Codex Battleford
Transcription: 7
Transcription:
{6 [written in the top right corner]
of God,he might never hope to be happy. “All that I can offer you,”he continued, “is to save your soul by teaching you to practice our holy religion instead [“s” added] of indulging in your empty superstitions and waging war against your benefactors”. [quotation marks added in pen] Turning his back,the chief replied:“You forsake me; all the priests forsake me”.
The same eveningxBig-Bear,all painted with white clay commenced xxx [crossed out] a prayer to the divinity and the drummers gave the signal for the opening of the Thirst Dance which was to continue during three xxx [crossed out] days in succession. [next part of the paragraph has been marked and crossed out] During the night and the following day many young braves had made incisions in their chest,inserting thxongs by means of which they suspended themselves,dancing and pulling until the flesh tore off.One of them was leading around the camp a prancing horse from which he had fastened the reins through the skin of his back .Others vowed to spend the three days without tasting food or drinking a single drop of water. [end of crossed out section]
Fr.Cochin passed the night in the camp of his christians [sic], some distance away from the Big Camp.Yet,in the middle of the nighxt,he got up and wrapped up in a buffualo [sic] robe,he stealthily entered the Great Lodge to find out if any of his converts participated to the xxxxxxxx [crossed out] rite. Without uttering a word he seated himself near a group of smokers,who passed him the calumet:he took a few whiffs and passed it around.Then he departed sadly having counted ten of his christians [sic] amongst the dancers. Next morning,after having recited the morning prayers with his christians [sic], he rode to St.Angela to celebrate mass in the chapel.
As an officer of the Government had been injured,at any cost the guilty one was to be caught and punished.Major Crozier who had received news during the night,set out from Battleford at 9.oo A.M.with captain Antrobus and twenty five policemen to arrest the culprit.The Indian Agent,Mr.Rae accompanied them.They arrived at Poundmaker’s xxxx [crossed out] in the evening.
The commandant,wishing to act without delay,set out for the Big Camp soon after his arrival in company of x [crossed out] Agent Raë,Interpretor Jefferson and Instructor Graig who alone would be able to identify his aggressor. Together they entered the Dance Lodge and,there,scrutinized all the Indians As xxxx [crossed out] the performance was in full swing,their presence seemed to pass unnoticed:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [crossed out] unconcernately [sic] the drummers continued their dismal rythm [sic],the singers their monotonous chant,the dancers their bobbing up and down during their inspection of them. [crossed out] The perquisition [sic] was useless:x [crossed out] their thick coat of variegated paints and their fantastic disguises rendered the Indians utterly unrecognizable.
Major Crosier deemed safer to transfer the supplies from Little Pine’s storehouse down to Poundmaker’s.In the dusk of the evening,the party started from the instructor’s shack:the police was leading followed by the ox-carts.Craig xxx [crossed out],Jefferson xxxx [crossed out] and Raë,driving in a rig,brought up the rear.The trail led straight through the Big Camp,but as the drivers wished to pass as unobstrusively [sic] as possible,they made wide detour round the tents. xxx [crossed out] Unhappily a swamp obliged them pass closer than they would had xxxxx [crossed out] desired.As soon as they were in view, they were xxxxxxxx [crossed out] greeted by xx [crossed out] indescribable pandemonium of [crossed out] blood-curdling [written in its place] war-whoops,shoutings [“ing” crossed out] and [crossed out] yells, harassed by provoking horsemen,frightened [crossed out] and [added] volleys [“e” added] of bullets whistling over their heads.The Indian drivers deserted at the first sign of trouble,and the policemen had to take their place. [crossed out]. The uproar did not cease till they were out of hearing [crossed out] sight [added in its place] of the Indian camp.Finally they reached their destination without mishap.
After a hasty meal,Crozier sent two messengers to Battleford requesting the help of all disposable soldiers of the garrison.Meanwhile the men he had at hand spent the night in building two bastions with poles [crossed out] logs [written above], bags of}
of God,he might never hope to be happy. “All that I can offer you,”he continued, “is to save your soul by teaching you to practice our holy religion instead [“s” added] of indulging in your empty superstitions and waging war against your benefactors”. [quotation marks added in pen] Turning his back,the chief replied:“You forsake me; all the priests forsake me”.
The same eveningxBig-Bear,all painted with white clay commenced xxx [crossed out] a prayer to the divinity and the drummers gave the signal for the opening of the Thirst Dance which was to continue during three xxx [crossed out] days in succession. [next part of the paragraph has been marked and crossed out] During the night and the following day many young braves had made incisions in their chest,inserting thxongs by means of which they suspended themselves,dancing and pulling until the flesh tore off.One of them was leading around the camp a prancing horse from which he had fastened the reins through the skin of his back .Others vowed to spend the three days without tasting food or drinking a single drop of water. [end of crossed out section]
Fr.Cochin passed the night in the camp of his christians [sic], some distance away from the Big Camp.Yet,in the middle of the nighxt,he got up and wrapped up in a buffualo [sic] robe,he stealthily entered the Great Lodge to find out if any of his converts participated to the xxxxxxxx [crossed out] rite. Without uttering a word he seated himself near a group of smokers,who passed him the calumet:he took a few whiffs and passed it around.Then he departed sadly having counted ten of his christians [sic] amongst the dancers. Next morning,after having recited the morning prayers with his christians [sic], he rode to St.Angela to celebrate mass in the chapel.
As an officer of the Government had been injured,at any cost the guilty one was to be caught and punished.Major Crozier who had received news during the night,set out from Battleford at 9.oo A.M.with captain Antrobus and twenty five policemen to arrest the culprit.The Indian Agent,Mr.Rae accompanied them.They arrived at Poundmaker’s xxxx [crossed out] in the evening.
The commandant,wishing to act without delay,set out for the Big Camp soon after his arrival in company of x [crossed out] Agent Raë,Interpretor Jefferson and Instructor Graig who alone would be able to identify his aggressor. Together they entered the Dance Lodge and,there,scrutinized all the Indians As xxxx [crossed out] the performance was in full swing,their presence seemed to pass unnoticed:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [crossed out] unconcernately [sic] the drummers continued their dismal rythm [sic],the singers their monotonous chant,the dancers their bobbing up and down during their inspection of them. [crossed out] The perquisition [sic] was useless:x [crossed out] their thick coat of variegated paints and their fantastic disguises rendered the Indians utterly unrecognizable.
Major Crosier deemed safer to transfer the supplies from Little Pine’s storehouse down to Poundmaker’s.In the dusk of the evening,the party started from the instructor’s shack:the police was leading followed by the ox-carts.Craig xxx [crossed out],Jefferson xxxx [crossed out] and Raë,driving in a rig,brought up the rear.The trail led straight through the Big Camp,but as the drivers wished to pass as unobstrusively [sic] as possible,they made wide detour round the tents. xxx [crossed out] Unhappily a swamp obliged them pass closer than they would had xxxxx [crossed out] desired.As soon as they were in view, they were xxxxxxxx [crossed out] greeted by xx [crossed out] indescribable pandemonium of [crossed out] blood-curdling [written in its place] war-whoops,shoutings [“ing” crossed out] and [crossed out] yells, harassed by provoking horsemen,frightened [crossed out] and [added] volleys [“e” added] of bullets whistling over their heads.The Indian drivers deserted at the first sign of trouble,and the policemen had to take their place. [crossed out]. The uproar did not cease till they were out of hearing [crossed out] sight [added in its place] of the Indian camp.Finally they reached their destination without mishap.
After a hasty meal,Crozier sent two messengers to Battleford requesting the help of all disposable soldiers of the garrison.Meanwhile the men he had at hand spent the night in building two bastions with poles [crossed out] logs [written above], bags of}
