Chapter LXXXII: Section 1: Continuous Record of Events in Life

An authentic and distinct example of a continuous record is the following “autobiography,” which was prepared at Grand River, Dakota, in 1873, in a series of eleven drawings, by Running-Antelope, chief of the Uncpapa Dakotas. Seven of these, regarded as of most interest, are now presented. The sketches were painted in water colors and were made for Dr. W. J. Hoffman, to whom the following interpretations were given by the artist.

The record comprises the most important events in the life of Running-Antelope as a warrior. Although frequently more than one person is represented as slain, it is not to be inferred that all included in the same figure were killed at one time unless it is so specified, but that thus they were severally the victims of one expedition, of which the warrior was a member or leader. The bird (_Falco cooperi?_) upon the shield always borne by him, refers to the clan or band totem, while the antelope always drawn beneath the horses, in the act of running, identifies his personal name.

Fig. 814.--Killed two Arikara Indians in one day. The lance held in the hand, thrusting at the foremost of the enemy, signifies that Running-Antelope killed him with that weapon; the left-hand figure was shot, as is shown by the discharging gun, and afterwards struck with the lance. This occurred in 1853.

Fig. 815.--Shot and scalped an Arikara Indian in 1853. It appears that the Arikara attempted to inform Running-Antelope of his being unarmed, as the right hand is thrown outward with distended fingers, in imitation of making the gesture for _negation, having nothing_.

Fig. 816.--Killed ten men and three squaws in 1856. The grouping of persons strongly resembles the ancient Egyptian method of drawing.

Fig. 817.--Killed two Arikara chiefs in 1856. Their rank is shown by the appendages to the sleeve and coat, which are made of white weasel skins. The arrow in the left thigh of the victor shows that he was wounded. The scars remained distinct upon the thigh of Running-Antelope, showing that the arrow had passed through it.

Fig. 818.--Killed one Arikara in 1857. Striking the enemy with a bow is considered the greatest insult that can be offered. See for a similar concept among the eastern Algonquians (Leland, _b_). The act entitles the warrior to count one _coup_ when relating his exploits in the council chamber.

Fig. 819.--Killed two Arikara hunters in 1859. Both were shot, as is indicated by the figure of a gun in contact with each Indian. The cluster of lines drawn across the body of each victim represents the discharge of the gun, and shows where the ball took effect. The upper one of the two figures was in the act of shooting an arrow when he was killed.

Fig. 820.--Killed five Arikara in one day in 1863. The dotted line indicates the trail which Running-Antelope followed, and when the Indians discovered that they were pursued, they took shelter in an isolated copse of shrubbery, where they were killed at leisure. The five guns within the inclosure represent the five persons armed.

The Arikara are nearly always delineated in these pictures wearing the topknot of hair, a fashion specially prevalent among the Absaroka, though as the latter were the most inveterate enemies of the Sioux, and as the word Palláni for Arikara is applied to all enemies, the Crow custom may have been depicted as a generic mark.

Wiener (_e_) gives the following account of the tablet found at Mansiche, reproduced as Fig. 821, one-fifth actual size:

It gives all the descriptive elements of the life of the
deceased; in fact his biography. He was a chieftain of royal blood
(vide the red planache with five double plumes). He commanded an
entire tribe. He had a military command (_v._ the mace which he
holds in his right hand). He had taken part in three battles (_v._
the three arms which three times proved his strength). He was a
judge in his district (_v._ the sign of the speaking-trumpet in the
center). He had under him four judges (_v._ the four signs of the
speaking-trumpet in the corners). He had during his administration
irrigated the country (_v._ the designs which surround the
painting); and he had constructed great buildings (_v._ the checkers
surrounding the meanders). He had busied himself besides all that in
the raising of cattle (_v._ the indications of llamas). He had lived
42 years (_v._ the blocks, which indicate years, just as the rings
indicate the age of trees). He had had five children, three sons and
two daughters (indicated by the little drops of sperm). Such is the
life of this person, written by ideography on a tablet, which at
first would be taken as a fantasy of an infant painter.