The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-02-12
PAGAN RITES OF The ONION
DAGAS.

| syracuse, Jan. 30.-Ihe OnOn0aga
Indians, on their reservation near
this city, have been engaged the
past two weeks in their annual GER
emonies to secure the favor Of the
Good..Spirit and to propitiate theEVil
Spirit. These weird ceremonies cul-
minated yesterday in the burning Of
a white dog as sacrifice to the
powers of the air, and will end to-
morrow with the witches dances.
A large number of people from
this city witnessed the burning of
the dog. About noon the members
of the tribe gathered in the council
house, a long room with benches
along the walls. The ceremonial
began by each squaw rising in her
place and relating the mostsremark-
able dreams she had had during
the year, while the others interpre-
ted them. At II o'clock a big In
dian stalked in with the body of a
white dog slung over his shoulder.
After few mumbled words of in
struction he strobe out, followed by
several others. In a short time they
came back, one with the dog, decked
out with paint, beads, and ribbons,
and another with basket of tobacco.
The dog was placed on the platform
in the centre of the room, and the
| whole tribe marched around it, in
toning chant to the Great Spirit in
| aboriginal language. 1t was a sup
LEGATION that the dog might bear
away all their sins to the Spirit Of
the Air. Then the dog was carried
to pyre burning between the coun-
Gil houses. The chief removed his
head dress and made an harangus,
ending with amournful chant, at the
close of which he cast the dog into
| the flames. The basket Of tobacco
was laid upon the pile. A young
Indian stepped out from the circle
and paced up and down before the
fire, making noisy lamsntation,
while the mingled odors of burning
flesh and tobacco filled the nostrils
of the visitors. When the carcass
tinally sank down among the blaz-
ing fagotS, the dusky watchers turn
ed and moved Solemnly away, re-
leased from the sins Of the year.
The witches dance, which began
to-day and will end tomorrow, is the
noisiest of these superstitious rites.
A number of Indians, disguised go
arou nd to every wigwam, waving
firebrands, and jumping on chairs
and tables with execrable bowls to
drive out the witches. The most
disgusting rites of the series is that
performed to the productive power
of nature. The tribe, including
squaws and papooses, assemble in
the council house almost devoid Of
clothing, and an indecent orgy takes
place to the accompaniment of Wig
orous poundings on a turtle shell
and bench by a stick in the hands
of burly OnOndaga.
The tribe numbers about 200, and
although for many years a mission
airy has been maintained among
them, and also school, most of the
tribe seem to be ne more Christian
lied than they were two centuries
ago. The school is attended by
about sixty Indians, many of whom
are full grown.
In Plymouth Church in this city
1okSO CIV SulHR DCNsOs OodIu DlOdCuSU
sermon, in which he declared that
although the Gospel has been
preached to them with more or less
continuity since they were first WIS.,
tied by the Jesuit missionaries, and
then by the Spaniards who came
here in search Of silver, for which |
the salt crystalizationS were mis- |
taken, their moral condition has
not been improved. The tribe now |
is numerically as streng as two hun
dred years ago, and although they !
have been under the influence of |
civilization and have seen q city Of |
$4,000 inhabitants spring up beside
them, they remain ia the same state.
To continue the tribal relations is to
perpetuate them in savagery. The
relation should be dissolved and
they should gradually be endowed |
with citizenship and suffrage. DR.,
Beard referred to the white dog
ceremony, and said it was hardly
credible that there should be such
survival Of paganism within half a
dozen miles Of central point in the
State. He said their exis-
tence in that condition is blemish
on the fair valley where they abide
and g blot on the common wealth.