‘of REN ogi od od, pecan the results of research cond ted lef Nan of rate eae He series comprises octavo 0. lum each, ‘issued in’ parts. at irregular intervals. % anthropological subjects appeared as occasional publications with prices & | ‘should be a \ The Horse ar ANTHROPOLOGICAL PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY VOL. NVeePARTS Et THE HORSE AND THE DOG IN HIDATSA CULTURE. BY GILBERT L. WILSON. —_——— AMERICAN MUSEUM PRESS NEW YORK 1924 THE HORSE AND THE DOG IN HIDATSA CULTURE. By GILBERT L. WILSON. 125 : Ad ¥ y j rl “4 ‘ hint ‘ t ‘ ’ ton if La » 4 M ~* ee ae 4 5 . ; * ; 3 VES } : 4 a fs ¢ (7. . . at x ‘ < i . ¢ \ ’ rf ‘ ad ‘ 2 * EDITOR’S NOTE. During the interval 1908-1918, Doctor Gilbert L. Wilson spent from one to two months of each year among the Hidatsa Indians, collecting for the Museum and gathering information as to their culture. The accompanying pages contain only that portion of his data bearing upon, or associated with, the dog and horse culture-complexes of the tribe. In all his work Doctor Wilson has looked upon the narrative, and the demonstrations accompanying it, as true data, to be set down as they came. Further, his method was to control the narrators as little as possible, merely holding them to the description of actual personal experiences. In this way he has succeeded in recording detailed cross-sections of Hidatsa culture. Since some of these field records approach ideal com- pleteness and are, therefore, unique as data, it was thought best to publish them in full. Attention is called to this, because otherwise the reader may find the arrangement a little confusing. Yet, if he is inter- ested solely in special topics, as dog travois, or bull-boats, the table of contents, and ultimately, the index at the end of the volume, will pilot him to the desired paragraphs. This paper, then, attempts to present all the narrators knew con- cerning the place of the dog and the horse in the culture of their tribe. It is not an abstract presentation, but a delineation of the many phases of culture closely associated with the care and use of these animals. Thus, it was inevitable that a great deal should be said about methods of camping and the order of the march, the technique of horse and dog trap- pings, etc. But it is rather for the picture these detailed narratives give of the place and function of these animals in Indian culture, that the author has chosen this form of presentation. Another unique feature of the paper is the drawing, sketches made by Goodbird, the son of Buffalo-bird-woman, but in each case under the eye of the narrator. These also are literally reproduced by tracings, for which acknowledgment should be made to Mr. F. N. Wilson. The importance of this study, however, lies in that over and above its factual contribution, it gives new light on culture processes. The dog came to the Hidatsa in prehistoric time, together with an elaborate cul- ture-complex. Then, with the coming of the white man, the horse was passed on to this tribe. With the horse came a culture-complex of Old World origin, to displace the dog-complex. Just how the adjustment of the latter complex to the former was made, could be little more than guessed from the available data, but now we have in hand a large part 127 128 Anthropological Papers American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XV, of the story. It is possible to go through these two complexes point by point and thus determine in just how far the horse was fitted into the old dog culture and in turn what the horse brought with him from his Old World setting. When such a study is made and the available data for other Indian tribes re-interpreted, we shall at least know the history of one set of culture-complexes. It is as a contribution to this end that the author offers these narratives. GoW PREFACE The Hidatsa, or Gros Ventre, called Minitari by the Mandan, are a Siouan tribe speaking a dialect akin to that of the Crow. Tradition has it that the founders of the tribe, happily climbing a grapevine, emerged from the waters of Devils Lake, in what is now North Dakota, and that, migrating west, they met the Mandan at the mouth of the Heart River. It is likely that enemies forced the Hidatsa to migrate and that they were only too glad to form an alliance with the Mandan, who generously aided them to build villages near their own. How long the two tribes dwelt at the mouth of the Heart is not known. They were found there with the Arikara about 1765; in 1804, Lewis and Clark found them in the Five Villages at the mouth of the Knife River. It is probable that the culture characteristics of the two tribes is of Mandan origin. Certainly, the traditions of both tribes agree that the Hidatsa knew nothing of corn culture until taught by the Mandan. They were apt pupils; in the sign language the sign for “‘Hidatsa”’ is a motion as of shelling corn from an ear. Smallpox nearly exterminated the Mandan in 1837-8 and reduced the Hidatsa to about five hundred persons. The remnants of the tribes united and in 1845 moved up the Missouri and built a village of earth- lodges at Like-a-fishhook bend, close to the trading post of old Fort Berthold. They were joined by the Arikara in 1862 and neighboring lands were set apart as a reservation for the three tribes. The families began settling on allotments about 1885, and their picturesque village of earth-lodges was abandoned. The Mandan and Hidatsa have intermarried much. By custom, children speak the language of the mother, but the dialects of both tribes are understood by nearly all. Few of either tribe have married Arikara. With his brother, Frederick N. Wilson, an artist, the writer first visited the Hidatsa in 1906, enjoying a month’s camping while his brother made sketches for a volume of myths. At Independence, they made the acquaintance of Edward Goodbird, his mother Maxidiwiac or Buffalo-bird-woman, and the latter’s brother, Wolf-chief. A friendship was thus begun which the writer of this paper sincerely valuas. In 1908, the writer and his brother were sent-by Dr. Clark Wissler, Curator of Anthropology, American Museum of Natural History,. to begin cultural studies among the Hidatsa. This work, generously sup- ported by the Museum, was continued each year in summer vacations, until the autumn of 1918. In 1910, the writer was admitted as a student in the graduate school of the University of Minnesota, majoring in 129 130 Anthropological Papers American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XV, anthropology; and during the next six years, he had the valued advice and guidance of Dr. Albert E. Jenks. The writer, then, is a student of anthropology; but it has impressed him that the published studies in this field usually present the arts and culture of primitive man as seen through civilized eyes. Is not anthropology properly a study of man himself, and is not even the material culture of primitive man chiefly valuable to us as interpreting the man himself, his philosophy, or his soul? Should we not seek to know how every art, every material complex of his culture is seen by primitive man himself, how it is proportioned in his thinking, and what superstitions and interpretations he gives to it? Such is the aim of the accompanying paper and of others that may be published later. To the Hidatsa, the dog, for example, was an important beast of burden and his care and management was left to women. The writer has not sought the materials of his study of the dog from multiple sources and grouped and classified them in the more usual way. Rather, he has sought the viewpoint, the philosophy, of the dog’s human mistress. How did Buffalo-bird-woman train and care for her dogs; how did she value them, and how use them in hunt, journey, and domestic service? How much of the dog complex came into one Hidatsa woman’s life? Circumstances favored the writer’s labors. Independence, the home of his Indian friends, is an isolated point on the reservation, removed from white settlements. The writer boarded with Goodbird’s family, sleeping at night on the floor of the little chapel near by. Thus admitted into their home, the writer saw the reserve of an Indian family toward a stranger yield to a helpful and sympathetic understanding of his, to them, rather strange labors; labors, which without the hearty codperation of interpreter and informants, would have been impossible. A few words should be said of these faithful friends. Maxidiwiae, or Buffalo-bird-woman, is a daughter of Small-ankle, an able and progres- sive leader of the Hidatsa in the trying time of the tribe’s removal to what is now Fort Berthold Reservation. She was born about corn harvest, in the year, which by Butterfly’s winter count, began in November, the Moon-of-yellow-leaves, 1840. She is conservative, hold- ing to native beliefs and sighing for the good old times; but she realizes that the young must adopt civilized ways or perish. She speaks no English, but she has a quick intelligence and a memory that is marvelous. Her patience and loyal interest in these studies have been invaluable. On a sweltering August day she has dictated for nine hours, never flag- ging, though often lying prone on the cabin floor when too weary to sit longer in a chair. 1924.] Wilson, Hidatsa Horse and Dog Culture. 131 Wolf-chief, her brother, was born the summer of 1849. An energetic war leader in his youth, he early saw the value of civilized culture. Though nearly thirty years of age, he attended the first school opened on the reservation, and even hired a white man to live in his cabin and teach him to read. He later opened a small trading store which he still manages. He is unable to carry on a conversation in English, but he has learned to read and write sufficiently to keep his rather simple trading accounts. He is now a Christian, of a simple, sturdy faith, respected by whites and Indians. Wolf-chief is a reliable authority in matters pertaining to men’s customs and occupations, and, unlike so many of his tribesmen, does not fear to give information of native religious beliefs. Edward Goodbird, or Tsak4kasakic, the writer’s interpreter, is a son of Maxidiwiac, born about November, 1869. Goodbird was one of ‘ the first of the reservation children sent to the mission school, and he is now pastor of the Congregational chapel at Independence. He speaks the Hidatsa, Mandan, Dakota, and Crow languages. He understands and reads English; that he speaks it imperfectly is an advantage, as his interpretation is close to the idiom of the informant. Goodbird is a natural student and has the rarer gift of being an artist. In his youth he was often employed to paint war records, practising what was almost a profession among the Hidatsa. His sketches, and they are many, are - spirited but typically Indian. Unless otherwise stated, drawings in this paper are by Goodbird, drawn under the informant’s eye and approved by him. | . In the following pages the writer has sought to preserve all narratives as the informants gave them, merely arranging materials and putting Goodbird’s Indian-English into proper idiom. Bits of philosophy, personal and humorous observations are as they fell from the informants’ lips. The writer has sincerely endeavored to add nothing of his own. Native Hidatsa words in this paper are written in the following alphabet. 3 aasa in what Seeoat iy aly ioe S pique Oo, ‘tone 4 “a “ father é “ ey * they fe vem -gnachine a “yy © hut 132 Anthropological Papers American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XV, é as e in met (73 1 é¢ tin ec “ sh “ in shun x nearly like Spanish j as in pajaro j nearly like German ch as in mich z like z in azure . b, d, h, k, 1, m, n, p, r, s, t, w, as in English w is interchangeable with m, as is also the less used b. n, 1, and the less used r are interchangeable with d An apostrophe (’) marks a short, nearly inaudible breathing. eC 6c GILBERT L. WILSON CONTENTS. PAGE. EDITOR’S NOTE . : : : : : : : : pe ADT, PREFACE . ; ys ‘ : ; Lima biie ; 125 HORSE CULTURE . : : : s : : ; i ; ‘ : . 141 ORIGIN . : ary ; : : : ; ; : . 141 IDEAS Bonceennea Fis aans : . : p : : ‘ : p.1142 THE CoLt.. : : : ; : ; : : : : . 145 CASTRATION . e } : : : ‘ : ; f 4 ’ . 146 STALLIONS. ; ; : 5 : : ' ; ; ' . 149 TRAINING : : ; : : ; , ; : : ; : : ey ho0 To Swim 3 : : : : , ; : Pag br) | For War : : : ; 3 ; ; ; ; ' : : els Parading : : ; : ; ; ; ; ; . 153 To Turn and Stoo 5 : ; ; : ; .. 153 To Leapan Enemy . : ; : : ; St gaee . 154 SUMMER PASTURING AND HERDING . : ; : ; P ; : “156 Corral under the Drying Stage . : : : : Samer OU A Typical Summer Day’s Herding for Boys ; 2 : . aivnel bs Fi WINTER CARE OF HORSES . : . . ; ; : ; : yr 172 Winter Lodges and Drying See : : : ; ‘ , ‘ S413 Number of Horses and Lodges . : ? : 5 ‘ . ; vel 7 Feeding Cottonwood Bark . , ; ; ; : ; ; : an ts) Feeding Dry Grass. : ; ; ; : ‘ i RST 76 Beer red arlene Ph ee NS ee ee ee TTS Winter Pasturing . . ‘ : ‘ ; : ; : F ; . 18 ‘Watering the Horses . i : : : . ; ; ; é LAT Small-ankle’s Narrative. ; : , : ; , ; ; th, Feeding Corn ; ; : ; : } ; : : ; 4, ZA BO CARE OF HORSES ON THE Wasa : : : ; f d « 181 PROTECTING Pack HorRSES FROM MaGpPIEs ; ; ; ; : es #9 HORSEGEAR . ‘ : } : ; ; : F : 4 : ; . 182 Bridles . : : ; ; i ‘ : 5 3 ; ; : . 182 Lariats . ; : : : : : ; . : : : So ELSE Hobbles . : ; ; : : : é ‘ ‘ ; : c e189 Saddles . eae } : : : : 3 ; ; : -7 190 Saddle Skins . Sey ; : : ; : : ’ wl OZ Carrying Tipi Poles. : , . eee . : ‘ ; set ek The Travois . : ; 2 : : . : : ; ‘ J . 194 NAMES FOR HorsEs_. ; : sree : ‘ Ay: : 5 . 194 Our Family Herd . i ; ; 2 , ; ; 2 ‘ : . 194 Other Names. : : : : : : : i : . : . 194 Age Names . 4 : ; : : ; : : . : ; OS DOG CULTURE ; : ; : : ; ; , ‘ ’ g : . 196 ORIGIN . E ; : : : : : ; ; . 198 Ss otiiewou an’: s Speers : : : 3 , A ; . 199 133 134 Anthropological Papers American Museum of Natural History. THE Puppy CASTRATION . FEEDING. KENNELS THE VILLAGE Docs Dogs as PROPERTY GATHERING Woop COLLECTING WooD FROM THE Rava FETCHING FIREWOOD AND GAME BY Bui Bow TRAINING A Doc . ‘ NAMES AND Duccuiermonat OF OUR Tene CHILDREN RIDE ON A Dog TRAVOIS Maxine A Doe TRAVOIS Dog TRAvoIs SHELTER TENT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING Dock Dragging Tent Poles Carrying Water for Dogs Bringing in Meat by Travois The Leader . ; ; Signals for Calling Does Selecting Dogs A HUNT MADE AFOOT WITH DOGS The Hunting Party , Dress : ¢ The First Camp Roasting Meat The March ; The Second Camp Blood Broth . Blood Pudding Ownership of Slaughtered Gane Story Telling ‘ Third Camp . Fourth Camp Meals ; Feeding the Bere Dogs crossing a Creek Unloading the Dogs Water for Dogs The Tent Pipes : The Campfire The Beds Arrangement of Hagiare The Dogs’ psi enone Leaders . Buffalo Hunting on DES Crock: Cuts of Meat. : : . [Vol. XV, PAGE. 199 201 201 202 204 206 206 209 209 ait 212 216 216 221 225 225 225 226 228 228 229 23} 23.1 232 235 235 236. 237 237 239 240 240 240 240: 240: 241 241 241 243 a ae .% 244 244 244 244 244 245. 245% 246 1924.] Wilson, Hidatsa Horse and Dog Culture. Flaying of Hides . The Choice Pieces : How the Cuts were Slung . The Fifth Camp . ; _ Ferrying over the Missouri te Bale Bante Killing and Butchering ; ; Transporting Meat with Dogs . How We Traveled with Bull-Boats . Rescue of Awa-hitsi-kuwac Arrival at the Village . A TRIBAL HUNT TO THE YELLOWSTONE IN AUTUMN . Choosing a Leader Vehicles . : Order of March } Our Camp on the Sandbar Turning a Tipi Anchoring the Tipi The Fireplace The Fire Use of the Heart Sate Goodbird’s Birth . Corn Mortars. Crossing the River : ; Pack Animals and their Pode : The First Mule The Travois . The Bull-Boat The Second Mule The Ponies. : The Eight-Pole Pony, aching Tent Poles: Tying up a Tipi Cover Other Horses, Saddle, Stirrup aad Method of Rickie Dogs and Packs : : : The First Dog Dog Travois . Dog Travois Loads. Bull-Boats How Bull-Boats were Beene: on the Marche By Travois and Horseback with my Babe. Occupants of a Tent, Names and Relationship _ The Mandan Tent Tie bel Our Tent, Construction, and Poles . Naming Goodbird Descending the Missouri in Batensees Goodbird is nearly Drowned WOLF-CHIEF’S HUNT WITH DOG AND TRAVOIS . Horses and their Equipment The Dog and Travois . 135 PAGE. 246 247 247 248 248 249 251 253 259 261 263 263 264 264 266 266 267 268 268 269 269 270 201 212 274 275 276 277 278 278 278 279 281 281 i ORY 283 285 285 287 288 289 291 294 294 297 299 299 299 136 Anthropological Papers American Museum of Natural History. Weapons and Ammunition . Snowblindness In Camp Setting up a Tent . Hunting Badgers . The Evening Meal Watering the Horses Interior Arrangement in the Tent Cooking Bones Mushrooms Treatment for Eyes Capturing and Eating Pornupines The Smoke Offering The Buffalo Hunt Butchering The Tent Collapses in a ano petoer The Return Trip . The Feast [Vol. XV, PAGE. 299 300 300 300 300 301 301 301 301 302 302 302 304 304 307 307 310 310 PAGE. 1. The Hidatsa Village in 1879 143 2.