Conservative * 11
SOME LEGENDS , MYTHS AND FACTS.
Hidden , away in the "Geographical
and Geological Survey of the Rooky
Mountain Region" is a very extensive
resume of the The-giha language by
James Owen Dorsey.
This language is the base of the
Omaha and Ponca dialects , and in this
work many legends and myths are
elaborated ; they are printed first in the
Indian , then translated into as good
English as possible. There are a num
ber in the collection , and they partake
of the tone and substance of many
Greek myths.
Similar to "Grims' Fairy Tales. "
One would almost think he had found
a new edition of "Grims1 Fairy Tales , "
or "Hawthorn's Wonder Book. "
The perusal of these myths leads mete
to believe that other tribes than the
Omahas had legends and myths , and a
brief correspondence with Capt. L. H.
North , of Monroe reveals the faot that
there were like myths among the
Pawnees.
Mr. North writes me a letter
substantiating the article on "Indian
Jugglery , " which appeared in THE
CONSERVATIVE some weeks ago. He
adds that these ceremonies were con
ducted only after long fasting and
prayer , and were a religious ceremony
of great solemnity. He does not know
of the ceremony being conducted after
1868. Prior to that time the ceremonies
were conducted but once a year by the
head men of the tribe. When Oapt.
North visited the Pawnees in 1888 , he
says the medicine-men were all dead ,
and the younger generation had lost the
art of performing these feats of jug
glery. Oapt. North has promised to
give me an account of other curious
feats which the Pawnees practiced ,
was to have met the Captain during my
recent trip to Columbus , but failed.
The work around Columbus goes
steadily onward , and we may hope for
some startling revelations from that
quarter. In excavating for a cellar near
the city , a number of relics were found ,
but I failed to see the parties this
time.
Evidence of an Ancient City.
An extensive burying ground has
been found near Columbus , which we
hope to investigate during the sum
mer. This much comes from stirring
up interest. Two years ago , when I
first visited Columbus , not a single per
son had a single shadow of encourage
ment to uphold me in my belief thai
Columbus was the site of a vast , ancient ,
Indian city.
Now , as to some scraps legendary
evidence which I have gathered around
Columbus'during my visits there from
time to time , and which should be
elaborated , that more may be added , or
that any misstatements may be cor
rected.
Every letter in THE CONSERVATIVE
\ ,
brings me replies from people who know
something of what has boon written and
so the work goes on ; I thank these people
ple for their interest , and hope thus to
gather much valuable data.
An Early Cornfield.
Mr. James E. North informs mo that
one mile east of Fullerton there were
evidences of a cornfield when he first
: ame to this locality in an early day.
The Pawnees removed from south of the
Platte river in 1856 , to their camp near
Genoa , Nebr. There is a Pawnee legend
of a time when they used dogs only , as
aeasts of burden. The Pawnees told
Mr. Frank North that at a remote
period they came across the mountains
from the south-west , and that after they
got into the Arkansas valley , they had
a battle with the Sioux , and the tribe
was scattered ; that the Arkares were
taken prisoners and carried north , where
they were found on the North Loup
river at a later date.
The "Flood Legend. "
At a very early period the "Men , " or
Pawnees were giants , and carried buf
falo in their belts when they came from
the hunt. They were so powerful that
they grew haughty , and defied the
Great Spirit. One turned his back to
the Great Spirit , and for this act of dis
respect the whole tribe of giants was
destroyed by a great flood. This sounds
very much like a "flood legend. " Every
tribe which lias been studied had a flood
legend of some kind. The direction of
migration is the same as my first theory
respecting the Pawnees , but my study
recently leads me to believe that the
evidence is in favor of a migration from
the south-east , not from a south-west
direction. This should be definitely set
tled and I am anxious for any truth
bearing on it. The fact that the Paw
nees numbered "several hundred thous
and in 1847" has been contradicted , but
no evidence to the contrary has come to
my notice.
More Hematite.
A large piece of hematite similar to
the specimen from which the Boca bust
is made , has been found on the site of a
new village about three miles south of
Roca. This serves to prove that hema
tite was a commodity with the red-men ;
in fact many of the Pawnees were
nearly white , and if they were red-men
in reality , hematite or some other red
paint must have been used. We know
that the Indians who went to conquest
( like some so-called civilized ladies )
painted their faces ; the custom is old
and hematite gives a beautiful and last
ing copper-color to the skin.
Mr. R. R. Draper , of Dawson , Nebr. ,
writes me that a fine specimen of a pipe
has been found near there ; we hope for
more from that vicinity , as I am quite
sure that the Big Nemaha was a route of
travel for the Aborigines.
Capt. J. H. Culver , , of Milford , has
gathered much valuable data about the
Pawnees , which he has promised to oon-
rribute to the historical collections , and
wo will give a summary of it to the
readers of THE CONSERVATIVE in time.
E. E. BLACKMAN.
Roca , Neb. , Juno 20,1901.
THE CONSERVA-
WOOL GATHERING. TIVE calls the at
tention of sheep-
owners to the subjoined from the New
York Evening Post of June 18th , 1901.
The American people all wear woolen
goods. A few Americans grow wool.
The existing laws were instituted to
make wool higher and so , artificially , to
increase the profits of the few at the ex
pense of all. Those wool-gathering
profits are not popular anywhere now.
Nobody is satisfied with being wooled
under present tariff conditions.
"There must be some screw loose in
the wool and woolen industry. The
present tariff on wool was adopted at the
instance , or rather at the furious de
mand , of the wool-growers. There was
a sudden rise in the prices of wool in
consequence , and then a reaction and a
decline , and the decline has been per
sistent and continuous , although prices
of commodities in general have had an
upward tendency during the past year.
According to the annual review of the
wool trade , published by the New York
Chamber of Commerce , 'prices have de
clined almost to those ruling in 1898. '
The following table shows the decline
during the calendar year 1900 :
Jan. 1 , Jan. 1
1000. 1001.
Cents. Gents.
Ohiofleece 85 27
Unwashed half blood 29 23
Unwashed quarter 28 23 %
Australian combing 40 85
Cape 25 20
Montevideo 28 24
"The Chamber of Commerce report says
that 'extravagant duties on foreign
wool do not seem in the long run to
benefit our wool-growers. If they were
modified or abolished , fluctuations
of prices would be less frequent and
speculation less rampant. Consumption
of the staple would increase , as the use
of adulterants would be discouraged. '
The amount of adulterants , shoddy and
cotton , used in the production of woolen
goods is believed to exceed the entire
wool clip of the United States. Mr.
Dexter North tells the wool-growers
that they have only themselves to
blame. They were told when the Ding-
ley bill was under consideration that
too high a duty would restrict the con
sumption of wool and would thus be in
jurious to the grower. 'It has operated
in precisely that way , ' adds Mr. North.
Although Mr. Harding does not know a
manufacturer anywhere who wants free
wool , he probably knows a great many
who would like to have the present du
ties cut in half. "
