December 28, 1833
Early in the morning, slightly cloudy sky. Wind light out of the southwest. At seven thirty, 22 1/2°F [−5.3°C], at seven forty-five, 23 1/2°F [−4.7°C]. They caught a shy wild dog [rather] early in the fort that [they intended] to pull a sled. It behaved so wildly, pulled, strained, bit, and barked so loudly that they needed a long time to catch it with snares. When it was caught, a man kneeled on its chest, and the dog was dead. Dogs unaccustomed to it are not fit to pull sleds. If they are used to it, however, three strong dogs pull a sled far better than the best horse. If the snow has a crust, they can run right across it, while [a] horse would fall through. They have far more endurance. After One can travel thirty miles a day with them. If they lie on the snow for an hour and eat something, not much, one can drive on with them again. A horse needs sufficient fodder, frequent rest, [and] always a good place to water; if it is tired, one cannot make it go any farther. I have been assured [that people] have done long day-marches, for almost eight days, without giving the dogs anything to eat. While buffalo hunting in winter, when the snow has a crust, they can drive a light dogsled into the herd, while the archer sits or kneels. The dogs cannot be restrained when they see the buffalo. In the north they seldom pay below a hundred dollars for three good dogs. A single one, if it is very strong and good, costs 60 to 70 dollars. On the Missouri the dogs are not that valuable by far.
About noon we heard drumbeats; before that, some Káua-Karakáchka had already arrived. Now we all went outside. The recently purchased society of the Half-Shorn Head Dance (Íschohä-Kakoschóchatä) came, dressed most colorfully and elegantly. [There were] about twenty strong, slender, young men with their upper bodies bare. (When they came they wore robes, which they now cast away.) [They were] painted and adorned in the most colorful way. At the backs of their heads, long, smooth strands of hair hung down, smeared with reddish brown clay. At the same time, the [—— ] of very beautiful colors: [some had] an eagle feather stuck in their hair horizontally; others had various single feathers stuck in their hair. Still others wore a long braid [ornamented] with fi ve to six round brass rosettes, with like the Dacotas wear. Some [had] a tail of owl feathers hanging down, a bear [sic] necklace with otter tail, otter strips, [and/or] foxtails on their feet. Their leggins of red cloth or leather were painted and trimmed in places with bells. They held a mirror in their hands, or it hung in front of their bodies, [and they] held various insignia in their hands. They arranged themselves in a circle.
![Figure 16.37. Society insignia: “[The middle] lance has strips of otter skin. ‘a’ [indicates] red cloth.”](https://maximilian-bodmer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/figure16-37.png)
Many carried in their hands different, beautifully decorated lances, others bowlances, still others, guns. One wore the large warbonnet with [strips of] ermine fur and horns; a broad piece of red cloth with eagle feathers hung all the way down his back. One Indian was on horseback. His entire upper body was bare; he wore an eagle feather upright in his hair [and] was painted yellow, the left part of his chest painted with red spots like bloodstains. In his hands he carried a bow and arrows without a quiver. His pants were made of red cloth with a row of bells. The horse, a buckskin, was painted half yellow, including the mane and tail; the bridle was red, [with?] a blue and white rosette in the center. The three musicians were Káua-Karakáchka in woolen blanket-clothes with caps [of the same material?] on their heads. They began to beat; the Indians bent their bodies forward and jumped with both feet [together] or one with a little higher to the rhythm of the music. They held their guns as if they were ready to shoot, with their right hand on the trigger. All of them held lances and other insignia. They danced this way about one minute in a circle, following each other. Then they did a loud whoop, paused, and rested a little. [Then] they began the dance anew, and it lasted, with interruptions, for about a quarter of an hour. Some [spectators] threw them many sticks of tobacco on the ground, after which they soon separated, wrapping themselves in their robes and leaving for the forest village of the inhabitants of Ruhptare. There they will sleep for the night and will go to the Hidatsas tomorrow.
At twelve thirty Dreidoppel came back from his excursion. He had seen two schähä́ckäs and one prairie hen. At one o’clock, 30°F [−1.1°C], wind southwest. Mr. Kipp received an order from Mr. McKenzie to come to Fort Union as soon as possible. He [planned] to leave tomorrow with three or four men and therefore bought Indian dogs, some of which howled terribly, [while] others ran away. There was hustle and bustle in the fort all day long. The afternoon, pleasant and rather calm. Several Hidatsas slept in the fort; among them was an elderly man, known as a good Indian, with a high white cap of buffalo cow [skin]. The dogs that were locked up in the fort—Mr. Kipp bought eighteen today—howled terribly, making an unbearable noise. Night bright, not very cold, rather calm.