Zenas Leonard - 1832

[Jay Edward (deceased)]

This is an excerpt from Leonard's Journal that you might find interesting:



NARRATIVE
OF THE
ADVENTURES OF
ZENAS LEONARD

WRITTEN BY HIMSELF
1839


July 1832
    "...In the morning we resumed our journey, and about the middle of the day found ourselves in the vicinity of another tribe of Indians.  We sent a flag to their camp, which was received in the most friendly manner.  This proved to be the Flathead tribe.  These Indians are more pacific and pleasing in their manners than any tribe we had yet encountered and reside mostly on the river of that name.  I will here quote the description of this tribe as given by Mr. Cox, a gentleman well acquainted with the Indian character, which fully embraces my own views: - "The Flatheads have fewer failing than any tribe I ever met with.  They are honest in their dealings—brave in the field—quiet and amiable to their chiefs—fond of cleanliness, and are decided enemies to falsehood of every description. — The women are excellent wives and mothers, and their character for fidelity is so well established that we never heard of one single instance of one proving unfaithful to her husband.  They are remarkably well made—rather tall—slender, and never corpulent."  The Flatheads are well accustomed to the manners and customs of the white race, and in many respects appear ambitious to follow their example. –Some years ago, they were in the habit of using a process to flatten the heads of their children, which they deemed a very essential addition to their appearance; but since they have had intercourse with the whites they have abandoned this abominable practice.  The process of flatening the head is this—Soon after the birth of the infant, it is placed in a kind of trough and a piece of bark fastened by means of strings through the trough, and pressed hard upon the forepart of the head, which causes it to grow flat.  In this painful position they are kept a year, and in some instances over a year.  They are very hospitable to strangers, and are tried friends of the white people.  On coming to their village a white person always receives the best to eat, drink and smoke, and are always ready to pilot the traveller* through their country.  In the summer season this tribe live* in the buffaloe* country on the head of the Columbia river where they never fail to come in contact with their cold hearted enemies, the Blackfeet, who are the most ferocious and unsparing enemy of the white men, because the Flatheads have been supplied by the whites with munitions of war.  In the fall the Flatheads again return to the plains, and in the winter subsist of Salmon, roots and small game.  They are always well supplied with horses, and when provision becomes scarce in one section, they pack all they have upon the backs of their horses, and remove to another.  Their houses are made of slim pine poles from 20 to 30 feet long, 12 or 15 feet apart at the bottom, and joined together at the top, forming a structure in the shape of the roof of a common dwelling house.  These are covered with dressed buffaloe* skins sewed together.  A fire is built in the middle of the cabin, and its shape forms a kind of flue or draft for the smoke—rendering this simple structure quite a comfortable habitation at the most inclement season of the year.  No storm can effect them, nor no cold can reach their inmates.  When moving camp these poles are taken down & one end fastened to the sides of the mule or horse and the other end dragging on the ground forming a sort of dray.  The infants are put into a sack or bag, made of leather, which closes on one side by strings; this is fastened to aboard near three feet long & one wide, where they are kept constantly, with the exception of an occasional dressing, &c., until a year old.  To the back of this board they have a cord attached, by which they hang the sack to the saddle, whilst travelling*."

pp. 16-17

READEX MICROPRINT CORPORATION, 1966

* spelling is correct

[rusty]

Hi Jay,thanks for shareing that.I have read Zenus Leonard's journal on line,he was a very keen observer also a little easier to read than Osborne Russell.I  would have liked to have known them both.Good tuff men.TC...rusty

[RatherBHuntin]

yep. pretty cool.  Thanks Jay

[Gunslingergirl]

It is always interesting to read eyewitness accounts.
 
Thanks for posting this, Jay.
 
GSG