Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-09-20
Attstrllanrous.
THE RAIN-MAKER.

Readers, did you ever hear of "rain-ma-
kers 7" If not, sit still, and read on but
laugh not-keep cool and sober, else you
may laugh in the beginning and cry at the
end of my story Well, introduce you to
new character-not doctor or high
priest, yet medicine-man, and one of the
highest and most respectable order, Grain
maker % Such diqnitaries live in the Man.
dan nation, aye, and ran-stoppers" too
and even those also amongst their cOnjurdti,
who, like Joshua of old, have even essayed
10 stop the sun in his course; but, from the
inefiiciency of their medicine or mystery,
have long since descended into insignfi-
canoe.
Well, the story begins thus The Man
dams raise a great deal of corn, and some
times most disastrous drought will be vis-
ted on the land, destructive of their promis-
ed harvest Such was the case when | ar
rived at the MaEdan village on the steam
boat Yellow Stone. Rain had not fallen for
many day, and the dear little girls and ug-
ly old squaws, altogether GALL of whom had
fields of corn) were grooming and crying to
their lords, and imploring them to inercede
for rain, that their little respective patches,
which were now turning pale and yellow,
might not be wthered, and they be deprived
eff the pleasure Of their customary annual
festiyity, and the joyful occasion of the
roasting ears and the green corn dance
The chiefs and doctors sympathized with
the plants of the women, and recommend
ed patience. Great deliberation, they said,
was necessary TO these cases and though
they resolved on making the attempt to pro-
duce rain for the benefit of the corn, yet
they were wisely resolved that to begin too
soon might ensure their entire defeat in the
endeayor; and that the longer they put it
off, the more certain they would feel of Ill
innate success. So after few days of fur
Their delay, when the opportunities of the
women had become clamorous, and most
insupportable, the medcine-men assembled
in the council house, with all their mystery
apparatus about them, with an abundance
of wild sake, and other aromatic herbs, with
fire prepared to burn them, that their sa-
worry odors might be sent forth to the Great
Spirit. The lodge was closed to all the vii
layers, except some ten or fifteen young
men, who were willing to hazard the dread
full alternative of making it rain, or suffer
the everlasting disgrace of having made "a
fruitless essay.
They, only were allowed as witnesses to
the hocuS-pocuS and con duration devised by
the doctors inside of the medicine lodge !;
and they were called up by lot, each one i'll
his turn, to spend day upon the top of the
lodge, to test the potency of his medicine !;
or IN other words, to see how far his voice
might be heard and obeyed amongst the
clouds of the heavens; whilst the doctors
were burning incense in the wigwam below,
and with their songs and prayers to the
Great Spirit for success, were sending forth
grateful fumes and odors to Him "who
lives in the sun, and commands the thun-
ders of heaven" Wah-kee Uhe SHELBY
was the first who assembled the wigwam at
sunrise; and he stood all day, and looked
foolish, as he was counting over and over
lage were assembled around him, and pray
ing for his success. Not a cloud appeared
the day was calm and hot and at the
setting of the sun he descended from the
lodge and went home; "his medicine was
not good" nor can he ever be medicine
man.
Om-pah (the Elk was the next; he as.
cended the lodge at sunrise the next morn.
ing. His body was entirely naked, being
covered entirely with yellow clay. On his
left arm he carried beautiful shield, and a
long lance in his right; and on his head the
skin of raven, the bird that scars amidst
the clouds and above the lightning's glare
he fourshed his shield, and brandished hi:
lance, and raised his voice, but in vain fol
at sunset the ground was dry, and the sky
was clear; the squaws were crying, and
their corn was whitening at its roots
War-rah-pa (the Beaver) was the next
he also spent his breath in vain upon the
empty air, and came down at night; and
Wak-a-dah-ha-hee (heW hteBuffalo's Hair
took the stand the next morning. He is
small but beautifully proportional young
man. He was dressed in tunic and leg
gins of the skins Of the mountain sheep,
spendidly garnished with quilts of the por.
cuplne, and fringed with locks of hair taken
by his own hand from the heads of his enc.
mics. On his arm he carried his shield
made of the buifalo's hide; its boss was
the head of the war-eage, and its front was
ornamented with "red chains of lightning
In his left hand he clenched his snewy bow
and one single arrow. The villagers were
all gathered about him, when he threw up
feather to decide Oh the course of the
wind, and he commenced thus" NV
friends ! people OF the pheasants you see
me here sacrifice | shall this day re-
lieve you from great distress, and bring Joy
amongst you; or shall descend from the
lodge when the sun goes down, and live a.
mong the dogs and old women all my days
My friends you saw which way the feather
flew, and hold my shield this day in the
direction where the wind comes the light.
ming on my shield will draw a great cloud
and this arrow, which is selected from my
culver, and which is feathered with the
quill OF the white swan will make hole in
it. My friends this hole in the lodge a,
my feet shows me the medicine-men who
are seated i'll the lodge below me, and cry.
ing to the Great Spirit; and through il
comes and passes into my nose deli htfuI
odors, which you see rising in the smoke to
the Great Spirit above, who rides in the
clouds and commands the winds Three
days they have sat here, my friends, anc
nothing has been done to relieve your dis
tress. On the first day was Wah-kee 9TH,
Shield j he could do nothing; he counte,
his haada and ranoa doun HE ,aaJ.o..,.