Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1848-10-06
eyes are full of mirth, witchery and fire.
BsntLeg's Miscellany.
WRITTEN roR THE rRIRuNE1
NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. No

| NORIH AMERICAN INDIANS No. T.
FEAST OF NAAfEs.-It is customary with the
| Ojibewa Indians to make a feast on the coca
| sion of giving name toa child. The guests
having arrived and the food having been pre-
pared, it is the province of the oldest person
present to name the child. At a signal given
he, or she as the case may be, usually names
the child by the first thought that enters his
mind. Hence there are many singular names
among them, such as Little head, Sharing.
Bear skin, Snoic fake, &C., all being sugges-
ted by some circumstance transporting at the
moment.
These names are often however, changed in
youth. They very often call things by
name significant of their nature, and this OBJ
tains in altering the names of persons; for
instance, if person on arriving at manhood
distinguishes himself in any branch of Indian
enterprise, his name will thenceforth be indi-
cative of his success. Their names of rivers,
lakes, swamps, and hills, are also indicative
Of their size, length, or general appearance.
In their intercourse with each .other, they
set some good examples for our imitation
When they are in common conversation a.
mong their flies, in their own or another's
lodges, no one. ever heard two speaking at the
same time; l0hen one speaks all Others listen.
When a set speech is to be made, or any
thing of general importance is to be published
the speaker first shakes hands with all in the
lodge or assembly, and then, after calling on
the name of the Great Spirit in phrase equiv
alent to So God sees me- he begins his speech.
In eating all usually take ladle or wooden
spoon and eat out of the camp keIU1e III Which
the food is cooked, nor must one take there
from thrice till the ladle has gone around
Sometimes the victuals are dished out, in
which case each one must eat what is set be-
fore him, and cannot have his dish reflled.-
They make some allowance, however for the
whites. / went to their sugar camps while
among them, and at every lodge was presen-
ted with two or three pounds Of sugar, which
was informed l was to eat or carry home;
none must be left or returned.
Perhaps have already tired the patience
of your readers, and shall now close these
numbers with few extracts from my jour
nal.
"NovEMBER %, 1842.-The Indians have
some singular peculiarities. Noyoung Indian
will tell his name when asked. In school |
always have to ask some other the name of
new attendant. Their reasons for this are
that if they tell their names "they will not
grow large or "they will not live very
long,
4 A NO. J,
has been warm several days so as to melt the
snow little. But sugar water not having
commenced the Indians are still very hungry.
After three earnest solicitations of late the ira
ders, to day, let them have a year old colt,
which has wintered on rushes, and is not We
ry fat. They killed it Immediately, and
doubtless will not leave a vestige of it by
morning. Our nearest neighbor got the en-
trails, and another got the head, another the
skin &c. Poor creatures, my heart is rich
enough to feed you all, but have nothing to
give. May they learn wisdom in adversely"
SUNDAY MARCH 23d.-My Interpreter kill
ed a couple of muskrats last night which were
served up for breakfast this morning. They
are pretty good eating, being fat at this sea-
son of the year. The Indians regard them as
quite luxury.
MONDAY APRIL 22nd.-Witnessed a grand
Indian dance for few minutes at night
The twelve months double slavery ola wom-
an, whose husband was killed in war par
ty last spring, have expired, and she is anx-
ious to give up her bundle to his friends.-
The father of the deceased, therefore, calls
the people together, at large lodge where
they are to feast and dance all night, after
which the bundle will be opened and dispo-
sed of. The men were entirely naked, ex-
cept their breach cloths, and few feathers or
some kind of ornaments in their hair. They
were also painted in the most hidiOus man
ner, with some kind of weapon painted red
in their hand. Three persons sat together,
two with drums, and the other with an Iron
triangle, on which they beat in perfect time.
Their drumming was accompanied with sing
ing, in which one woman, with her hair pain
ted red, who went out with the war party,
took part. The father Of the deceased first
arose and danced awhile alone, and was then
Joined by the first war chief and five or six
others. But their manner ofdancing beggars
all description. 1t consists in the most II
diculous motions of the knees, hips, shout
ders and head, the feet generally remaining
fixed. 1t is also accompanied with the war
whoop and the most savage menaces at inter-
walls of several minutes. They frequently
cease dancing and have brief speech from
some one, to which all the others make the
most enthusiastic responses at the end of al
most every sentence. On the whole l have
not before seen SO convincing proof of the
utter degradation of these people.
thank the reader for his indulgence, and