Great Indian Chief of the West | Page 8

are thinly scattered, as if planted to embellish the scene. This is the
singular charm of prairie scenery. Although it is a wilderness, just as
nature made it, the verdant carpet, the gracefully waving outline of the
surface, the clumps and groves and scattered trees, give it the
appearance of a noble park, boundless in extent, and adorned with
exquisite taste. It is a wild but not a savage wild, that awes by its gloom.
It is a gay and cheerful wilderness, winning by its social aspect as well
as its variety and intrinsic gracefulness. The eastern shore is not less
beautiful: a broad flat plain of rich alluvion, extending from the water's

edge, is terminated by a range of wooded hills. A small collection of
the lodges of the Saukies and Foxes stood on this plain when the writer
last saw it, but their chief village was about three miles distant. In the
front of the landscape, and presenting its most prominent feature, is
Rock Island, on the southern point of which, elevated upon a parapet of
rock, is Fort Armstrong. The region around is healthy and amazingly
fruitful. The grape, the plum, the gooseberry and various other native
fruits abound,--the wild honeysuckle gives its perfume to the air, and a
thousand indigenous flowers mingle their diversified hues with the
verdure of the plain. But all this fertility of soil and scenic beauty has
produced no ameliorating effect upon the savages. The Sauks of Illinois,
when first visited by the French missionaries were as they are now.
They are still savages, as much so as the Osages, Comanches and
Seminoles, and not superior to the wandering Chippeways."
The civil polity of these two tribes bears much resemblance to that of
the north western Indians generally. The peace chiefs are partly elective
and partly hereditary. The son succeeds the father by the assent of the
tribe, if worthy of the office, and if not, a successor, of a more
meritorious character, is chosen by them from some collateral branch of
the family. There is a legend among them relating to the relative rank
of their chiefs, which, although perhaps purely figurative, may not be
uninteresting to the reader. They say that a great while ago, their fathers
had a long lodge, in the centre of which were ranged four fires. By the
first fire stood two chiefs, one on the right, who was called the great
Bear, and one on the left, called the little Bear: these were the village or
peace chiefs: they were the rulers of the band, and held the authority
corresponding to that of the chief magistrate. At the second fire stood
two chiefs: one on the right, called the great Fox, and one on the left,
called the little Fox: these were the war chiefs or generals. At the third
fire stood two warriors, who were called respectively the Wolf and the
Owl. And at the other fire, two others who were the Eagle and the
Tortoise. These four last named were not chiefs but braves of
distinction, who held honorable places in the council, and were persons
of influence in peace and in war. This lodge of four fires may have
existed among these tribes. It is true that their chiefs remain as
described in the legend.

The peace chief or head-man presides in council, and all important
public acts are done in his name; but unless he be a man of popular
talents and great energy of character his place confers more of honor
than power. If a weak or irresolute man, although he nominally retain
his authority, the war chiefs actually exercise it. It is very seldom that
he acquires property, for he is expected to make feasts and presents,
and is compelled to be hospitable and liberal as a means of sustaining
his power among his people.
The office of war chief is never hereditary, but results from skill and
intrepidity in battle, and is held so long as those qualities are
successfully retained. It may readily be conceived that among such a
race the war chiefs, having the braves and young men of the nation
under their command, would generally maintain a controlling influence.
The leading war chief is always better known than the principal peace
chief, is often confounded with him, and still oftener exercises his
authority.
The Sauks are, at the present time, divided into twelve families, and the
Foxes into eight, each known by the name of some animal. Among the
Sauks there is another division peculiar to it. The males are all classed
in two parties or bands--one called Kish-ko-guis, or long hairs; the
other Osh-cushis or braves, the former being considered something
more than brave. In 1819 each party numbered about four hundred
members, and in 1826,