While residing as agent among the Osage Indians,
in 1850, I was invited, with my family, to attend a wedding. The marriage was
between two halfbreeds, both of whom were educated-one at the Harmony Mission,
and the other at the Osage Catholic Mission. The marriage was to be consummated
at the Catholic Mission, after their order. The young man's parents resided about
five miles distant from the mission.
The parties, very politely, both invited us to
be present on the occasion, and offered to send their ox-teams and wagoners, and
haul us, but we had conveyances of our own. About ten in the morning, all parties
repaired to the Catholic church. The ceremony was administered by the priest, and
advice on the occasion, and prayer, etc., attended to, when the meeting was
dismissed and the company set off for the "dinner-place." The married couple rode
foremost, and next, their two attendants-all dressed very nicely and costly, and
on fine horses-then the company promiscuously, some in horse-wagons, some in
ox-wagons, others on horseback, and many on foot-dogs by the score, too.
Altogether the company extended for a considerable distance, and made a very
antic appearance indeed.
On arriving at the residence of the young woman, and
observing this singular company all gathered in and around the house, I was
struck with the novel sight: there were dragoons, in uniform, from Fort Scott,
Frenchmen, Cherokees, Quapaws, Senecas, Caws, Osages, Negroes, and American
citizens, all there, mingling together, conversing in seven or eight different
languages, and having as many different complexions. Every kind of dress, from
the richest silk and broadcloth to the old dirty blanket. There were ponies,
mules, jacks, horses, oxen, and dogs, to any number, and fighting each other all
round.
All seemed to enjoy themselves well, except one
man, a half-breed Osage and generally a clever fellow, who had got whisky, was
drunk, and very mad; for some time he appeared to be dangerous, but at length,
finding that the agent would have him arrested, he became quiet and there was no
more trouble with him that day.
Soon dinner was ready. There was placed in the
yard a table, about sixty feet long, which was literally loaded with dishes and
victuals of an excellent quality, and very well done up, too, but then there was
trouble there, for the hundreds of dogs, which had made their appearance on the
ground, by this time wanted to be eating, too. Provision though had been made for
this anticipated contingency, so those little fellows had to wait till their turn
might come round; there was a tall young Osage gentleman, dressed in a clean
white blanket from his hips down, and his upper-half naked and checkered off with
antique figures made with red paint, his face and his head painted as red as
paint could make them, and not a hair on his head except a small