Codex Battleford
Transcription: 8
Transcription:
{7 [written in the top right corner]
of oats and bags [crossed out] sacks [written above] of flour on both xxxxxx [crossed out] sides of Jefferson’s house. The next morning,the defences [crossed out] parapet [written above] being completed,the soldiers could take a well-deserved rest.After dinner a new attempt was made to persuade the chiefs to give up the culprit and thus avoid the interference of the troops Crozier,Raë and Jefferson as interpreter drove to the camp.The dance was in full fling,and no more notixce was taken of them when they cast a [crossed out] than on the previous [written above] glance into the sacred precincts,than when they had come for the first time [crossed out] occasion [written in the margins].But during the short space of time they had spent there,some fifty Indians had found time to leap on horseback and to await them at the exit. Their attitude was distrustful and threatening.They led them to a tent where Big-Bear and Poundmaker were chatting together.Crozier and the Indian agent did all in their power to persuade them to deliver up [crossed out] hand over [written above] the guilty man to the judge [crossed out],but neither the one nor the other would xxxxxxx [crossed out] do anything of the kind,fearing an [“n” added] humiliating [crossed out] utter [written above] failure.Both spoke sensibly [crossed out] judiciously [written above] and waxrned the commandant of the danger he incurred in attempting the arrest of an Indian during the course of the feast.Finallxy Big-Bear made a wise xxxxxxxxxx [crossed out] offer to the officer:if he would postpone the arrest until the end of the Thirst Dance,he agreed to lead all the Indians as far as the soldiers’quarters and there he could search for the man in question and take him prisoner,willing or unwilling.The proposition was accepted.
In the evening thirty soldiers and a few volunteers arrived from Battleford under the command of sergeant-major Kirk.Horses and men were worn out by the tropical heat and the length of the journey.Many horses had died on the way,the remainder scarcely dragged themselves along.
The ritual dance ended at night fall.However the feast [crossed out] turmalt[?] noise[?] [written in its place] continued the best part of the night.At dawn an impressive calm succeeded the turmoil of the preceding days:the Indians,overcome by xxxxxxx [crossed out] drowsiness [written below] and exertion,had fallen in a leaden slumber.
A little before noon the Indians [crossed out] they [written above] began moving to the place of rendez-vous. Crozier waited for them in company of his interpreter.Arriving at a little knoll about two hundred yards from the bastions,the Indians refused to go a step farther.Alone Big-Bear and Poundmaker consented to meet the officer.On descending the hill,Poundmaker said:“ Since you will nor [sic] renounce seizing this man and he will not let himself be taken up,I will surrender myself in his place so that there may be no blood spilt.” [quotation mark added in pen] Big Bear then said “If you do so, Big Bear will follow you [crossed out] act the same way [written above].” [quotation mark added in pen] They entered the house with Crozier for a short time.On coming out,Poundmaker seemed vexed:“They do not want [“t” added] me”,he said; “Very [“y” added] well!they will not get me so easily next time.” [quotation mark added in pen]
On hearing this William McKay of Battleford explained:“You do not under xx [crossed out] stand.They want the man committed the assault [crossed out] who perpetrated the crime [written in its place], and no other.” [quotation mark added in pen]
The commander gave order to captain Antrobus to advance the soldiers [crossed out] troopers [written above], leaving enough men [crossed out] soldiers [written above] to man the bastion.Then he advanced [crossed out] went forward [written above] with his interpreter and Graig.They had been there but a few minutes when the marxching soldiers were seen by the Indians.The tumult of the enraged crowd became xx [crossed out] indescribable.Big Bear,Poundmaker and the old men shouted:“Quixxet!Quiet!” but they were powerless to restore calm.Craig was searching for his man [crossed out] assailant [written above] with the paint washed off their [crossed out] his [written in its place] faces [“s” crossed out] and in their [crossed out] his [written in its place] ordinary attire,it was easy to recognize everyone of them as soon as his eyes rested on [crossed out] him.Crozier shouted :“Bring me the man,otherwise I will xxx [crossed out] arrest every one of you,even if I am obliged to use weapons.” Finally the chief Lucky-Man [“u” corrected] xxxxx [crossed out] brought him to the officer.When the latter tried to seize him,he said menacingly:“Do not touch Me.”-“I will not touch you if you are quite willing}
of oats and bags [crossed out] sacks [written above] of flour on both xxxxxx [crossed out] sides of Jefferson’s house. The next morning,the defences [crossed out] parapet [written above] being completed,the soldiers could take a well-deserved rest.After dinner a new attempt was made to persuade the chiefs to give up the culprit and thus avoid the interference of the troops Crozier,Raë and Jefferson as interpreter drove to the camp.The dance was in full fling,and no more notixce was taken of them when they cast a [crossed out] than on the previous [written above] glance into the sacred precincts,than when they had come for the first time [crossed out] occasion [written in the margins].But during the short space of time they had spent there,some fifty Indians had found time to leap on horseback and to await them at the exit. Their attitude was distrustful and threatening.They led them to a tent where Big-Bear and Poundmaker were chatting together.Crozier and the Indian agent did all in their power to persuade them to deliver up [crossed out] hand over [written above] the guilty man to the judge [crossed out],but neither the one nor the other would xxxxxxx [crossed out] do anything of the kind,fearing an [“n” added] humiliating [crossed out] utter [written above] failure.Both spoke sensibly [crossed out] judiciously [written above] and waxrned the commandant of the danger he incurred in attempting the arrest of an Indian during the course of the feast.Finallxy Big-Bear made a wise xxxxxxxxxx [crossed out] offer to the officer:if he would postpone the arrest until the end of the Thirst Dance,he agreed to lead all the Indians as far as the soldiers’quarters and there he could search for the man in question and take him prisoner,willing or unwilling.The proposition was accepted.
In the evening thirty soldiers and a few volunteers arrived from Battleford under the command of sergeant-major Kirk.Horses and men were worn out by the tropical heat and the length of the journey.Many horses had died on the way,the remainder scarcely dragged themselves along.
The ritual dance ended at night fall.However the feast [crossed out] turmalt[?] noise[?] [written in its place] continued the best part of the night.At dawn an impressive calm succeeded the turmoil of the preceding days:the Indians,overcome by xxxxxxx [crossed out] drowsiness [written below] and exertion,had fallen in a leaden slumber.
A little before noon the Indians [crossed out] they [written above] began moving to the place of rendez-vous. Crozier waited for them in company of his interpreter.Arriving at a little knoll about two hundred yards from the bastions,the Indians refused to go a step farther.Alone Big-Bear and Poundmaker consented to meet the officer.On descending the hill,Poundmaker said:“ Since you will nor [sic] renounce seizing this man and he will not let himself be taken up,I will surrender myself in his place so that there may be no blood spilt.” [quotation mark added in pen] Big Bear then said “If you do so, Big Bear will follow you [crossed out] act the same way [written above].” [quotation mark added in pen] They entered the house with Crozier for a short time.On coming out,Poundmaker seemed vexed:“They do not want [“t” added] me”,he said; “Very [“y” added] well!they will not get me so easily next time.” [quotation mark added in pen]
On hearing this William McKay of Battleford explained:“You do not under xx [crossed out] stand.They want the man committed the assault [crossed out] who perpetrated the crime [written in its place], and no other.” [quotation mark added in pen]
The commander gave order to captain Antrobus to advance the soldiers [crossed out] troopers [written above], leaving enough men [crossed out] soldiers [written above] to man the bastion.Then he advanced [crossed out] went forward [written above] with his interpreter and Graig.They had been there but a few minutes when the marxching soldiers were seen by the Indians.The tumult of the enraged crowd became xx [crossed out] indescribable.Big Bear,Poundmaker and the old men shouted:“Quixxet!Quiet!” but they were powerless to restore calm.Craig was searching for his man [crossed out] assailant [written above] with the paint washed off their [crossed out] his [written in its place] faces [“s” crossed out] and in their [crossed out] his [written in its place] ordinary attire,it was easy to recognize everyone of them as soon as his eyes rested on [crossed out] him.Crozier shouted :“Bring me the man,otherwise I will xxx [crossed out] arrest every one of you,even if I am obliged to use weapons.” Finally the chief Lucky-Man [“u” corrected] xxxxx [crossed out] brought him to the officer.When the latter tried to seize him,he said menacingly:“Do not touch Me.”-“I will not touch you if you are quite willing}
