Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-11-22
Indian lamentations.

Indian SupersiIiiOns.
correspondent of the San Francisco Bulle-
tin gives the following account of some Califor-
mia Indians and their superstitions;
The reservation upon which have been gather
ed 1900 or 1900 Of these people, being about
one-thrd of all now left in this section of cOun-
try. The place is in charge of Henry 0rman
superintendent, and appears to be well man
aged. II is beautiful valley, surrounded with
primeyal forests, very fertile and well watered
A considerable amount of grain and vegetables
is raised here, and much more might be with
proper facilities for irrigation. The work is
mostly done by the Indians, who make good
field hands, being tractahle and learning readily.
These are a portion of the Klamath Salmon
River, and other fierce and powerful tribes that
formerly had possession Of this entire region,
and who, for so many years. waged a deadly
warfare against the whites, the balance still in.
habiting their old haunts and subsistn9, as be-
fore, mostly on fish, game and the natural
products of the country Some, however, cult
vate patches ofcorn and melons, and other vege-
tables, while quite a good many of the men hire
out by the day to the whites. They reside
chiefly in villages along the rivers and streams,
their houses being built of split lO2s-many of
them are quite tidy and comfortable. These vii
lagos are constructed in circle-formerly Tor
protection, and always with the tribal graveyard
in the centre-theSe people being careful of the
remains Of the dead as they have an abiding
faith in a nnal resurrection. They keep some
horses, raise many chickens, and like their race
everywhere, burthen themselves with an infinite
number Of worthless dogs. Some dress after
their ancient fashion and others after the style
of the whites, not few finding it convenient to
blend these costumes Thouc once bitterly
hostile they are now on good terms with their
civilized neighbors; conduct themselves general
ly in a peaceful and law-abiding way. Some
speak English toerably well, are smart at a
trade, and ct to carry on most ordinary kinds
of business.
Strange as it may seem, the bulk of these
savageS are very religious, or at least Supersti-
tious, being fearlully like the whites in this
respect. Just now they are, and for several
months have been, in state of great excite
ment-engaged in ''pow-wow" in anticipation
of an early return of their dead and the ami
hilation of the whites, prophesy having lately
been given them to that effect Let not the
| "Millerite," therefore, hatter himself that he
alone is 10 enjoy the grim comforts Of the Sec
| ond Advent nor the Latter Day Saint" fancy
that TO none but him has been Youchsaied new
revelation. Their duSkY brethren of Hoopah
Valley and vicinity have just received tidines
from 1.-THE other side" and been made glad with
the assurance that they shall soon be permitted
TO witness the inauguration of the Millennial era!
And not unlike the history of the founder of
MOrmOnSm IS that of the seer sent TO enliehten
these HoODah religiOniSts In the summer of
81 Salmon River Indian named "Jim," hay-
ing been convicted of HOUSEKEEPING, was sent
for q term of FIVE years TO the prison at San
Quentin. His tribe, not being very well posted
with the operations of our correctional system,
and losing sight of him for so long a
time, supposed him TO be dead, an event
they do not appear 10 have deplored
very deeply Returning on the expiration
of his imprisonment, last summer. aud discOy-
erng the impression that prevailed iu regard TO
his absence the rogue taking advantage thereof,
assured the public that he had indeed died and
had been all this while in the spirit land-that
he had now Just returned, having been sent
back TO inform bis Old associates that their de-
parted friends would also soon reappear in
bodily form; that the whites who occupied their
country would then be turned into stone, and
the Indians suffered 10 enjoy their possessions
and property, urging that they need therefore,
make no further provisions for their future sub.
sstence. Placing implicit confidence in this
story, the simple creatures gave up work, and
negecling TO gather any more food began eat
ing uptheir chickens, aud such stores of muck
amuc1 as they had on hand, devoting their time
thenceiorth TO sacred dances and other religious
exercises.
This occurred some three months ago, it hav-
ing been given out that the "mamaloOsed till
Gums" would reappear in about one month from
mat time, Not coming to time, the reSurrected
prophet assured his followers that they had been
kept away by the barking of the dogs, where
upon general slaughter of the canine race en-
sueu AuOtueI moon having passed without
satisfactory results, the continued failure was
next attributed TO the Growing and cacklipg of
the chickens, the uneaten remnant of which was
thereupon also made away with as a further
| means OF facilitating the return Of the "shook-
| ums."
Two weeks ago the faith Of these lore-trustfDr
| deE0teeS having begun to wayer, they had con-
| Guided that, II the defunct failed to put in an
| appearance by the end of the present moon
then they would go for this vain deceiver:
wherefore, we need not be surprised to hear in
the course of few weeks that one James Low
up that way has been disposed of after the man
ner OF the dogs and chickens.
During this season of waiting these heather
conduct their religious ceremonies much after
the style Of an old-lashioned camp-meetipr.coD.
| gregatng out doors, and engaging in eyburta-
| ton, singing, shouting, dancing, capping their
hands and embracing each other in the most
| frantic manner. Hundreds Join in these eyer-
cises, and keeping them up day and night. work
| themselves into perfect freuZy. Some dance
| till they faint and fall down inScnsibe. Others
| exhausted, having refreshed themselves with a
| path ID the river, return and engage as furious-
| ~ as before IN their saltatOry deyOtiOns Some
| 20 INTO spasms, and profess while in that state
to nave interviews with their departed friends,
and to get elmpses Of Eelicious visions, Moth
| ing can exceed the violence of their move
nents on these occasions; and who shall say, so
| earnest and ecstatic, that these poor creatures
are not true worshippers? At any rate, the sect
that INDUCES the hope Of getting through with
a larger amount of demOnstraure religion in a
| single day will have TO be up and at it early.
| Truly, average human nature is much the same
wherever we find ii.