean to pronounce theta saints: no; theft and assassination are not yet, in the eyes of the young, particularly, destitute of attractions. For this reason, notwithstanding the peace concluded with the Flat-Heads, and the inclination of the great men to maintain it, there were many depredations committed during the winter, to the detriment of the latter. But, let it be said, to the praise of the chiefs, the whole was disapproved by them. Nine or ten thieves have received their deserts from the Pends-d'Oreilles. This pacification, so desirable, under the double relation of humanity and social commerce, is the condition, sine qua non, of the conversion of the greater part of those poor Indians, unless God is pleased to work a miracle, which rarely has happened, except among the Flat-Heads.
"I pursued in the hunt, during nearly six weeks, the fifty lodges of the Pégans, which are under the command of the chief, Amakzikinne, or “The Great-Lake”. This camp is one of the seven or eight fractions of the Pégan tribe, amounting in all to about three hundred lodges. This tribe forms a part of the four, known under the generic title of Black-Feet. I have spoken of them already. The Pégans are the most civilized, on account of the relations of a portion of their people with the Flat-Heads. If the GrosVentres were less importunate, I would willingly entitle them “the Flat-Heads' of the Missouri. They have something of their simplicity and their bravery. They are improperly ranked among the Black-Feet: besides, they did not originate in the country, they do not speak their language, and are different in many respects.*
"However this may be, these four tribes may contain about a thousand lodges, or ten thousand souls. This is not half what they were, before the contagion of small-pox introduced among them by the whites. I believe that women constitute more than two thirds of them, if not even three quarters. This inequality, so baneful to morals, is the result of war. In the visit that I paid to the Gros-Ventres, divided into two camps, I -counted two hundred and thirty lodges. I visited, or received visits from, several fractions or detachments of Black-Feet, and further, an entire camp of Gens du Sang; and all were in such dispositions, that only a word on my part would have been necessary to enable me to baptize, with. their consent, all the children from the largest down to
(* The Gros-Ventres of the plains are a branch of the Rapahoes, who roam over the plains of New Mexico, and those on the Platte and Nebraska rivers. They separated from the nation a century and a half ago; on account of differences between their chiefs. The Gros-Ventres gave me this information.-(Note by Father de Smet. )
those of only a day old, which the mothers brought me of their own free will. I could have baptized a great number of adults; they even seemed to desire it ardently ; but these desires were not yet sufficiently imbued with the true principles of religion. I could not content myself with the persuasion generally existing among the savages, that when they have received baptism they can conquer any enemy whatsoever. The courage and the happiness of the Flat-Heads have inspired them with this belief. This explains why some wretches, who seek only to kill their neighbors, were the first to petition for baptism. All say that they would be glad to have Black-gowns; but why do the greater part desire them a Because they think that all other imaginable blessings will come with them; not only courage to fight, but also every species of remedy to enable them to enjoy corporeal health. The Gros-Ventres conducted to me a humpbacked person and a near-sighted person that I might heal them. I said that this kind of cures surpassed my abilities; which did not, however, hinder them from making other similar requests. But at last, by continually repeating to them, that the Black-gowns can heal souls, but not always the body, some at last believe me. They believe also that we can excite diseases, and cause the thunder to roll when we are not satisfied. Quite recently, there was' an earthquake in the land of the Gros-Ventres, and directly the report was spread abroad that I was the cause of the Earth's trembling; and that this shock was an indication that the small-pox was about to return into the country, etc., and all this happened because the Indians did not give attention sufficient to the discourse of the Black-gown. There is actually a malady raging among the Pégans, said to be mortal, and which indeed has proved fatal to a few persons. As this disease begins in the ear, they consider themselves more justified than the Gros-Ventres, in saying I that this punishment arrived to them on account of their hardness of heart,' in listening to the words of the Great Spirit. For myself, what appeared most striking, was the sudden death of a dozen of persons, stricken down either in their lodges or in war, but at the moment that they were straying most widely from the right path. One of these, belonging to the Black-Feet, had robbed me of three mules; he died on the morrow after his arrival home, and after finding himself divested of his capture, which were conducted back to me. This death was certain to provoke the saying:”Woe to him who robs the Black-gowns!' Thus in one way or another Almighty God is preparing the way for the conversion of these poor idolaters.
"To return to the Pégans, with whom I have lived about six weeks, I will observe that those who, among the savages, call themselves ‘Great Men' would be disposed to listen wholly to us, could we but make terms with them on the article of plurality of wives; that the youth, in their turn, would as cheerfully, if we could immediately make ’Great Men' of them; but this being scarcely possible, all the reasonings of the wise can with difficulty induce them to refrain from robbery. If they can rob adroitly and in large value from the enemies of their nation, they never fail to do it; but if the theatre of their legitimate thefts is too remote, it is not rare to find them seeking among friendly tribes (for example, the Pends-d'Oreilles or the Flat-Heads) what would prove too troublesome to seek elsewhere. A few days since, the three brothers of The Great Lake, to one of whom the Flat-Heads have three times granted life, came with two good and handsome horses taken from the Pends-d'Oreilles, who had just spared the lives of two of their youth. Already t«vice before, after similar misdeeds, The Great Lake, not withstanding my strong remonstrances, had not the courage to blame them. Among the Black-Feet, the rich people, who undertake to rebuke the wicked who possess nothing, have naught to gain and all "to lose. As there is neither lawful authority on one side nor conscience on the other, a second theft, or a musket-shot, is not rare.
" In these thefts, however, there is one thing which excuses, to a certain degree, the silence of the chief of whom I have just spoken; it is the robbery of two horses to his detriment committed by a young Flat-Head ; but this precedent cannot certainly justify the reprisals ; for, besides restitution having been promised to him, he knew well that the thief in question was an outcast from his tribe; that he ought not to imitate him; that he was only to follow the example of the good, who were all desirous of dwelling in peace with the Black-Feet, etc. But in vain we instruct them and refresh their memories, we discover that these reasons enter their minds with difficulty, and still less their hearts, which have neither the uprightness nor the generosity of their allies. Aside from these miseries, and some false maxims derived from the whites, the remainder, and even the very efforts of hell to resume a prey which is escaping her, all that is accomplishing at this moment in this country, announces that the day of its regeneration is not remote. What most consoles us, is that this regeneration, if things continue, will be due, in great measure, to the present exemplary conduct at the fort.
“Every day after mass, I teach the children their prayers; every evening the men recall them to memory mutually; at ; six o'clock in the evening these recite their prayers in common in my own room, after which I give them an instruction; then comes the turn of the women. Now, these women, baptized and lawfully married, or preparing for baptism and marriage, oblige their husbands to say (the latter having almost all approached the sacraments) : What a change I what a difference!' In fact, this difference is so sensible, that it is obvious to all the savages who come in throngs to the fort, and do not return without coming to assure me, that they also wish to learn and follow the way to heaven, since it is only in that path and in heaven that real happiness is found.' What are their narrations when they return to their families? New visitors, better disposed than ever in regard to the fort and on the subject of prayer, easily make known.
"I have yet one consoling piece of news to announce. On my route, travelling with the Pégan camp, I baptized fourteen little infants of the Crow nation, so well did I find them disposed,-these were on their way to visit the Gros-Ventres. They desire to see you among them again. Indulging this hope, they will go to meet you in the spring. At a distance, as when present, Reverend Father, I shall never cease to offer devout and heartfelt petitions for the success of an enterprise, to which it has pleased Divine
Providence to associate me from its commencement. It will always be allowable for me to do by prayers, what I cannot effect by my works.
I am, etc.,
“N. POINT, S. J."
The project of going to these poor Indians has never been abandoned. Every returning spring they send pressing invitations to the Black-gowns to come and establish themselves among them, in order to be taught the way of the Lord. During the current year, we have received invitations from the Black-Feet, the Crows, the Assiniboins, the Sioux, Poukahs, and Omahas, with many other tribes; the number of these Indians surpasses 70,000. A great number of infants and adults have received baptism. The vast wilderness that they occupy boasts not a single priest at this moment! During fifteen years they supplicate pastors!
Allow me, Reverend Father, to request the aid of your prayer and holy sacrifices, and deign to commend the poor .Indians to the kind remembrance of the pious souls of your acquaintance, that the Lord may condescend to hear these unhappy men, and send good pastors into this wide-spread "vineyard," so long neglected, but which promises such a glorious harvest.
In union with your devout petitions and holy sacrifices, I have the honor to be, with, the most profound respect and highest esteem, Reverend and dear Father,
Your very devoted servant and brother in Jesus Christ,
P. J. DE SMET, S. J.