THE RED MAN, PAST AND PRESENT.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume V, Issue 41, 11 October 1890, Page 19

THE RED MAN, PAST AND PRESENT.

Alas ! the delightful Red Indian, of whom we used to read in Fennimore Cooper’s stories, has quite gone. He was represented as sitting at the door of bis ‘ teepee ’ tent, smoking gravely, whilst his squaw carefully plaited that most important article of his ‘get up,’ the warlock or scalp, and painted the warrior’s face. This operation completed, the chief, rising to the dignity of bis height, would straphis mantle round him, take up bis tomahawk (see illustration) ; then,striding grandly amongst his people, address them with burning eloquence. But civilization has made of the Indian no romantic picture. In the beautiful Mowhawk Valley the Redman of to-day has changed his calumet into a short black clay pipe, in which he smokes rank tobacco. He is often bent with ague, and, alas ! spends half his time drinking whisky at a low Ihotel. Some of the Wild West cowboys, a very different set of people to these, are now being looked upon as curiosities, taken round in a show and exhibited. Certainly their horsemanship is wonderful, so is their pluck and courage. Their methods may now and then be lather* rough and ready,’ according to our notions of behaviour and etiquette ; but what do they* think of our manners ? As a rule, they do not seem much impressed with anything that has come in their way. Chasing a few rather wild bullocks, or trying to make a bucking horse display his powers in a paddock, must seem a little small and tame to them after their experience of miles and miles of hard riding, scalping Indians, ;and so forth. (See page IS.)