An inside knowledge of Indian life yields the information that their sentiments, their romance, their poetry, their natural human inclinations are not far different from those of their white brothers. The "Indian in a man" has been referred to in many ways -- wild nature, vindictiveness, treachery, and is more frequently used to indicate cruel or evil characteristics.

That is because the side of Indian life that has been most dwelt upon by writers, and that

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

has come in contact with the advance of civilization, has been the cruel and savage side. We seldom heard of the great peace advocates of the red race, because the more virulent advocates of war kept them and us busy. The same inspirations that provoked the flower of knighthood in the middle ages, were in the Indian tribes. The young men were taught valor and inspiration, and that honor came through the slaughter of hereditary or other foes.

Even in peace, war songs kept alive the militant tendencies of mind and heart. Here is a fragment of one song often sung to inspire young braves to deeds of war and blood:

"The Eagles. The eagles scream on high

They whet their forked beaks. Raise -- raise the battle cry,

'Tis fame your leader seeks."

This song of the Sioux stirs the red blood just as did the recent songs on the battle fields of the old world.

Fatalism is a part and parcel of the mountain and plain, and the greater frontier, as we well know, and we presume it is the same of war. The belief that "a man who is born to be hung will never be drowned," is old as the hills. In the remote periods of ancient India, Sanjoya sang the battle song of fatalism. But old chief Wau-bo-jeg, who once loved and roamed over the land of western Nebraska, sang his songs in the middle of the night.