The Crows, The Great Crow Country and the Old Chief’s Interesting Story of His People

(Originally published in the Hysham Echo February 11, 1926 by Dan R. Conway and Nov. 29, 2013)
CONT. FROM LAST WEEK

The Place of Skulls

“Perhaps, my sons, you have never heard the story of the “Place of Skulls.” This occurred in the time of my father, but I cannot remember it. Some of our people were then living on upper Yellowstone or Elk river. A dread disease which the whites call small pox seized some of the braves and their women. They died off in great numbers until at last there were but two men in the camp who had escaped the disease. They looked around and saw their friends and relatives by the hundreds lying dead on the plains, the lodges lonely and deserted, and one of these said to the other: ‘It is better to destroy ourselves than to die in this manner. We cannot get away. The Great Spirit is angry with the Crows, and has set out to remove them from the earth. Let us go up on the cliff, throw ourselves off and die like brave men.’ The other consented and, leaping over the edge of the precipice, they were both dashed to pieces.”

The First Tobacco

The aged chief then pausing from his story, took his pipe, and after a few moments of silence while he drew the long drafts of smoke from its stem, he continued: “Tobacco, my sons, has long been a great solace to your fathers, your grandfathers and to all the Crows.

“Listen! Now, I will tell you the story of how our people got their tobacco.
“Away away back, so many moons ago that the Crows have no way to tell how long it has been, there lived upon the earth two beings who spoke the Crow language. One of these carried upon his breast a sack of elk skin which hung down from his throat. He never parted with this sack, and at last, his companion asked why he always carried the sack. The man who wore the sack then opened it up and out from it jumped a being in the form of a man, and another and another and another, until they spread themselves over the land. ‘Now,’ said the man who owned the sack, ‘You see what it is for. Would you like to have one?’ The other replied that he would, and he was given a fine dust like the dust of the earth.

“It was, my sons, this same tobacco that I smoked just now, that was in that elk skin sack, and this was the first man to have it. It was the gift of the Great Spirit, who sent with it great commands to be sacredly observed by the Crows as long as they would remain happy and prosperous. Tobacco, my sons, is the greatest thing that the Great Spirit gave to your people. That is why we plant it each spring amid great ceremony. Faith in its power brings much good to the believer. Some of our people do not profit by it. It is however, the most valuable thing that we have.

Where Pipes Came From

“And, this pipe with which we smoke was not always made by us. At first we obtained our pipes mostly in trade with the Sioux, although sometimes they were made of wood when we were not able to get them made of red stone. At other times clay was molded into shape and baked. Finally one of our old chiefs heard of a wonderful quarry of red stone, far beyond the Missouri. (This was probably in western Minnesota). This was where the Sioux got their pipestone. Our men began to hunt for such a kind of stone in our own country and at last we discovered the red stone quarry on the Powder river. This was not as good as that used by the Sioux although it made good pipes. Our people tried to make other things like cups and kettles from it, but it was not good for that. Afterwards we found a better kind of stone which was almost as good as that used by the Sioux. This was located on the Stinking Water. From this stone the Crows made their pipes and kettles and cups. The blue stone pipes and kettles that you have seen among your people came from Rock Creek (tributary to Clark’s Fork). This makes excellent pipes, through which the light shines when the pipe is smoked.

“The Crows, my sons, have smoked as far back as they can remember, but our old men say that in the time when the Crows dwelt on the big water, they used a different kind of tobacco than they do now.

“Bad Water”

“You have noticed and perhaps wondered why your people never drink the white man’s “fire-water” as do some of the other nations of Indians. The first our people knew of whiskey was at the trading post built at the mouth of the Big Horn. (Most likely Manuel Lisa’s Fort Remon or Fort Raymond, built in 1808). The Crows saw the white men drinking it and noticed that it was different from any water they had ever seen, and wished to smell it. Finding the flavor pleasing, they desired to taste it and were allowed to do so by the traders who seemed to be on a drunken spree as they danced and sang and made a lot of noise. Very soon the Crows recovered from the effects of a like manner, some finding their good humor increased, while others grew sullen and wanted to quarrel. One Crow like the effect of the water so well that he asked to repeat the dose and afterward he commenced to vomit. All of the Crows recovered from the effects of the water, except this one who died. Ever after this, the Crows gave whiskey the name ‘Bad Water.’ Your people have always been opposed to the use of whiskey among their men.
“Now, you young men, you have the story of your people. The Sun is great, the white man is great, the Indian is great, and so are the horse, buffalo, elk, the deer, the bear, the earth, the river, fire and water, and you, the Crows, are numbered among a great people who live in a wonderful country on the Big Horn river. Always be proud you are Crows. When you come again to my lodge, I will tell you the story of the great Arapooash, the greatest of Crow chiefs and medicine men. Ho!”

For the substance of these Indian legends I am indebted to the manuscript of Lieutenant James H. Bradley, a contribution to the Historical Library of Montana. Print this post