Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-08-28
INDIAN FESTIVAL AND FEAST.

on the interesting occasion:
Some time in the spring of 1850, the old
trader, whose name has escaped ourmemory:
received pressing invitation to visit Stand
ing Stone day or two before the first full
moon in September, as a grand feast was to
come off at that time, which would be attend
ed by six or eight tribes. The trader, fore
seeing the chance of brisk barter, brought
large quantity Of goods from Lancaster, on
pack horses, and arrived day or two before
the sports commenced. lie found prepara-
tions made for large company; and he ac-
cordingly pitched his tent on the hill, while
the wigwams of the Indians stood upon the
fiat near the mouth of Stone Creek On
the day on which the feast was to commence,
the trader was awakcnedat an early hour by
the loud whoops of the savages already ar
riving to take part in the ceremonies. The
day wore on; and when the sun had reach
cd his zenith thousand warriors and their
squaws, in thier best attire, had gathered
upon the green sward. At the hour of II
clock precisely, chief, whom the trader
supposed to be at least a hundred years of
age, arose from the ground, while all the
rest retained a cross-leggcd sitting posture.
The trader understood enough Of the Della
ware language to ascertain that the feast was
one which took place every hundred moons,
to render thanks to the .Maniton for prescr-
wing them a great people. After congratu-
lating the different tribes and welcoming
them to this friendly reunion, an immense
pipe was brought into the arena, which pas
sed from mouth to mouth, each man taking
but a slight whiff OF course, the women
formed the outer circle, and took no further
part in the proceedings than mclely looking
on. Two half.grown lads followed the big
pipe with small bag Of Kinnih'ini4uc, and
ever and anon rcplenishcd the bowl. This
consumed an hour, during which time there
was profound silence. The old sachcm then
arose, and said that the balance of the day
would be given up to festivities. The as
scmblagc broke up into small parties, and as
each tribe had their medionc-men, musicians
and prophets along, the tum-tum of the
drum and the wild schant were soon heard,
and the dusky sons and daughters of the
forest went into tho dance of the gay and
light-heartcd with thousand times moro
vigor than do the bcaux and bellies of the
modern ballroom.
Many of the Indians called upon the tra-
der for Mn but Notwithstanding that he
had five kegs of rum, and the most friendly
feelings existed between himself and the
tribes, he refused to deal. In fact he did
not consider it safe. The festivities of the
day and part of the night were kept up with
dancing, singing, and bowling. The next
day religious exercises followed; and on the
third avery solemn and impressive ceremony
was to take place, to wind up the meeting,
at which the trader was urgently invited to
be present, and, in an evil moment he gave
his consent to do So Accordingly, he sold
all of his barrels Or kegs of rum, packed up
the balance of his goods, and started his
pack-horse train to Aughwick, himself and
horse alone remaining behind.
At the appointed time in the evening for
the feast, large fire of dry wood was built,
and the savages commenced dancing around
it, howling, and throwing their bodies into
the most violent contortions, first stepping
three or four feet forward, with the body in
clncd in the same direction then, throwing
the body backward, moving on and keeping
time with the drum and the chant. As one
party got tired or probably roasted out, they
danced away, and another set took their
places. When the fire burnt the ferccst,
and the lurid fame lit the surrounding hills,
wild chorus was sung in unison that might
have been heard for miles. This, the trader
was told, was the loud hymn of alteration.
He did not dispute the assertion. The rum
he had sold the Indians began to work, and
the old fox was enjoying some funny scenes
not set down in the bills Of the day. Occa-
sionally chief, under the influence of the
frcmoicr, would make mis.step and tramp
upon the burning Goals. To sec him quit
ting in q hurry, afforded the trader an in
finite deal of amusement. At length the
pile was reduced to Goals, when an Indian
brought from wigwam a live dog, and threw
him upon the burning cmbcrs. Another
and another followed, until ten dogs were
thrown upon the fire. Of course the dogs
tried to escape, but the Indians hemmed
them in so completely that this was matter
of impossibility. They setup a dreadful
howl but the Indians drowned the canine
wall by another stave of the unearthly chorus.
The odor of the roasting dogs did not agree
with the traders stomach, and bidding adieu
to his immediate acquaintances, he express
sed determination to leave for Aughwick.
This his friends would not permit, insisting
most vehemently that he should see the end
of it. As he had seen considerable fun, he
thought he might as well wait and see it out,
as the carcasses of the dogs would soon be
consumed. In this, however; he was mis-
taken, for the medicine-men drew them from
the fire, placed them upon wooden platters,
and cut them into pieces. Five or six of
them carried them around among the audito-
ry, offering each chief piece, who not only