The colored patriot., 1882-04-20
OLD INDIAN RITES.
pecullar Customs of the AbOrigines of
North America.

peeullar Customs of the AbOrigines Q
North America.
Nearly all the peculiar customs whicl
formerly existed among the differen
tribes of North American Indians ar
now preserved only in tradition, anC
many of the most interesting have fadeC
even from this shadowy confguration
One Of the most striking and singular
was an eternal fire. 1t is a favorite
theme to-day among the survivors o1
that once powerful nation, the Natchez.
These Indians were of a higher type OF
intelligence than any of the North
American tribes. All the rites and
duties connected with this custom are
also fresh in the recollection of some of
the other more northern tribes, and it
was only extinguished after the arrival
Of the French upon the great lakes.
Those who were known to have been
fre-WOrShipers were the Chippewas and
Shawnees, possibly the IrOquois, but
there is little proof that the latter knew
much Of it. The Chippewas, who as
sert that they received their fire from
the Shawnees, inhabited the regions
around Lake Superior, and the council
house Of the tribe, together with the
seat OF the eternal fire, were west Of
keWeenaw Point Here lived the prin-
clpal chief, called the Mutchekewis,
who exercised more authority and as
sumed more state than would be com
papale With the tastes and present
lefl1gs Of the Indians. The desiona-
ll0a was Official and not personal, and
lae once was hereditary in the
ufeeI male line. He was sun-
Po1ed by voluntary contributions
y u musklnewa, or proVider, max
ing known from time to time
~, ~ necessities by public proclamation
.; Nna'eVer was required on these occa-
= sons + whether food or clothing. was inn
Iaau furnished. He appears to |
aase l, been their chief priest, and couId |
neither n engage in war or the hurt In |
tae ~ 'lllage where he resided, and near
hnn;nn IN tnc eternal lire was kept
ouanlhg' o,lan The altar was kind Of rnde
o1en, " over which no BUILDING WAS aroot |
Y a., out guardians were selected ~ ! ~ H.
y to take charre If tbo f,n vmo
rho,. mo q Inese were men and two women y !
IL & yi'ea were ! Always married persons: bnt
ns,. y wives Of the men EMPLOYED II ~. ~.
Vl'ice ,a were required to cook and A o+ia titia
,.oSs ogsSafy Y domestic work, while the bnS, NJ
~ as'pd AL. y 'ne women destined to the 90 Sa-
~ Il ana uuty were always engaged in I bnnt n-
Y and providing whateyey 0u oino ~ nunt- @
n a, ~, In, 1he four persons devoted 10 10
n, N ..,r esso. were thus left without any sec ~
l., l. tah e,res to divert their attention fro, "eu
erna,s.i s,s rust committed to them a
r;a,,s rspsslal succession was kent nn % IN th;A "a
Iutc5stpouar;o Ipu oy a prerogative of the the
OMEN Onr'1swls, ,h and the principal head I
n S,'' ~ Inc .ne former selecting a busbanJ p'
Isoavdl'a r la'ter a wife for the snrv;vnr
ij1'.Tr i Tr any of these eigbt merNon, 1.aur,
nEen. az snS Snaln N was thus always mn !
i and the traditionary" "'S riubts IT., !
peDsIt,. u unlmpaired. Death waS
rsTs rsHSty MY. Tor any neglect Of dntv snd %nS
hte5s 5saty. y ! The council fires r" ~aen, Yoro !
erepas p |. the great fire, and ID carriaS were er
n tba slle great council was beId ia !
ton d ffiSt'mlnation 4 MN of the business, i !
remsinaaW N 4 ! was carefully returned and !
FheDerase oi distinguished. !
II N ir'ser ) person became darcor !
he hon : near enough he was talnn
fire was so q The Mutchekewis. where =
bro@sss. ss exxtinguished and a brand and e e
1ed ss =. from the altar and a fire = =
ereat - asch Which a feast was prenared m q fsfe 3
& as tSa Gance was then beld pal9a, aftor Z l,
Cas-, wSn aiands were consumed. Gen - -
ction ~ ~no 20 gave much time 70 the !;
ms of = laGts relative to traditional - -
ant sssal i .ue Indians, said that his in =, =
! nass asserted that the ahore how ~ norn n q
y ~ ! I was performed. Pa'ieH' IS
tr;ba II eight years the whole CHR
y sho,,ss ,asssembled at their nrinciapI Z Z
ightetdp tpe :. morning the great TuTS, n;ne q q
4 it ID "a y the sacred fire. and ptPe des Z Z
Qf". " da1; sIe MGtchekewis. He U tooI ne Z {?
to tba sensered Ied it to the women. and and a a
sano l,en, n BY all of whom ii was was y y
landsS manner smoked. II was ~ N
INV ,ea "a, round to the children Tb;s Mis tn
sSt dan Sionsaned the day; and earIy ari p =
womas a least was held, at which ~ ~
rouns i and children ate in sena- % ~. re
y. u, pr;,h IN perfect silence. In ~ tbo ~ ~
! = dann dh,snont a song or dance. tbav ,v Ia
!. 1sParted for their diifernrt 'n
ooie. - y hre was called kanga- 70
pal NAL u lne everlasting fire. The If
|, d uale 4 attendant was Kangaaee u n y
II, ne everlasting sun. and his IN
] ke..A Aanawaudemkshkoote or Tn
lied Rer E The principal female Ia
'Anegee Gaubewakna, or TO,