, 1876-11-25
Grand E'Otlntcll.
Co,r. RN ToDnmA trims.

cheerful, neatly dressed natives, though |
the prevailing good humOr Of the crowd |
showed plainly it was special occasion.
On inquiry learned that a grand pot
latch was the exciting cause, and that
certain great and good men of the tribe,
in spirit of ahncgation which we pale
faces cannot too much cXtol chose of us
who haycrothing to givc), would cndow
their friends and relations poor ones
with all their earthly possessions.
Were You ever at potatch' I'm
happy man, | presume not, for the ma.
tives up Sound are neither rich nor nu-
mcrous enough to make such an occasion
interesting, and their vain attempts at
such display are as much inferior to the
genuine article as a glass of Port Town.
send whisky is to othe nectar the gods fed
upon. Bear with us a moment while we
contemplate the beauties of this custom.
How chnrmingly mseliish In the in.
terests of progressive civilization let us
have the whites adopt it (the rich ones).
We would he rejoiced at such consum-
nation. Then we would all slide along
the paths of life and never hear such
terms as "boated arstocrat" What q
gathering Of the clans there would be
when Sharon or Flood & O'Brien's fash.
ionable potutch came off! Would there
be any absentees3 p Not much we would
all be there. And then the laudation,
you know, of disinterested press. This
thing ought to be agitated-it is agitat.
ing to think Of it.
The festivities wcle in progress when,
accompanied by a friend, and represent
ing an unmuzacd press, we made an un-
ostentatious eatrce and took position
in what seemed to be, from certain indi.
cations, the family circle. There must
have been four hundred Indians in the
building and dance in progress which
looked like cross between Scotch reel
and the limp OF Toy with n stone bruise
on bis heel. lnterspersed with a wild
yell now and then, and guided by the
monotonous thump on the Indian drum,
the whole formed scene of wild say
agery and gayety quite startling to see.
Now and then would occur kind of
promenade the drums would hold their
peace, and as the festive throng-"sponge
down." for pcrspiration streamed from
every pore-filed past, some venerable
heathen would rise and make remark
on this interesting occasion. These In
dian orators are very dignitied, and de.
liVered themselves with great impress
ment, especially when fish-oil lights up
their oleaginous features and their words
sound oracular and assuring. The short
sententious speeches over the dance is
resumed with more noise and universal
swaying of bodies in excellent accompa.
niment to the elfsh chant which all Join
IN, keeping splendid tme and with as
rapid exclamations and gesticulations as
French opera singer. By.and-by the
song becomes slow and soft, a kind of
wall, and finally ceases.
These Makahs, for whose profit and
comfort nature and Uncle Sam so liber.
ally provide, are, as tribe, quite wealthy,
controlling in Individual instances good
deaI OF capital, One was pointed out to
me, the "wldow Gaines" of the the tribe,
who, l understood was worth several
thousand dollars. If fortune favored her
nature never did! At signal from
somebody, the drums and noise subsidized
and next in order was the sensation of
the day-the formal potlatch OF money,
blankets, etc, etc. Each recipients name
Is loudly called, much in Court bailiff
style, the knowing rascals counting an
enviablc notoricty by waiting till called
several times. As they advance up the
broad, clear floor to receive their gift,
some of their faces are fine studies. Some
put on a look OF humble, patient wait
ingi these are generally females. The
elderly man receives his money or blanket
with look which says, I'll take them to
accommodate you, and stalks Off to his
seat The young fellows step nimbly
forward and almost snatch them. Out
side some young bloods were dashing
about on their Cayusc horses to the evil