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THE RED MEN OF IOWA.
and physical development. He was very fond of dancing, in which amusement he excelled. In the spring of 1839, Stephen Witcher, a pioneer, gave a large social party. The guests included some twenty Indians and their squaws. The first exercise on the programme was a war-dance by the Indians for the entertainment of the whites. Kish-kekosh was the first to step on the floor, and led the dance in majestic, savage style.
In 1841, Kishkekosh presided over a village which was located in the eastern part of Mahaska county. At that time his family consisted of a wife and three children. The mother of Kishkekosh was also then still living and claimed to be a hundred years old. His wife was a woman of very lady-like manners and good appearance.
It was some time in the year 1841, that Major John Beach, the Indian agent, in company with W. B. Street and others, went up from the agency, on some business with Kishkekosh. Arriving late in the evening they encamped near the village, and on the following morning Kishkekosh, with several of his people, went over to the camp of the visitors to receive them. After smoking the pipe of peace, and holding a brief council, the whites were invited to come in the evening to the feast which the Indians proposed to prepare in honor of their visit. The invitation was accepted, and presently the whites heard a great howling among the dogs in the direction of the village. They could also plainly see the preparations going on for the feast. Several dogs were killed and stretched on stakes a few inches above the ground. They were then covered with dried grass, which was set on fire for the purpose of burning off the hair. After the dogs had gone through
