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SKETCHBOOK |
![[Image: 33.jpg]](assets/33.jpg)
Page
17 (left). Two men, bearing guns, ride double. One has stained
his hair red, or wears red flannel strips in it (Josephy,
1965:514),and the has painted his brow in the same hue. Both wear decorated
trade cloth leggings, red full capotes, and the long fur bandolier sash.
In the war parade, telaqi.n, that circled within the ring of tipis,
such tandem riders brought up the rear. In retreat, theirs was the point
of honor: one man or both held off a pursuing enemy to permit their fellows
to escape; then at the last moment, they mounted and rode off to rejoin
their party.
![[Image: 20.jpg]](assets/20.jpg)
Taken
together with the rider on page 18 (right), similarly
armed and clad, there can be little doubt that the tandem riders are of
the three Red Cones of the Nez Percé War, who stained their capotes in
this conspicuous hue in defiance of the soldiers (McWhorter,
1952:249). Those riding double were two youths, Wahlities (Shore Crossing)
and his first cousin, Sarpsis Ilpilp (Red Moccasin Tops). They were riding
thus in parade when their mount trod on roots spread to dry; whereupon
the husband of the woman whose work they had spoiled reproved them for
sporting instead of avenging the death of Wahlitits' father, slain by
a White. Their revenge was the act thee precipitated hostilities. The
third Red Coat rider (page 18) is Tipyahlahnah Kapskaps (Bold Eagle).
Next: The Shield Bearer
http://libweb.uoregon.edu/ec/exhibits/sketchbook/redcones.html |
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