The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-11-15

recount OF an unique festival and feast. as
'elated by an old trader. who had the honor
# being guest of the Red Man on the in
eresting occasion:
Some time in the spring Of 1850 the Old
trader, whose name has escaped our memory.
rtcrlvrf pressing Invitation to visit Stand
Ing Stone a dav Or two before the FIRST full
moon IN September, as a grand feast was 10
come oil at that time. which would he attend
ed bv six or e,.hi tribes. The tra.lt.r. fore
seeing the chanre Of !ri>k barter. brought
large quantity ci goods from Lancaster. on
pack horses. and arrived dav or two before
the sports commenced. lie found preparations
made for large company aud he according
~ pitched h,- tenn On the hill, while the wig
vans OF the Indians stood upon the flat near
the mouth OF Stone Creek On the dav on
whirh the feast was to commence. the trader
was awakened AT an early honr bv the lou'i
whooPs ot the sava"rs already arriving TO take
part IN The ceremonies The dav wore on
and when the sun ha.i reached ITS zenith.
thousand warriors anr their >luawS. IN their
best attire, had gathered upon the green
>ward. At the hour Of twelve O'Clock rrp
risriv. chief whom the trader supposed tn
BE- a, least hundred years OF age. arose from
the ground. whil- all the rest retained cross
legged sitting posture. Tie trader understood
enough OF :he D.laware language to asrri-
tam that the feast va, one winch took place
every hundred moons. TO render thanks to
the Ndn""n tor preserving them great p''r
pie. Af:er ercongra'uiafIn: the different tribes
and welcoming them to this Friendly r--nnior,.
All immense plI,e was brought into the arena.
which passed from mouth ~ month. each ma,
taking hnt a slight wh,;i OF r"ur>.. the wo-
men formed the outer circle. and took no fur
thtr part IN IN" proceedings than nlerrl !,
locking on. Two hat grown lads f0liowri
'hr r'lr with a small bag OF kinnI nigue. ard
ever and anon reIleni>hrd the bowl. This
consumed an hour. during which time there
was profound silence. The oil 81. hem ,hr,,
arose. and said that the balance of the dav
w"uh! ''' y',rE up TO frstvitirs. The Assem-
hlagr broke up INTO small parties. and As each
tribe had Their medicine mrn. musicians. and
prophets along. the trm fum of the drum and
the wild chant were soon heard and thu. dusk '
sons and daughters of The forest went into the
dance OF the ga" aud light hearted with a
thousan,i times more viSor than do the besux
aud bells of the modern hall room.
Many Of the Indians called upon the trader
for lam i: but Notwithstanding that he had Il ,e
kegs of rum. aud the most friendly feeling.
existed between himself and the tribes. he re-
fused To deal. In fact he did not consider j,
safe. The festivities of the dav and part Of
I'll ,rhe l. ,.tL
ing. and bowling. TIE next dav religion.
exercises followed; and on the third a yer.
solemn ami impressive ceremony was to take
place. to wind up the meeting. at which tn.
trader was urgently invited to be present. and
in an evil moment he gave his consent to dc
so. Accordingly. h. sold all his harrrls o1
kegs or rum. pa keh up the balance of hi.
foods. and started his pack horse traia Il
AuShwick, himself and horse alone remainn.
behind.
Al the appointed time in the evening
for the feast, a large fire Of drv wooc
was built, and the savaces tounpncpt
dancing around il. howllng. and throwing
ihe'r bodies INTO the most ,Iol.nf conforrion>
first >trppin. three or four feet forward wIrl
the body inclined IN III. same direction the,
throwing the body harkward moving nn ar,
. kerpl"g ilmr with the drum aud the chan,
5 As one party gof tired or probably roa>te,
, ont. they danced away. and another SET tori
ihrIr places. When the fire burnt the Fl r.
est. and the lurid fl me lit TIE snrronnli-
, hills. a wild chorus was sung in unison tha
might have been heard for miles This. TN
!, trader was told. was TIE loud l., mn Of ad,.. 4
4, fion. lie did not Dispute the ASSERTION tn
rum hr had sold the Indians began 10 work
and I'll" old fox was enj"vins some fun,
II scenes not set down in the bills of the dsv.-
! Occasionally chief under the inucn,c o.
+ the .hrtwn'er, would make >step an
tramp upon the burning Goals. To see hi,
y quitting ~ hurry. afforded the trader an i,
J. Unite deal OF amusement. At length the pil
was reduced 70 Goals. when an ln'ilan t.ousl
4 from wIgwam live dog, and threw him o,
>. on the burning -mlrrs. Another and an.t!
er followed. until ten dogs were thrown upc
E! the fire. W course the dogs tried to oscar
"a but the Indians hrmrned them in 50 ron,,'ct
IN lv that this was matter of iml,o>>brl,tv =
f They set up dreadful bowl: but the Ird
!, ans drowned the canine wa, Nv anoth,
stnve of the unearthlv chorus. The oiior &
- the rosstInS dogs did not "agrpe with u
f traders stomach, and Kidding adru 10 his il
r. mediate arquA'n'anrt.. hr expressed a det-
~ mInatiOn to leave for Aughwick. This \
friends would not permit. insistin. most '
es hcmrntlv that he should see the end Of it,
II a. he had seen considerable fun, he thong
,e he might AS we'll wait and SEE it out. a. d
e.. carcas>es OF the dogs wonld soon he cousunr
In thus, however. ne was mistaken. for d
III medicine men drew them from the fire, pl
d ced them upon wooden platters. and e
Nv them into pieces. Five or six Of Them car
nm ed them around among the auditory. .fl-r
each chiet a pirrs. who not only took I
''' dainty m.rSpl, but eagerly ate II. The co
st rIusion Of this feast We give in the trade
of own words:
e. At last they came where I was sitting
al mong the only softer chiefs of parry. /
stencil OF the halt roasted dogs was xtul
W" One OF them came with hi. trrncilrr to II
III, and offered me q Iirrr-a choice piece. {,
at as | was an invited guest. t"'ing a piece Of I
,s. most unclean part of :he entra,ls Thank.
said !, never dine on dog Brt this
80 not satisfy them. One OF thr prophets. lab,
~ boring under the ptfe, Is Of about a qua
IN Of my rum. insisted upon NV -ati
". what was offered to me. | again
cinrd. when one of the chiefs .ntnr,r.d
wv that it was very sacred feast. and n,..'>
We partook Of my allotted portion should hsi
70 insult the Indians and tina, some ot ,i,ns.
rk toxmated might deprive m. of INV s.alp I
49,, thing was no longer Joke. sr,zrd the
'"' OF dog entrsil aud put II in nv mouth. in
'av hope OF spi''in. It out; but they watched
nd 20 closely that was Obliged TO strsw INV 20
led age up 10 the sticking point. and with ,