Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1868-01-01

cape. The huts OF those living back from
the coast, whero no drift wood 10 found.
is much poorer than these. having no shell,
YES, no floors, q slight elevation, of earth
only being lef. around the sides to sleep
on. Everything is filthy to an extent
which ] can only leanc the reader to im.
agiue Their villages are without order,
OF regard to streets or paths, and look like
SO mssy molo bills. Their caches are the
only things which c.n b. seen above
ground and give notice to the traveller
that he is approacbinga villuge. They
are built upon posts about eight feet highy
and are used to keep provisions, b0aAs
sledges. cto, frem their voracioI Is dogs.
Dancing. favorite Amusement. 1. !p-
dulged in by old and young. Every WILL
age containing over df,y inhabitants has
its dance house, the floor Of which is laid
on poles. to allow it to spring. A narrow
shelf is constructed at one end, on which
the musicians sit. At these poo.lilys
! (dances) al wear their best garments, or.
namented with animals tails and strips
Of sloth skin, and fancy gloves and boots
made for that purpose. Around the head
is worn a band ornamented with fsathers
and blue beads, and on come occasions o
frightfuliy hidcous looking leatheru or
wooden mask is worn. Their music con-
sists in singing and drumming on an in-
strument callel a SOW, yak, made of wal.
rus bladder stretched over hoop and
fastened to q small handle, Eve or six Of
which, of different sizes, arc played at q
time. AT the commencement each Indian
leaps into the air as highas he can, shou-
ting Oo-ee---Oo.ee. then keeps time to ths
music with his right foot, and jerking
gesticulations of the arms and body. tha
left foot being raised from the floor only
at the heel. The movements of the fe-
males consist 10 modest swinging to
and fro of the arms and sligh. bending
of the knees in time with the music, simi-
lar to the Japanese style Of dancing.
Jumping is also considered q great feas
among the Indians = Some will jump
nearly twice their hight. and touch a sus-r
pended objsct with both feet. Among
their other amusements are tilting. pitch.
ing wire rings which the squaus wsa.
around their arms, aud tossing each ether
in the air from blanket
1850 ed RELIaIoUs NorIosa
Their religion is but bigoted superssi-
ton. Among them are ung.ut.kosks.
doctors who profess supernaturalism and
fanatically pcrpctuate their superstitious
beliefs. They know but one ruling spirit.
an evil one. which they call Tun-Iak.
whom they fear as tho begetter Of all
their evils and illness When sickness
occurs in family, these doctors are iu.
mediately called, and pretend to drive
away the devil and the disease by drum.
ming ona sou yak. singing and talking
in hoarse tones to the evil one with tho
head covered with kapaiItuk. after which
they perform few tricks to display their
powers, such as blowing beads through
the head, eating FIRE, &c. Their influence
over the people is very great. every in.
junction given by them being religiously
obcyed They will not leave their villag.
es in any direction to &c to another du-
ring the hunting season. fearing that the
game will follow them and not return.
Neither will they allow any game which
exists upon land or in fresh water to bs
cooked ever the same FIRE, or in tho sama
hut. with anything killed at sea. Thesa
scruples often Inconvenience us while
living with them, we being obliged to
cook our ducks and grouse outside in the
cold. ~ ~ ".As f-a.''aa
,ssvsa SOCIAL cusTohs -
Marriage among these natives is simply
agreeing to live together. and the part
nership is as easily dissolved. il either
party is dissatisfied, Divorces. however.
are seldom heard Of, as there generally
live two or three wives with ono husband.
without quarrcling, each loving and affcO-
tionately caring for her own children.
Death by disease or accident seldom Sc-
ours among them; but when it does. the
hut iu which the person dies is abandoned
forever and the body left inside When
they become 80 feeble that they are NOT
expected to live. hut Of skins ia buils
outside, where they are transferred to
spend the remainder Of their days Their
burial consists simply in placing the body
on top Of The ground, or among the rocks.
partially covering it with drift wood. and
placing upon the grave all the property.
such ss boats, CANOES and wooden dishes
that the deccased posaexaed - Rosfss.