NYYM_scrapbook_192

the head is entirely uncovered, except that the blanket is sometimes thrown over it for a coming, but they use no other. The dress of the large children is similar to that of the grown persons of the same sex; most of the small chil- dren go naked during the warm season:--those that attend school are clothed similarly to the white children on the frontier settlements. The greater part of the men and women wear ornaments, such as wampum beads, bells and jewelry; most of the men paint thier faces on special occasions: some part of the face is painted red, and some black. The principal employment of the men consists in hunting at certain seasons of the year, and when they are not thus engaged they do but very little labour of any kind: it being considered disgraceful both by men and women for the man to be seen at work. Much of thier time is spent in riding (of which they are exceedingly fond): they likewise spend some time in ball playing and other sports, and a considerable time is spent in lounging about in idleness. The women are generally industrious, per- forming the greater part of the manual labour, both in the camp and on the land: they look very dejected, and appear more like slaves than otherwise--many of the women receivd very severe treatment from the men; some of them are lame from the rough treatment of the men in their drunken revels. The Winnebagoes have but one school, and that is supported by the General Government, and is under the immediate superintendence of the sub agent. There have been the past year about ninety children at the school, some of whom have made pretty good profi- ciency in learning: it was vacant while we were there. The Teachers say that they have much difficulty in getting the children to attend constantly, and not unfrequently the parents have to be bribed to let them go: and oftentimes a compliance with the wishes of the teachers to have the children attend regularly, is induced only by a state of the most abject suffering on the part of both parents and chil- dren. Sometimes the parents will consent to let thier chil- dren attend school on receiving thin rations of bread and meat to carry home to the family; instead of boarding at the house provided for their accommodation. The school may be considered as rather an interesting Insititu- tion, and from what we could gather from the teacers the children were as ready to take learning as the whites: they are taught in the english language altogether. This Tribe is governed by chiefs who sometimes hold their office heriditarily--sometimes by a choice of the people--and sometimes they are appointed by the agents of the General Government. They have some vague notions of the Deity or Great Spirit as He is more generally called by them--they also believe in a state of future rewards and punishments, and talk about a bad Spirit--very few, if any, have embraced christianity. The annuity paid to this Tribe is very large, amounting to nearly Ninety Thousand Dollars; in money, goods, and appropriations for different purposes. Previously to their receiving their annuity, the sub agent collects the whole Tribe, and pays over to the head of each family the amount due them--notwithstanding the large sum which they receive, they are still in a most deplor- able and suffering condition and fast wasting away. Much of their misery may be traced to the treatment of the white people towards them. But leaving the past and looking only at the present conduct of the white man; it is evident that unless something more effectual is done to break up the corrupt and iniquitous trafic in whiskey; as well as the fraudulent trade carried on amongst the Indians by those persons licensed by the Govern- ment, the Winnebagos will in a few years be numbered with the Tribes that are not. We were credibly informed, that in difiance of the present rigid laws,immediately after the payment of 1841, there was sold to this Tribe Two hundred barrels of whiskey: and at the time of our being there in 1842, the sellers thereof had increased in number one third. These whiskey dealers and licensed traders find a Strong inducement to follow up the poor Indian, from the fact of his receiving so large a payment at one time--the indian as a general thing is improvident to the last degree; and but poorly calculated to keep any amount of surplus property: so that within four or five days the whiskey seller, residing on the frontier, and the licensed trader who is permitted to vend his goods amongst them