INDIAN HORSEMANSHIP.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2617, 20 April 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

INDIAN HORSEMANSHIP.

A correspondent of the Omaha Herald has been among the Indians, a"d this is how he tells of what he saw :—

Iu the Indian Camp of the Arapahoe chief, Friday, we saw many curious scenes and learned much of Indian life. One day Friday said to me he would like to show off his young men, and let me see how well they could ride. At first I expected some treachery, as the whole herd of ponies were in the hands of the troops. The old chief, however, was so earnest and so apparently honest about it, that I told tho captain who had the herd in charge, he might let Friday have fifty ponies for his young men. Iu about an hour they drew up before the tent in warpaint and feathers, and were as fine a looking set of young fellows as I ever Been, Hardly one but was six feet in height and beautifully proportioned. They sat on their horses like centaurs, and were ease and grace itseft iu the saddle. At a signal from the chief they began their movements with a yell that sent the blood curdling to the heart, and was enough, if heard unawares or in the night time, to make one's hair stand on end. In a moment they had disappeared over a neighbouring hill to tho right, and I thought they had gone ; but hearing a mighty trampling of horses, I looked to tho left, aud there they came. I can compare it to nothing but the wind, and they swept by so compact that they look ed like a ball of horses and men. Splitting in two, one body swept to the right and the other to the left, aud again disappeared. In about two minutes the two bodies charged each other in solid lines, and I waited breathlessly for the shock, but. as the horses' heads almost touched each other, the files opened to the right and left, and the lines passed up the intervals without touching. Wheel ing to the right-about they passed back iu an instant, and again disappeared over ] the hills. It was about 15 minutes befoietluy came iu sigkt, and Friday informed me that they were blowing thenhorses. Presently ou they came and wheeled by fours, formed columns, and finally deployed as skirmishers. It was now wo saw the finest individual horsemanship. Some would approach lying so close to the pony's back that nothing but the horse could be seen. Others stood up aud rodo as circus men do Some would hang with one foot aud one hand on tho horses aud sweep by, thenbodies being completely protected by the bodies of the animals. Some leaped upon the ground, holding to the mane of the horse, and after running a step or two, would swing themselves up on the backs of the horses again as easily as any circus man could do it. The position they assumed and the feats of horsemanship they performed were incrcleble, and I doubt if anything outside of a circus ring ever equalled it. They would throw objects ou the ground and pick them up again while passing at full speed, the warriors hanging to the sides of the horses with ono foot and one hand. They drew hows and shot arrows from underneath the necks, and even the bellies of their horses while riding at a fast gallop. Our calvary could not learn to rido as well as these Indians did, if each mam was trained for twenty years. They exchanged horses while riding; and got behind each other. One man would fall off of his

horse as if wounded, and two others would ride up beside him, and taking him by an arm and leg, swing him between their horses, and carry him off. The exhibition or drill, as Friday called

it. lasted nearly two hours, and the men and horses were completely exhausted. I never had seen such magnificent feats of horsemanship in my life, aud I freely said so. At this Friday was much pleased, and calling up the young men, repeated to them in aloud voice what I had said, aud added a few words of his own, complimenting them. The young men were very proud of the manner which they had acquitted themselves, and I could imagine the feelings of their pare.uts and sweethearts. The performers were much worn out, some of them being hardly able to stand after the violent exercise, and all the evening I saw them lying in their lodges, where the Indian women brought them food, bathed their hands, arms and limbs, and combed their hair.