The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-18


Having spent more than two years among
the Chippewa Indians living On the north
western SHORES oi Lake Superior around Chan
wu mi gan Bay and Ia" mouth Of the river
Mus kr-lihi. | pit'u heard Of the strange and
hitherto unpublished custom Of a secluded tribe
of Indians north OF Ncrmlliou Lake. vino in
winter sink their children under the deep WA
i'r~ ut the iakr IN ihclr Nclnty, and in the
spring raise them up from the bottom OF the
ldNr alive and we'll, after being siN months dor
maut and I'M 'ousriOus.
The Chippewa Indians who related this cir
cum~tancr tp me were all respectful" ia their
way. an are generally "a Trustworthy and truth
iul people. hring mostly Christians. having been
instructed hv Bishop linrragH. OF rirus memory.
hohce. when i!"y iniorm'l mo ul the custom
among the rabbit Indians = corsgning aisput
on'-third of their tribe tou kind ot tomb for six
months. in order that the other two-thrls
might Doe saved from death b, starvation. though
| regarded what I heard ~ almost in .rcdihlc. |
could moi but pay some ait ntaun ~ a statement
So ir Iurntly nude 10y So many persons Otltcr-
Tho munnor in which the thing is DONE ~
they S'nird is IN this way; Tic children from
the AZ" OF thrc" years to that Of iOureeu ut the
approach of winter. roncluScd within air-tght
vessels or isa-s. mndr out ot the bark of the
birch tree or tsfsid al Il. and after the Mo-
koO k.' ~ e il cHIi'd. r. sraird over and made
lmprrvlous t. water. Il H. sunk with its LIVING
1t remains until spring. when It j. drawn up,
an iI' u rmuni ptprp,-r iuund sound and
W 10. AMI after iiftr' stalking the enid H. soon
restored t. cons ousnrss. The Owassoe- live
'hirny on rahnits, the skins OF whirh animals
are their only clothing amt IN the winter, whom
tuN SHOWS are lrtp anu the rabbits scarce, tlis
low irine would -larN". II necessity mad not
taught them to have recourse o. the desperate
plan ot disposing oi their children III order 10
save their prONiSlunS.
The writer If this narrative regarded tho
statement ~ fabulous nj first; flr. though every
Indian he consulted EXPRESSED his belief that
tine chillr.n nf tho wild irll, w,r. all buried IN
the lakes during the winter. and hooked M
again sai' y; ia M snr.ng. yet none OF tho~
wlu 50 confidently narratd the story cert Ned
that any one uf them had been resent wi, "A
a.. operation If scaling M thr children IN the
took ila... But the writer happened to lee
present at "a Wedding OF the head chief Of the
thipprwas, Mega nups. daughter Lady
Louisa. 10 one Boyle y scion OF one OF the tribes
OF Galway. and at this marriage feast, lust
pers from the rahhit-eating Indians aiorr-
said who. upon being asked II the story about
the sinking OF children into the lake Ia save
swerc,l. gravcly. kawin."" 10" They assured
Us that 800 Of thcir young people were th-n
sApei'',,i .h'y Tn'd be all safe "nf well about
supply Them with food. They then deserihcd
mir was excluded nv the burning ~ dry leaves
within them. huw ia. children wrrs ordered 10
inhal" n iuii breast ui air. how the vessel or
sack of birch bark was sealed and rendered
wnitr- proof by c"atlng or guns and rusin,
there TIL -prlng
Not satisfied with the testimony Of those two
wtnc~-, =. confirmed hy the solemn clouds Of
smpke arts NJ ike incense from their large
rt'n" pipes. your correspondent came 10 tho
r solution of testing IN person the truth Qf
tn'-' ~irlnE' nurril ms 90, sn many r'sirctall ice
Indians Christian aud Pagan, Accordingly,
next day Icing the 'th Of January 1872,
YOUR correspondent, accomplished 10y "a son ut
Nt-grn-Uu. the chief, % son Of the head medic
enc man Mao. day nos. AMI Antoine Dave.
up. with l.-nty Of dried ment and provisions
for mon and dogs, and started under tn"
gudan e of the two Rabbit Indians for their
home IN the iar North. In less than four days
W. made the journey Of over 800 miles. for the
suriaro o' IN" snow WIS quit sold. mist nav