The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-05-27
INDIAN SUPERSTITIONS.
The Close Relation Of Indian Tradition
nd lnrnInnnIn. IL, AnrinnI RiIns-

The Close Relation Of Indian Tradition
] aud Ceremonies TO Ancient Rites.
. A correspondent, writing from Ponc0
Neb, says: The Sioux entertain man
, fanciful ideas concerning the fpt,r'
, world and the condition of tl~-'e Wh'
9 inhabit it. They believe t,"1 lor some
time after death the ~1ui llhgers about
, the body, in cor -luence of which idea
! | tLov are = Ir,-,'lling to visit or approach
q rowi erected scalfold on which ha,
no a deposited one of their dead. This
Leeling of dread is enhanced by belief
in the vicious propensities of the lately
freed spirit, which is inclined to harm
the presumptuous mortal who ventures
too near A spirit blow is liable to pro,
duce death, and is, / believe, always
followed by direful consequences, as
delirium, paralysis, or some permanent
injury. The Sioux, following the prac-
tice of many other tribes, place the
bodies of the dead on a scafIold raised
on poles some eight or ten feet in height.
The corpse is wrapped in folds of cloth
OF blankets and buffalo robes The oc-
cupants of old scaffolds, which are often
met with on the plains, resemble Egyp-
tian mummies. Persons of distinction,
as noted warriors and chiefs, including
sometimes the families of the latter,
receive more honor in sepulchral rites,
their remains being frequently inclosed
in boxes-a dry goods or shoe box, OBJ
tanned at the traders store, answering
the purpose. Sometimes in the grave
yards OF our frontier posts may be seen
towering above the stone that marks
the white mans burial place the scat
fold on which reposes the body of the
Indian chief.
The soul of the departed Sioux finally
ascends to the milky way, which, in
their system, is highway leading
through space to the happy hunting
grounds which lie somewhere in the
far-distant regions beyond. To sustain
the spirit during this long journey food
and drink are required. The noted
warrior and chief should be ushered in
to those realms in becoming state to
provide which, one or more horses must
be sacrificed. There is an element of
refinement in the savage idea attending
the disposition of the supplies thus fur
nished 1t is not believed that the ma
terial food is eaten, nor the actual water
drank, nor the veritable horse ridden !;
but in all material resides the soul, and
this resident spirit of the food and drink
is consumed by the spirit of the deceas-
ed, and the spirit of the horse aecompa-
nies the spirit of his master to the In
dian paradise, where they are both re-
ceived into the spirit land. These pro-
visions appear to be needed only during
the journey from earth, the probable
supposition being that the blissful re-
gions to which they are destined will be
amply supplied with everything that
can contribute to the happiness of its
inhabitants.
The Sioux, or at least some of the Da-
kota bands, seem topossess quite ancient
records, embracing prominent events in
the history of the tribe. These records
are inscribed on parchment, the events
of one generation being recorded by an
individual who has received the appoint
ment of historian, in virtue of which he
writes the history of his people during
his life. On his death another is APP
pointed. Thus the more interesting
events are perpetuated. Among the
more prominent that appear in these
barbarian annals is the account of the
coming of the first white man who ap-
peared among them. He is represented
in a very favorable light. At first he
came poor and defenceless among the
Indians, who gave him a cordial wei.
come and ministered-to his necessities.
He did not prove ungrateful, but after
leaving them, returned to the tribe,
bringing articles useful to-the Indians,
with which he engaged in trade, the
traffic being continued to the satisfac-
tion of both red and white men. The
records inscribed on this parchment, or
skin prepared by savage skill, extend
back to a remote date, perhaps reaching
over nine hundred years. The early
portion appears to be of Legendary
character, relating to the creation of
man on this continent, or at least the
first appearance of the Indian race. The
Black Hills was the theatre of the earli.
est of those historic or NEUROLOGICAL
events. Perhaps the fondness of the
Sioux for this special territory, and their
reluctance to part with it, was owing to
the associations connected Herewith,
as in Dakota annals the Black Hills ap-
pear to have constituted q new-world
garden of Eden.
The superstitous element of Indian
character is manifested in the peculiar
regard paid the medicine man of the
tribe, and the implicit confidence with
which his mediations are received and
his advice followed. Perhaps among all