, 1878-02-23
Nez Perccs at Worship.

| on SUNDAY reporter NlSiteo sno camp
of the Nez Perces. He found that the
ARMY tents that had at FIRST beer put up
for the accommodation of the captives had
been taken down at the request Of the In
dams, and in their places were number
of tepees, OF lodges made Of skins stretch
ed about long poles The lodges are cir
cular in form, and of a conical shape. The
skins which form the walls are sewe6 to-
gether securely with buckskin strips. They
are waterproof on the outside. and do not
appear at all untidy, e1cep: at the top,
where the skins are blackened by smoke.
In some of these lodges were furs Of tho
finest description, owned by the wealthy
members of the tribe. On some of the
lodge poles are forks with hanging boards
to which the children or papooses arc
strapped, hanging in much the same styles
as white men would hang pictures on .
| wall. Near each lodge was stacked hugo
pile of wood, some of the stacks being COW
cred to keep them dry. The number Of
people who visited the camp during the
day did not fall short Of FIVE thousand.
The reporter visited the quarters occu-
pid by Chief Joseph, which consist of =
comfortable army tent with floor and
stoves. This place he found thronged
with multitude of people who were eager
to get glance at the famous chieftain.r
The next point Of attraction Was one OF
the large hospital tents, whereitwas gwen
ont that there would be medicine
dance" This was an error. The cere-
monies, as had been performed in the
morning, were of 4 strictly religious char
acter, and the dance talked of was the
afternoon service. The reporter found
about one hundred enand women ranged
in two lines, near the walls and in sit
ting position. They were engaged in
singing some of the chants peculiar to tho
tribe, and paid 10 marked attention to the
entrance of the visitor, each one seeming
to be deeply interested. Others began to
arrive, and within a short time fully one
hundred and fifty occupied the tent The
chief exhorter then took his place in the
centre of the group, and began the first
of the generel service by few remarks.
He then rang small bell which he held
in his hand, and the entire party began
chant which was perfect as to time and
harmony, and was not devoid of music.
Both male and female held in their han6s
some kind of plume, either single one
or bunch as large as horse plume, which
were waved back and forth much In the
manner our music teachers wave their
batons.
Three men in the centre of the apart
ment held instruments which resembled
tamborines, which they at proper inter-
| walls vigorously pounded with sticks, pro-
ducing a sound not unlike drum. After
the first general song was finished one of
the braves made few remarks In his
native tongue, which was followed by an
other chant, which was concluded, as
were the remainder of the songs, by q
long, low, wailing sound, each one rais-
inc the right hand toward Heaven.
The second who spoke was woman.
She related her experience to the medi-
cine, and he related it in a loud voice to
the congregation. This was followed by
another chant and dance, which was
kept up for some time. ..r-F-
George, who during the service seemed
to be the most interested, on being asked
if he was a Catholic, said "Yes, mo
Catholic but no chief You white man
another black man; me Indian but all
same heart, good heart all same to him"
and pointed upward. The services lasted
until late hour in the evening. The
locker on could not fail to see the resem-
bIance in certain parts of the proceedings
to the litany in the Catholic church.