The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-07-18

bly, sorrowful and turned inqurngiy to Black b,sfu
who addressed them in long and solemn strain after
which, two women sent out of doors who soon re-
turned with buckets of in their hands whiebth.v
sprinkled the people then quiet and tranoup,tv
rsgned over the gathered nation afterwards learned
amongst them and they wished to know what he want
ed, in order to get rid Of him, The speeches made
the occasion directed to ascertaning this object
The old men thought at first, that the internal prince
Gas he loves the smell OF gunpowder) desired discharge
Of firearms In the open air Guns were accordingly ds
charged but this was not what the old dragon wanted
They then thought be desired their women according
y two three readily sent out but this was not
what he wanted. They then thought. perhaps he wish
ed to hear the Seneca flute; accordingly flutes were
not the thing for his majesty's that time sup
pose They finally thought that he wished to have the
deVh departed Still 1t supposed that lesser spirits
ofey were in the house and therefore the masks be-
lore spoken Of were called in 10 scare them away Az
tired again at each door Scattering dsmay around
them for halt hour or so bowling and throwing up the
Goals they rolled themselves cumsily OF the house
Inc small spirits of darkness had fed all true sene
were taken in the dress, both of and the men
The former We're decorated with their costliet
ments many OF them being gold and their were
painted with very delicate tns probably more daub-
ed than some of your city bellies, certain great
occasions Elegant shawls thrown across their
shoulders, superb moccasns on their feet aud leg
sings beaded beautifat the bottom the ancies
OF many black eyed maid. Among the men Iobseryed
youth in particular whose dress truly splendid
His moccasins of the finest dressed deer skin and
and red, in line not more than two inches wide and
tastefuy intermxed His leggngs Of broad CLOTH
decorated with beads, resembling gold and edged with
pink ribbon His hunting shirt calico merely yet
it was splendidy made Around his waist he long
red sash tied very gracefully and his shoulder hung
large silk shawl neggently down and loosely tied just
at his hip In his ears large silver rings suspended
every movement of his head. Wound lightly about his
temples was silk handkerchief, with silver band
inch wide around it, His black hair long, but bound
up in paits in the midst Of which quantity ofeagls
feathers fastened painted red and blue the ends
Towering above all three black ostrich pumes which
gave him very bold and commanding look. His fingers
with rings his wrists bound with gold clasps
and his arms above the elbows with silver ones quite
broad and bearing devices of birds and other animals
lie was truly grand looking fellow and stepped like a.
Diomede-
"He rises the toe that spirit of his
In aspiration lifts him from the earth"
Many were dressed with beautiful beaded pouches
over their shoudersand strngof silver pieces suspend
ed from their necks, cut in the shape Of the waning
moon, first small and gradually larger and fastened
gether-an inch or two apart-by silk thread sevs-
tired ragged and dirty the for which that
their friends had recently died.
Preparations made for Offering the sacrifice
large fire was built in the open air some yards from
the house constructed in such manner to furnish
About ten o'clock in the morning, the company
bed around this fire. and stood in silence awaiting the
ceremony Seneca advanced from the crowd to where
the dog was hanging and climbing up the post took him
down and handed him another below who bore the
a loud voice threw him into the flames Whereupon
Black Chief who is the most influential man in the
|
man among them whose memory retains all the trAdi-
tions of his tribe the Of their chiefs in
siye line for hundred years back (or much more) and
who perform every ceremony that the Seneca
toms require stepped forward and delivered u long
by short rough sentences He held in his hand u small
basket, containing some yellow seed, which he threw
into the fire every few moments until 1t was consumed
when he threw III the basket also. This recitation
tnued for about two hours and part OF Its design
told convey instructions to the soul Of the dog
to what 1t should say when arrived In the spiritand
none but white dogs Ike itself having the privilege TO
go there A pause was made after this for few mo-
ments, In which everything was still death, when
old man suddenly broke out into song and, singing
loud and mournully walked around the fire in circle
to where he first standing so did anot Their, and
another until each man, young and old had performed
| his part.
The sacrifice having been offered with all solemnity
the company retired into the house again where
ceremony was introduced. All the men seated
both sides two fires Directly one Of them began to
sing, while sitting and the others Immediately up
long howlat the subsistence Of which he to his
to the tune he had begun while his seated
panions kept time with rough grunt until he returned
to his seat, when they again set up long howl This
performance was executed by after another until all
had gone through with it twas very impressive, and tho
singing musical in the highest degree:
Alter this done the exercises the
The leader Of the dance rather large man. we'll
shaped and naked to the waist. His hair very
from the swan goose, which stuck here and
there over his countenance. Three large stripes Of
red crossed one OF his shoulders and his breast
three others crossed his other shoulder his
in the manner. Then three red lines around
MS waist ana between these were also three black
stripes Of narrow breadth His face was painted: a
streak OF vermlion under ench and streak Of the
same on either cheek, tipped with black Two others
were also naked to the waist who followed him di
rectly in the dance but they painted with only
All the men formed line on one side OF the fires, and
all the the other The former danced around
the fires in quick succession and encirced the women,
who advanced at slower pace This was the manner
| throughout great many motions were made by the
leader such lifting his eyes towards heaven and bend
ing them down to the earth again clapping his hands
together prngng high from the ground and apparent
quiverinR in the air for second &c, nc, which
initiated by his male followers the females silently
wing in the circle formed around them, with their heads
declined.
At this period of the evenings exercises departed for
home, but understood that few more hours would
close the ceremonies for the year.
My descriptions have been although perhaps long,
necessarily imperfect because was not present during
the whole time and because IL would require q large
book to give complete description OF everything that
was done. But the most important Of what did 10
here written, and although hastily written will doubt
interest your readers those Of them Mt least who
anything for Indian character customs deeds
For myself in the survey of this common national
ship my reflections have told that true sincerity
exist in the strangest religions and that creed de-
voutly believed and adhered to- provided 1t does not
rebel against the great law OF nature Is good as an
other. YELLOW BIRD
. MELONS FOR NEW YoRK.-We noticed this
: morning no less than four carts filled with water
melons their way TO the southerner to be conveyed
New York The Southerner has, during the present
been furnishing the New York markets with all
the uxuries Of southern soil In the shape oil early
peas green and other vegetables which are much
e later In season among the Gothamtes, than with
his may but small affair but 1t Is so only be-
cause It the beginning With the increased facilities
of another steamer farmers OF the Neck will find IL
considerably to their advantage TO have new market
opened them In the most populous city Of the Union
good effects will be felt in the increased value
farms their greater extension, and In the augmented
demand for ndu strious labor Little as Is apparently
the trade In vegetables Its effects will be very pleasing
y evident In the course of few years and should
remember that in honest trade every little helps ~
Chdriesion Is. c. Patriot July 10.
WEATHER. AT Franconia, N. H., on the 10th
lat L.. . 49,
two degrees and the spirit thermometer 90 degrees
FnlMOLAT'S SULPHUR BATHS. No SAT PEARL.
street near BroadwaY-fhese Baths have been esstls,
ed for the last and the only sulphur Bas
IN the city. They highly recommended by the most