Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-11-12

opposite player. La one respect the
Indian gamblers seem to be t.r in
advance Of their white brethren.
They will not cheat. Sciencc' is
unknown to them; and a native, even
though he be a chief, who should he
caught resor,ing to trickery, would
be incontinently banished from the
fraternity of the ring.
THE BANQUET HALL.
About = p. VI. we returned to the
Potlatch House, to witness the
braves at dinner. The pots were
taken from the fires, where their
contents had been simmering all
day long, and ranged III a line the
whole length of the lodge. This
brought them about five feet apart
Strips of mating were then stretched
on either side, upon which, after
much clamor and continuous
shouting by one who apparently
filled the place of master of cere-
monies, finally knelt two long lines
OF dusky savages, prepared for gas
tronomic battle. Immense spoons,
or ladies, made from wood or horn,
were then distributed, accompanied
with small cedar sticks, the use of
which was mystery soon solved.
Each Siwash Immediately applied
himself TO the business of the mo-
ment. Dipping a full ladle of the
steaming soup or stew (of peas and
wheat) from the nearest pot, he
placed the smaller end of the vessel
between his teeth and by the aid of
the stick showed the food into his
mouth, just as Cinnamon eat rice
from saucer with the use of chop
sticks. The capacity of the savage
stomach, as demonstrated by this
feast, was something wonderful. We
have long known that it revolts at
scarcely any kind of food, but never
before had our eyes beheld the feat
of slowing away the largest possible
quantity within a given space, in so
short period of time! 1t was Won
derful. No device could have been
selected better calculated for the
rapid absorption of semi-liquid food,
than these same capacious ladies',
which, elevated at an angle of forty
five degrees, presented n straight
shute down cavernous threats, with
out the aid of chop-sticks, but when
these are likewise brought into equis-
ition, there was no halt in the pass
age and the samp disappeared with
all the precision OF dashed meat
through sausage-stuffer. The
feast consisted of this single co urse,
which we were informed was Va ried
from day to day; the next probably
being apples straight; then salmon
without condonements"; the next
potatoes unadorned, and so on
through their limited bill of fare.
The morning and evenings meals
generally have the addition of tea
and coffee, when this luxury is fur
nished 10y an indulgent 10 vernment,
or maybe molasses will constitute
the basis of diet, eaten with barely
bread enough to serve as a medium
for conveying it to. the stomach.
Dinner is generally served at noon,
unless, as in this instance, ali excit-
ing game delays the transition from
" labor to refreshment. A few of
the native women knelt with the
men, but they were generally con-
tent to sit by, silent witnesses of the
extraordinary performances of their
delighted lords.
AFTER-DINNER SPEECHES..
Soon as the repast had concluded,
the pots were gathered together and
the women and children allowed to
scrape up what was left, sans cere-
monte. The bucks were then assem-
bled by the stentorian voice of In
terpreter Henry for the feast of rea.
son, which, for this occasion only.
was . conspicuous item on the pro-
gramme. Gov. Newell was the first
speaker. In few well-chosen
words. he informed the savages of
the desire OF the Government and
the Great Republican Party to make
citizens of them, piece Of informa-
ton which. 40 far mn their oto1;d