The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-10
late number Of the Daily Wisconsin gives the
following graphic account of a strange wihneba-
coa dacoa raoonsiv haIH At Tnpnof Cifu.

goe dance recently held at Tunnel City:
Some three hundred Winnebagoes had o great
medicine dance day or two since near Tunnel
City. II was the largest gathering they have had
for years. The dance commenced at sundawn on
Monday evening, and lasted till the evening" FOL.
lowing. Desiring to be " In " at this mos Won
derful and mysterious of Indian gatherings, 1
reached the Tunnel sb out ten O'Clock. with the
friendly aid of lantern and a hand car some boys
of us took the back track for 9 mile wess. We
then struck the Indian trail mile or 80 through
the woods TO the north, where We found the grand
encsmpment. The night was dark, but the Isamp.
fires OF sixty wigwsms lit mp the forest far aud
wide. Near the center of the encampmeht wes
the great medicine wigwam. IL was brilliantly
illuminated and the orgies we're 10 full blast Az
approached the wigwam the sentinel met me g
the closed entrance. Ink an do quatch.a'' said
he; mo 60 in" This was q stumper and disap-
pointment, but was prepared for emergencies.
recognized the sentinel IN his blue militarv coat.
1t was Nau-he gsh, one Of the six Winnebagoe
braves who were In Shermsn's great march.
had q small Task and a few stamps in NY Yooket.
In . brief space was snueiy cornered insite.
THE MEDICINE pAycE.
The Medicine dance among the Indians is purely
religious In its origin. None but those WHIP have
been initiated are allowed to join 1t. To be .
Medicine man or Medicine woman Is the great
thing among the Winnebagoes. Only the, better
class can afford II. II costs from % 10 tlsg 10 bo
inftfEted-thst Is to make the presents and provide
for the dinner and the feast. All the Indisns fast
during the day preceding. The great wigwam p
open only to Medicine men and women. Sentinsis
are posted outside. At dark the lights are, struck
inside, and the unesrthly pow-wow of fattles,
drums, chants and cheeches commences.
THE wIawAM.
From my corner by the doorway could be seen
the whole splendor of the great wigwsu!. The
sti ucture was over q hundred feet long, The
ground had been shaved clear Of grass, add was
smooth q floor. The sides were thicky 5edded
with fresh fern leaves. A bright row of lights,
set on poles. cleaned down the center, while Q
blazing wood fire shone up from the farther end.
The Indians, about half and half as to- sexes,
were closely squatted along the whole leHgth on
either side. half dozen were beating drums,
shskipa rattles. and singing ia low .gptteras
around the wood fire. The rest held solefau as
graveyard.
THEIR DRESS.
The dress of the medicine sqaaws would put
Madam Demorest to shame. Many werei rigged
GU, like processes. No two were alike. Every
one had on a new calico skirt petticoats fancy
blanket, tash, leggins aud mocc asins set ,f with
every possible trick of dnery and ribbons. Beads.
rings tIibkets, wristlets, bracelets and 4arbolts
glstened in profusion. Little bells jinglbd from
their leg gins. Months had been spent in thinning
of their pettcoats with bits Of sk and besd work.
Every cheek was painted with the brightest YER
million and yellow and crossed or crced with q
line OF blue. The men we're less" got up.r Many
had showy head gear. and some had elaborate
breech clouis stitched with beads. A dozen or
more had borrowed coats from white folks for the
occasion. Old Four Deers," from PortSge. who
got up the dance. had on yellow scasf and q
black silk shirt. His head was girded With long
red deers hair hung with ribbons, festhets. eagle
quilts and snake rattles. Little Fish had the lower
half Of bis face painted blue; Nearly all had
stripes of red their face dotted with yellow
and blue. Ali the young bucks were lagsh with
pant and feathers. while the two OH chiefs,
DANDY" and "CarrimoOnc." preserved their
every day plainness. But the most noticeable
feature Of all was their marvellous
MEDICINE BAGS.
These were generally of otter skins made up
whole. Most OF them we're large and OF the fne-
est fur. lined with silk and besd-woFk. The
mouths OF each skin were hung with scarlet
| feathers. They were carried in front, like mu1s,
with the tails reaching to the ground, No profans
hands are allowed to touch them. They contain
the wonderful medicine, and are held AMI guarded
as sacred.
THE CEREMONIES
during the night were solemn as Quaker prayer
meeting. Speeches, marches, songs aud all kinds
till sunrise. The different songs had different Ger.
| emonies attending. Indians, by ones and twos.
| fled up and down the long lines, swinging their
hands to each Indian as they passed. low
| grunt was heard with each motion OF the hand
Presently the old Medicine man arose. and for ten
minutes followed rapid, jerking talk' with the
Great Spirit. l could gather only the drift Of
| Their talk. They mention the names lof Indians
| who have died since their last medicine dance.
| They recount the everyday events o5 their life.
| which can never happen to them again on earth.
lney tnen picture tnef occupations W. INC 0pirft
Land, killing their foes, or chasing the game over
| the Happy Hunting Ground. These ghosty reci-
tails listened to with the Stiffness Of death.
| Following their " tale" comes Q chant or song.
| attended by rattle or drum. The old Then lead Oh
for q strain or two, when the squaws Join In the
refrain. No words can describe these wild har-
| monies Of the forest maidens." Trey seemed
| 10 have learned their music from the nuskrau In
their cabins and the blsckbirds in the ields.
| TIE TOBACCO sose
| Is one of the most impressive. As the leading
| medicine man walks around the wood fire. drop
| ping bapdfuls of tobacco in the flames, the whole
| camp joins in the chsrus:
| Tsn.re-nah hot Tame nah, ho
Tan-ns-hsh. hahi Tan ne.hsh. hsil
Meanwhile drums and rattles keep up din loud
enough 10 friehten the Great Spin II on OF bis wits.
| The whifky or Padg q ne nah song tskes moro
seductive turn and a sip fropi the psssing bottle
anakes all right with the spirit above and below.
| Afler the tobacco song ia finished tbs peace pipe
is lighted and passes the rounds, each one taking
| Whit or two and giving grunt OF satisfaction
in return.
The dancing proper set in about Daylight, and
vas sIternated with chants, speeches and marches
ss before. When the dancing conSmenc ced the
| SIDES of the great wigwams were thrown out
wards thus shording open views tol all. Soms-
| times fifty sometimes q hundred, Joined In the
dance up and down the wigwam. The sQuss 90
| have q sort Of sideloDg hop motioh, with both
| feet together; while the men jerk up one leg ~
| time reminding one of the turkey inI the picture
| dancing on hot ashes.
"sHooTISG MErIcINE hAs.
This most exciting ceremony comrienced about
| noon and lasted an hour. / shall nlt attempt 10
describe it. sufhce 1t to say that the "yctim "
| Of the occasion was a son of old -Four Deers.' "
tall, long haired. dull eyed CAVITY OF twenty
summers. old "Four Desrs" had brought IN
presents Of blankets, calico and peSticoat cloth,
l vnrfh oyer hundred and twenty dollars. After
| deal of Hummery ---- 49, "a m
| pile Of blankets at the open end OF the wigwam.
| The great medicine chief then came tearing down
ike = mad buffalo from the opposite end OF the
| wigwsm, with the nose OF the terrible medicine
| bag pointed at him rushes upon bis victim with
a deafepipg shout-stabs him witni his medicine
bsr-desd falls the victim ss II struck by tnun
| jefbolt! This 10 called shooting new medt
cine man. 10 due time small white shell Is TAKEN
| from the medicine bag. thrust down shs throst OF
| the victim-coDvusions foos-he gets op on su
| tours-he vomits-he staggers 70 bis feet he ~
restored from death all by the W. woaderfoi meoi
cine. Henceforth he Is full charged ineaicihe
man.