The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-04-07
Western Corresnondence.

Below will be found another interesting
letter from q correspondent in Indian Ter
ritory.
WEwoKA, 1. T., March Goth, 1874.
Mr.. Editor I'm my former letter from
this place, promised a sequel that should
describe the home-life and certain peculiar
customs of the Indians, yet retained from
their uncivilized state.
Each tribe is sub-divided into number
of clans or bands, as they are called, hav-
ing at the head band-chief' who ex-
ercises immediate supervision over them,
and to whom all disputes are referred for
adjudication. In the Seminole nation he
represents them in the Council" which
is sort of combined legislature and su-
preme court, meeting at irregular times
when summoned by the head chief of the
tribe. q should have said imprimis, that
the tribe is governed by a head chief and a
second, or vice chief.
But in the Creek nation the band chiefs
duty is comprised solely in the regulation
of and enforcing attendance upon the
"Busking," an annual ceremony which
shall be described presently There was a
time when it was also incumbent on him to
be heedful to the comforts and necessities
of the widows, see that their corn was
hoed, ETC., and to exercise guardianship
upon the orphans. But these as obliga-
tions of his office are now obsolete. In this
nation the council consists Of two houses /;
one called by the rather high sounding
title of "the house of Kings !" the other
by the equally chivalrous name of "the
house of Warriors" Each band sends a
King, but the Warriors are elected "pro
rata''-I think one for every 200 popula-
tion.
The Busking," above alluded to, is
almost the last of the aboriginal customs I;
and, as it is essentially inimical in both its
design and prosecution to the spread of
Christianity, is opposed strenuously by the
advocates Of a progressive civilization, and
as warmly upheld and insisted upon by
the least cultivated and indeed, many very
influential among them, who use as a con-
vincing argument, "let lis once lose our
ancient customs and our nationality is de-
stroyed." The band chiefs strive to rigor-
ously enforce attendance and exact a for
feited taxation for absence. But those
who have been converted to Christianity
disclaim fealty to the band chief; and the
attempt to levy the impOst on their defec-
ton is of course resisted and compels much
bad feeling. 1t is rite that at one time
was the embodiment and manifestation of
their religion, and is dear to those who
look back with pride to the glories of that
mighty Massokee nation, that driven out
of the place of their nativity, Mexico, by
the conquering army of Cortes, marched
across the continent to the shore of the
Atlantic ocean, overcoming and amalga-
mating eight other great tribes there
again to be met by the ever victorious
white man and once more turned back to-
ward the setting sun, but sadly diminished
in numbers and power.
The assemblage for the observance OF
this ceremony takes place in the latter part
enough to be eaten. Each band has its
own meeting place. That of the largest,
the Tukabachee, is near this point-the
postal station. Upon the banks of the
meandering Wewoka, hidden away amongst
the thickly-growing bushes and trees,
stands the edifice devoted to this ceremonial
the shrine of their divinity. 1t would be
difficult task to give an ineligible de-
scription of this building; not because of
its immensity or beauty, but on account OF
the eccentric and barbarous taste displayed
in its architecture. 1t is building with
out nail large open shed, without
walls, quadrangular in form, inclosing q
square plot of ground not covered by the
roof, upon which the votaries perform their
mystic evolutions. The roof of the build.
ing is made of clap-boards upon which logs
are laid to keep them in their places. In
the centre of this enclosed ground is built a
fire-a sacred fire, with much ceremony and
many incantations attendant upon its
making, by one appointed to this duty,
called the fire-maker," elected for life
no white man or indifferent spectator being
permitted to witness it, The fire must be
kindled in the good old heathen way; q
hole is punctured in a dry log into which q
pointed stick is inserted and rapidly re-
volved until the friction sets the wood on
fire. This feeble spark is famed or blown
into flame which is carefully kept ur
throughout the whole proceedings which
continue for seven days. In the buildings
surToun ding the square, sit the spectators