Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1844-06-29
SINGULAR INDIAN CUSTOMS.

SiNuULAh INDIAN CUSTOMS.
A gentleman, familiar with Indian
life and character, whose sketches have
heretofore frequently appeared in our
columns, furnishes US with the follow
ing: IS
One Of the most remarkable customs,
Of the savage tribes Of the North West,
is the ceremony OF "The Calumet"
mark of distinction, paid TO particular
ly worthy members of a tribe. Ga
entering an Indian lodge, il you per-
ceive a bundle Of fancifully decorated
pipes, carefully reposing in some safe
and conspicuous situation, you may
reasonably infer that you are in the
habitation of some honored individual,
some one who has stripped the scalp
ofa dreaded foe, the evidence of which
you may have perceived dangling from
a pole at the lodge entrance, or who
has suffered extraordinary privation
and toll in predatory excursions against
the enemies of his people.
When it is intended to honor war
rior with the distinction Of "The Ca
lumet, 1.-THE necessary information is
circulated among the tribe, unknown
to the subject of it; and day is appoin-
ted on which the honor is to be con-
ferred. The day arrived, the people
repair, en- naasse, to the lodge Of the
distinguished parsonage with shouts,
singing and dancing, surrounds HIM
and his family and load them with
caresses and gra.ulations. Intho mean.
time the "Calumet," or pipe Of "dis-
tinguished consideration" with which
each brave and warrior has been pro-
vided,) is passed, and tho honored in
dividual Informed, by one and all, that
he is, most unquestionably, remaka-
bly, great man! He, thereupon, returns
thanks to his fellowbraves and the as =
'sembled throng, assuring them as
matter Of course, "that this is the hap
piest moment of his existence" sc.
and winding up with The asscveration'
that the distinction is entirely un-
merited. But the most singular part
OF the ceremony is what follows; for
the great man next proceeds to distri-
butte among his admiripg friends
the whole estate, "real personal anG
mixed5;' alike ofhimself and family
even down to the flint and steel with
which bis hearth fire is kindled! This
is the grand climax Of greatness, and
the very clinching proof that he has
indeed, "big heart;" and after that.
whatsoever should doubt his authority,
or dispute his counsels, would be
an "outside barbarian" whom itwould
disgrace a squaw to notice! This ev-
idence Of his generosity manifested, his
immediate wants are supplied BY tri-
fling contributions from the assembled
multitude, and he is left literally 10
commence the world again, with bare
suficiency Of means to sustain existence.
Strange as IL may seem, this honor is
eourted more than worldly wealth and
the veriest miser Of the plains would
cheerfuly part with his last horse, or
his last blanket, TO ensure its ac4uisi-
ton.
A practice nearly akin to the forego-
ing in point Of absurdity, is the giving
away Of property where an accident
has occurred ina family. FOrinstancc,
if child has received an injury, a
horse or some other valuable article.
is sent to the nearest neighbor with
intelligence of the occurrence. This
neighbor forthwith takes itupon him
self TO inform the whole village Of the
interesting intelligence, and to crave
their sympathies. To neglect this
ceremony would be downright mean
ness, and the father Of the injured child
would be summed, as one who hada
"weak heart"
Property is also given away upon
the occasion Of child arriving alta suit
able age to have its ears perforated.
This operation must be performed by
some one who is not blood relation,
and who receives for his trouble, gen.
orally, a horse. The parent who
would perfora,e the ears OF his own
child would be detested! A similar
practice is observed when son kills
his first game, or has been received at
a feast among men. Some times in the
latter case, as in the calumet ceremony,
almost every thing is given away, the
family reserving only the bare neces-
saries oflife.--[St. Louis Gazette.