Chapter 9 cont. INDIAN CUSTOMS The following the writer personally witnessed:  The Indians made a ring half as large as a circus ring by beating down the grass.  The crowd assembled, the braves outside, the squaws and papooses inside the ring; the latter carrying switches and sticks.  The two culprits (Winnebagoes) were led almost nude, into the ring and turned loose and compelled to run in a circle, the squaws and papooses prodding and switching as they ran, while the warriors sung or chanted "ha-wa-we, ha-wa-we," keeping up a continuous jumping, mostly in a stooping posture.  When the prisoners were tired out, an opening was made, a line formed on either side of squaws and papooses with switches, each anxious to administer the hardest blow, and bring blood if possible.  After they had run this last gauntlet, they were told that if they were ever again caught stealing horses the certain penalty would be death.  This was done under the command of Chief Black Hawk, he being present.  At night the entire tribe had a dog feast, the animals having been killed and hung up long enough to be nicely tainted and tender.  A squaw will steal a fat puppy rather than anything else on earth.  To revert to the whipping; an Indian can be subjected to no greater degradation than to be switched by a squaw, and greatly prefers death by shooting if dealt by a warrior.  Hence, this mode of punishment was administered for appropriating their most valued possession, horses. Debbie Clough G-erischer G-erischer Family Web Site http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/ Assistant CC, Iowa Gen Web, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ List Manager for: IASCOTT-L * G-erischer-L * D-encker-L Fitzpatirck-L * V-lerebome-L * Huntington-L * Otis-L * Algar-L EIGS-L * Pickens-L * McNab-L * Patris-L - Rankin-L