The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-04-11

WIN longing eyes, the fCod around, M
yet, according to Indian etiquette, re-
frains from clamoring at once for food
but sits and smokes for long time
without making the slightest allusior
to his suffering condition. When, In
due course, his host offers him some
thing to eat, he mentions the wants OF
himself and family, that he has moi
eaten for so many hours, and so forth
He seems exceedingly grateful for the
assistance, and promises to return in q
day or two and repay the obligation
promise which he never fulfils. II
there is any liquor about the camp the
Indian is always the first to find it and
the last 10 leave it. He divines its pre-
sence instinctively. He brings his
marten skins, his fish, or whatever he
may happen to have, aid insists upon
having his share; and it does not answer
to dilute 1t too much for his use. 1t
must be strong enough to be lnflamma-
BILE, for he always tests it by pouring a
few drops In the fire. If it possesses
the one property from which he has
given 1t the name of fire-water he Is
satisfied, whatever its flavor or other
qualities may be. A very little sufflces
to upset him, and when intoxicated he
is the most irrepressible being a quiet
man can possibly have about him. He
chuckles and hugs his tin pot, exclaim-
ing: "Tarpoy tarpoy" (It is true! 1t
is trueD scarcely able to believe the
delightful fact. when he begins to
up he will sell the shirt of his back for
aaother drain of the beloved poison.
Failing to get it, he pours hot water
into the cup, in which the rum has
been, and drinks it to obtain the sli ght
flavor which still clings to it; often
filling and emptying it half dozen
times before being fully satisfied tina;
the scent of the distilled molasses has
long ago left it. The Indians habita-
tiOn is seldom in the camp itself. He
generally places his lodge of skins or
bark little way off in the forest, and
keeps narrow path beaten to the open
space. His dwelling, inside or out,
always presents the same spectacle.
Battercd-looking dogs of all ages sur
round the lodge. In the low branches
of the trees, or upon a stage, meat,
snowshoes, dog sledges, ETC., lie safe
from canine ravage, Inside, from seven
to fifteen persons hover over the fire
burning in the centre, beneath the open
space in the apex of the lodge through
which the smoke is pOpularly supposed
to escape. 1t generally happens, how
ever, that the smoke seems to consider
itself under no restraint whatever in
the interior of the tent, and seldom or
never takes complete advantage Of the
means of escape SO literally provided
for it. Meat, cut into thin slices, hangs
drying in the upper smoke; the inevi-
table puppy dogs playing with sticks;
the fat, greasy children pinching the
puppy dogs, drinking on all fours out
of black kettle Oh saving off mOuthfuls
of meat between fingers and lips; the
squaws, old and young, engaged in
cooking, or nursing with nonchalance
which appals the modest stranger. Such
is the lodge OF the Indian hanger-on; ;
sometimes pleasant place enough to
while away an hour in study of the
aboriginal character, for the appropri-
ate gestures and expressive pantomime
with which an Indian illustrates his
speech renders 1t easy to understand.
One learns without much difficulty to
interpret the long hunting stories with
which they while away the evenings
in camp. The scenes described are
nearly all acted; the motions Of the
game, the stealthy approach of the
hunter, and taking aim, the shot, the
cry of the animal, or the noise of its
dashing away, and the pursuit, are all |
given as the tail goes on. The costume
of the Indian when in the privacy of
his own home is somewhat limited In |
its nature. Like other thrifty persons
he is given to wearing his old clothes.
That feathered vertebra which is seen
down the exceedingly
straight back of the Indian in the
picture books is only used upon state
occasions. Ordinarily he wears leg
gings reaching certain way up his
legs, and shirt extending certain
way down his trunk; leaving dreary
waste of yellow, mottled skin between
for that Providence which tempers the
wind to the shorn lamb to experiment
UDOn.