Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-01-15
From the New York Commercial Advertiser
From our Correspondent.
MAsDAS VILLAGE. Upper Missouri.

Uedf sill WOuto etauiy s5fi"h 'o'h WV W.
dertaking which am now about to commence,
did not feel bound. by the promise IN nv last
letter. to give you description OF an annual re-
lieious ceremony. which witnessed short time
since, in this village, in company with two 9th
er gentlemen. who we're with me IN continual at
tendance for four days, that we might lose no.
thing of this strange exhibition. With my en-.
thusiasm tor the Indian character, took great In
terest in witnessing everv form and feature Of
these rites, and consequently was most oil the
time too much engaged to think Of my meals.
! From the high standing held amongst them as
" Medicine man." in consequence OF my art,
l gained admission into the Medicine Lodge,
with nv two friends, where we witnessed the
whole preparation of their secrect medici"ns and
hocus pocus operations. together with the horrI-
BILE scenes of cruelty which they practIsed upon
their own bodies
Before proceed further, however, will de-
tain you for moment TO give you sone idea OF
their Religious creed. and then proceed with my
Description. found. by close Interrogation, that
they believe IN the existence oi Great tIon'i)
Spirit, and also in the existence ut Bad SPIRIT,
who, thew say, existed long before the G"od Spi-
rt, and is far superior IN power They all be
Iieve IN future existence, and III future state
of rewards and punishments. and tas do all other
punishment is not eternal, but commensurate
with ,neir sins These people, living in climate
where they suffer extremely from cold in the Sc
verify of their winters, have very naturally re-
yersed our ideas Of Heaven and He'll. The lat
ter they describe to be a county very tar to the
north of barren and hdeuus aspect, and covered
| with eternal SHOWS. The t"rments OF this ireeZ-
! ing place they describe as most excruciating =
Whilst Heaven they suppose to be IN warmer
and deli shtfu latitude, where nothing IS felt bu,
the kecnest enjoyment, and where the country
abounds in Buffalo and other Injuries OF lite. -
God for the Great SpIritl the, believe dwells in
Hell. for the purpose Of there meeting those who
nave offended him, increasing the agony OF their
sufferings by being himself PRESENT. and admins
tering the pena'nes. The Bad Spirit they con.
ce,ve to be in Heaven, still tempting the happy,
whose happiness is increased by their successful
resistance Of his temptations. Their belief is
that those who go to He'll are tnrmented there
and suffer for time proporiioned to the amount
nf their transgressions, and that they are then to
be transferred to the land of the happy, where
they are again liable TO the temptations OF the De
vii. and answerabie again at future period, Tor
their new transgress,Ons.
the .9nnual Ceremony Tor kee pa. as they
call it) is by them considered a religious ceremo
M. wherein, BY in1cting punl,hmenis Of the
most cruel aud painful kind upon their own bo.
lies. they expect 10 appeaor t'e Almighty. re-
ceiye pardon lor.iher sins past, and promise ot
future success in hunting, aGd In battles With their
enemies.
Itis also observed. partly IN comnem"rati"n
al tho svsnt al Tho snhs,Iiae of.hs fond, (me'-
nr-to ka-la shall at which. their traditions and
manner Of ,0nducnng these ceremonies "H'rd
nj, + they ma kDUA ieUrp.
and The ,i,lct adherence Ia the celebration nf
which event they look upon a, an indispensable
part OF their religiuu, worship The continual
herds oi Buffain which approach their village
throughout wear. and supply them with sbun
dance If mra'. hey suppose I" b" brought IN. IN
conspu uence OF thu. ,eTemnny. which they con-
slider absolutely necessary for their approach. -
In the centre OF thelr village IS a circular area
Of $50 feet in diameter. which is kept vacant for
all their shows and public cere'nnnies One OF
the lodges fronting this circle IS called the
.Ha!ic,ne Lodge. tTe-he.rp-nee.) being 70 feet
in diameter. AID never opened except tor the
performance NJ some OF their mysteries ur naed'-
cine During all these occasions. the most r.
g,d rules of secre>y are observed, to the excu-
sion of strangers and even of then own villagers.
px, eping such az are, by their hODors Or reno"n,
entitled TO admission.
The season OF the year "hen 'his celebration
takes place is uniformly a. soon a. the trees are
IN full Leaf, 81 which season the mourning dove
makes his appearance amongst them. and they
say that the twig which he brought had iull grown
leaves upon it, This bird thew have nigh ven
Grafton Tor. aud it be,rg medicine with them.
thew never kill it. On the morning of the day
previous, to the commencement ut these ceremo-
mics. there appears on the pra'ries, at distance,
a man whom rhev all recognise as fNu-muhk-
muck nah) the first or only man. who by slow
degrees approaches and enters The village with
great deaf ct form and ceremony, as u he had
Just arrived from the west HIS body IS painted
red. his robe Of tour white wolf skins, his head
dress Of two raven SKINS and in his hand he holds
pipe of huge dimensions AZ his approach the
Medicine Lodge IS thrown open. and prepared
BY covering the floor of il with the branches OF
green willow. pertaining IT with he mos, fragrant
rb, which can be coected-and placing in
several parts Of IL curious display OF butaI" aud
human skulls During this preparation ne visits
ever, lodge IN the village. and demand, from
every one knife or other edged tool. which IS
readily given to be. sacrificed, for he says, .wth