Brought forth food and set before them, Water brought them from the brooklet, Gave them food in earthen vessels, Gave them drink in bowls of bass-wood, Listened while the guest was speaking, Listened while her father answered, But no once her lips she opened, Not a single word she uttered. This quotation from Hiawatha tells you a number of things about Indian life. Hiawatha had come there for the maiden, Minnehaha, the Laughing Water. It was her duty to serve in silence, not only the guest, but her father as well. The duty of the Indian woman was to serve. She did not sit in the council of the warriors nor was she consulted on the affairs of the tribe. She it was who tended the corn, who tanned the hides, who moved the tepee when a new hunting-ground was to be sought out. Yet, in her own way she was happy. You will not fail to study the dress of both chieftain and maiden. Notice particularly the headdress, the leggings, and the beautiful beadwork. The board band of beads was one of the commonest and one of the most beautiful of an Indian woman's decorations. Behind the maiden is the little tepee. In this sort of tent the Indians lived when on a hunting expedition. This is the way that Hiawatha asked for the hand of Laughing Water. After many years of warfare, Many years of strife and bloodshed, There is peace between the Ojibways And the tribe of the Dacotahs..... That this peace may last forever, And our hands be clasped more closely, And our hearts be more united, Give me as my wife this maiden, Minnehaha, Laughing Water, Loveliest of Dacotah women! Keystone ID: 11942 Note: All titles, descriptions, and location coordinates are from the original Keystone Slide documentation as supplied by the Keystone View Company. No text has been edited or changed.