The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-04-06
THE CH0CTAW INDIANS.
Some of their Peculiar Customs-Courtship,
Marriage and Dentb.

| Sono VI 'her fecn1ur Customs-Courtship,
Marriage and Death.
The Choctaw Indians, who number
$1,000 full bloods and half breeds, and
ill up quite corner in the Indian Ter.
ritory, talk little under any circum-
stances. Thus it is naturally supposable
that when young fellow dons his best
suit (Which is generally set off with q
calico blouse, having long, flaming
sleeves, and his hat stuck full of feath,
ers, with two or three yards of scarlet
ribbons hanging down his back), he
would be about speechless by the time
he arrives ut the "old mans" mansion.
After dismounting from his pony, he
takes his position on the fence, and sits
there till he sees his fair one ut the door,
when he grins audibly, and if she doeth
likewise, he takes it for granted that he
Is welcome, and goes into the house,
which generally consists of one room,
and contains all the family, and therein
he bas to make his speech, which at the
fnrtheSt amounts to about three grunts
His success depends very much upon an
invitation to smoke by the father of the
courted lass. If the "old gent" has
any respect for him he lights his pipe.
and after taking Whit hands it to the
young man, who in turn takes Whit.
and SO they proceed, Whit about. The
length of time they smoke depends alto
gether on the esteem the father has for
the beau. After n certain number of
such visits he Gnally musters up courage
enough to say: "Ohe te-ha -li-de-la IL
um-mi 2" which means in English /:
"Will you have me ?" If she SAYS
~ ha 80 Il,
Ke-yo," which means "No," he takes
himself off. II she gives a grunt, the
| preparations are made.
On the day appointed for the wedding
tho bridegroom arrives on pony, and
leading another that has side saddle
for the bride. On arriving at the house,
without dismounting, he fastens her
pony TO the fence, and then rides off a
short distance in the direction they are
to go. Shortly the bride steps out,
dressed in the height of fashion-a new
calico dress,a white pocket handkerchief
around the neck, and large red one
tied over the head and ears, and pair
of new shoes across her arm, hich she
puts on just before reaching the par
sons. As soon as she mounts her pony
the man starts on, and she follows from
fifty to two hundred yards behind. On
arriving at the parsonage he gets off,
ties his horse, and goes into the house
sud makes his business known. By this
time the lady arrives, dismounts, Sc
cures her horse, and goes to the house.
leans herself on the side of it near the
door, and patiently waits till some one
discovers her and bids her enter. All
things being in readiness, the minister,
who Is usually white missionary, mo-
tions the couple to stand up, and per-
forms the ceremony in English, which
is about as intelligible to them as Greek:
but when the minister stops talking they
depart, leaving the poor clergyman
without fee or thanks. They usually 90
to the husbands parents, and stay about
year before attempting the arduous
duties of housekeeping. After get
ting married, Choctaw does as they do
IN lndiana-that is, if he doesn't like
the squaw he gets divorce, which is
granted on the most frivolous pretext.
In case a husband or wife dies, the
Choctaws usually have two funerals. At
the death all the relatives and friends
are sent for, and on their arrival they
commence series of wailings and la
mentations both loud and loug. The
nearest of kin keep up their howling and
mourning during all the first night and
until noon OF the next day. The grave
is dug in the house, generally in one
corner of the room, and after the BODY
is deposited in it and it is filed up, the
surviving wife or husband must have a
bed made directly over it and sit and
sleep there for the next six days. ANY
one not parent is buried outside of the
house, somewhere in the yard. During
the six weeks OF mourning the women
let their hair hang down loose over their
shoulders, and the men do theirs up in Il
great knot at the back of the head. At
the expiration of this time preparations
are made on a grand scale for a grand
ado. Two or three beeves are killed and
barbecued, and like number of hogs
are dressed and boiled up with corn.
All the knick-knacks which they know
how to cook are profusely supplied, and
on the appointed day long table of
rough boards is erected, and on it the
eatables are placed. Just before eating
this big dinner all the relatives collect
around the grave, and for half an hour
they make the woods ring with their
| howls.
At given signal, however, this all
terminates suddenly, aud rejoicing takes
the place of weeping and moaning. The
women do up their hair, and the men
unite their pigtails, and rush is made
for the dinner. After the dinner general
good feeling prevails !; the survivor is
congratulated on the general get up of
the whole affair, and the best wishes are
expressed that he or she may soon find
another partner, which is usually done
in very few weeks.
Ignorance and superstition still hold
sway over these poor people. The half
breeds are much more intelligent. Since
the war, CT practically since the railroads
Were run through their country, they
are really worse off than before, as stock
men have come in and bought up most
of their cattle. and although they paid
them fair price, the Indians spent the
money foolishly, and now have neither
cattle nor money.