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THE RED MEN OF IOWA.
of the Sioux, in 1805 to be 91,875, of whom 3,800 were
warriors. Two principal bands or tribes of the nation
made their home on the head-waters of the Des Moines
and Iowa Rivers. These were the Men-de-wa-can-tons, or
People of the Medicine Lake, and the Wah-pe-tons, or
People of the Leaves.
One of the greatest men of the Sioux nation ever known
to the whites was Wa-na-ta, a chief of the Yankton branch
of that nation, who flourished during the first half of the
present century. He distinguished himself as a warrior
at the age of eighteen, when he fought under his father
against the Americans. He was one of a band of savages
collected from the Northwest by Colonel Dixon during the
War of 1812, and was wounded in an engagement at
Sandusky. After that war he professed friendship toward the
United States. He devoted himself to the business of
uniting and more thoroughly organizing the several tribes
or bands of his nation, and in maintaining both aggressive
and defensive warfare against the neighboring tribes, and
especially the Chippewas and Iowas. From the position
of chief of the Yanktons he rose to be recognized as the
grand chief of the Sioux nation.
An incident which transpired in 1822 is related, which
shows that Wa-na-ta adhered to the religious customs and
superstitious ceremonies of his nation. It was on the eve
of a journey in which he was likely to be exposed to
danger from the Chippewas he communed with the Great
Spirit, and made a vow to the sun that if he should safely
return he would abstain from food and drink four days and
nights, and would distribute among his people all his
property. It so transpired that he returned from his journey
safely and without accident. Then, in obedience to his vow, his first care was to celebrate the sun-dance, a most painful and revolting ceremony. Incisions were made in his arms and breast, separating the skin from the flesh in the form of loops, through which a rope was passed, and the ends fastened to a post erected for that purpose. This commenced at the beginning of his fast, and continued throughout the four days. Sometimes he would engage in dancing; and at intervals would throw his whole weight upon the cord which passed through the loops of separated skin. Then he would swing to and fro in this painful position. After this ceremony was over he executed faithfully the remainder of his vow by distributing all his property among his people, parting with his lodges, dogs, guns, robes, ornaments, and several horses. Wa-na-ta and his two wives were thus reduced to poverty, in willing obedience to a solemn religious conviction. The sun-dance is a ceremony common among the Sioux tribes to this day, and on such occasions the self-inflicted tortures are quite similar to those in the case of Wa-na-ta.
When the Rickaree villages on the Missouri were burned by troops under Colonel Leavenworth, in 1823, on account of some depredations committed by those Indians, they retired from their lands, but returned the next year. Encouraged by the traders, who considered themselves not well treated by the Rickarees, Wa-na-ta made war upon that tribe, who were then in a condition to make but a feeble resistance. He again burned their villages, and drove them from the country. By this conquest he strengthened and extended his power. After this Wa-na-ta established himself between the Rickarees and the
