Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-06-20
AN INDIAN SWEAT.

ance TRANSFERRED IN the Indian camp,
which might be Of interest to describe.
As | was returning to my guard after
breakfast Curly-haired Jack APP
preached me and said Doctor, he want
to sweat" Cali right" replied, let
him sweat. Jack then said, squaw he
fix him, make 'em fire heap, "All right"
| again said and walked on. This APP
parently was great luxury to them as
indicated by the smiling countenances of
the bucks and squaws and even the pap
pooses looked pleased.
The object, or efficacy of these sweats
is not fully understood by the whites,
but 1t is thought that they are perform
ed for medicinal purposes. 1t is an estab-
lished theory l believe that the seed of
many diseases emanate from the skin. |
also believe this to be theory among
the Indians. Be this as 1t may, they on
this occasion lost no time in putting
their theory in practice whatever it was.
A squaw was sent out to gather fuel and
soon returned with back load Of dry
sticks and limbs. A hollow place in the
ground was selected and the wood ar
tistically laid therein, then lot of rocks
of various sizes were laid on the wood,
when it was set on fire. While these
stones were being heated, the squaws
collected some willow boughs about ten
| feet long, one end of which was forced
into the ground, they being placed about
two feet apart in a circle the diameter
of which was about eight feet. The tops
of the willows were then bent over and
fastened together forming wickinp,"
the shape of which resembled sugar
loaf. This framework was then COW
cred with wooden blankets to some five
or six in thickness, to retain all heat
and steam from the inside, and exclude
all cold from the outside, every appar-
ture was thus effectually closed. The
stones being heated red-hot by this time,
they were placed in the middle of the
wickinp in conical pile. Buckets Of
water were then passed inside and in
readiness for use. Commencing with
Curly-headed Doctor, the medicine man,
the Indians commenced diVestiDg them
selves of their garments until we were
almost constrained to shut our eyes in
horror. They then one after the other
crowded under the blankets until twelve
bucks had entered, and distributed
themselves inside the wickinp and
around the pile Of stones, when one Of
their number commenced pouring water
on the heated stones, and the effect can
be imagined. This was taking steam
bath with vengence. The average
time in which an Indian would remain
in this bath was twenty minutes, and or
coming out they would appear to be com
pletely exhausted. Two or three of th,
squaws were retained to pass in heated
stones as those inside cooled, and to wraI
the bucks in blankets as they emerged
from their bath, when they would lay
perfectly Frustrated for perhaps half al
hour, at the end of which time They
would dress themselves and return tt
their wigwams. This procedure was con
tinued for an hour and a quarter on,
, buck going in as another came out anC
made room for him, until all had appar
emily been served, when the blankets
were removed and the performance end
ed Curly headed Doctor, their medi
cine man remained in this bath for more
than an hour by my watch, and | ven
ture the assertion that fifteen minutes Of
this treatment would kill any ordinary
white man. The procedure in this case
however was not fully carried out, for
! at their permanent ranches, their sweat
houses are always built ON the banks OF
river, and the bucks after remaining
in the bath for certain length of time,
plunge into the cold water of the river
reeking in sweat. Why this does not
kill them is a mystery. In permanent
rancho this is practiced almost daily.
The daughter of old Sleepy, squaw
we'll known in this neighborhood, came
this morning and reported that two Mo
doc women and one warrior arrived al
her wickinp near Doris Rancho last
night; one of the squaws had died. The
impression prevails that there are severa
warriors lowering about the camp await
ing favorable opportunity to communi
cate with the captives and learn how
, they are treated with a view of surren
dering.
AN INDIAN WAR DANCE.
The Warm Spring braves gathered
: about the spring in the vicinity of tn
j Modoc prisoners this morning and chant
e ed a melodious % war song preparation,
S to going on the war path. They are d
u accompany Capt. Hasbruck's comman,
d in its purloining expedition after the re
r naming Modocs. The captiyes Shove,