Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-03-23
AQUEER PEOPLE

AQUEER PEOPLE.
who Believe the white Man
10 be q Devil.
william A. Fair, missionary who
8 ....,, returned from the west coast Of
-, and who is now IN Seattle gave
!. ,oI,oving accoun, in lecture deliv-
a q Cleveland, Ohio, and reported
:. L>ader of that city, of the strange
~ ;nhabiting that part OF the globe,
~ vhich ths following is extracted:
u ~. neople are very careful TO kesp
.seth clean, ard those who own
! ! uas u.s hrushes carry them over their ears
c,srk does his pencil. Provided
u. : rs,ayer hat, tooth brush. a leather
-" s and number of ivory and brass
gnlso tor for his limbs, the native requires
sut !a..fs eIsa 10 make him man OF fashion.
e.s.S casS man has as many wives as he can
.,crt -. and, as the latter do all the
Durt r those who are well provided for
49, ~ ,;ttic labor to perform. They be-
- .,;s,a IN q God that created all things;
uS Oe.s - = devil: and as the latter Is pow
- -, and disposed to do them harm,
I - IN hv Ali means to propitiate him.
Contrary TO our supposltlon, tney regard
him as being white instead OF piacK, ana
enen the white men appeared on tne
east with their great snips niieo VIA
,coms and propelled by some mysterious
msans, they thought the devils had come
= visit them. Even now that supposl-
.;on Is not entirely eradicated, and more
4. habit than anything else they call rs
avis. They do not know as by any
.sher name, and call rs such with ex-
sctlv % the Same meaning as We call them
ns0roes. % Among the majority of them
m haiief still fingers that We arc related
- ths king of terrors; aud as they re-
cs,d him with q certain amount of awe
srd reverence, we are allowed many
,,;v;leces which they do not accord to
ens another. They have what ia called
adeyil men," who propitiate the evil
snrrits and prevent them from doing
harm by means of charms. Little lea
ther baQs, supposed TO POSSESS mystic
nover. are sold by them at high prices,
snd The natives pay them well for stick
inc little pieces of wood in triangular
form in front of their huts. The same
charms are frequently seen on the sea
phore TO guard against the evil spirits of
he deep. The devil is supposed to re-
nde ON tho highest rock near village,
and he il daily furnished with food and
drink placed there by those who fear his
power. One day q white man, who was
cuttinp wood, partook of the food thus
set forth, and the people raised great
Outcry against him; but their wrath was
allayed when one Of them said if he was
not the devil himself he WAS the devils
brother, and therefore entitled to his
nhare. Little sacred fires are kept burn
inp before the doors of the huts for the
comfort of the guardian spirit who is
supposed to yatch over each individual
habitation. When a woman throws wa
ter out of the door she says words equiv
slent to "excuse me-" fearing that the
spirit will depart if he is splashed and
not given warning to get out OF the way:
They believe that the spirits OF the dead
inhabit the earth, Watching over theiz
former friends and tormenting their for
NOR enemies. This fact, as well as theil
belief in witchcraft, has much to do with
the extreme peacefulnesso of their society
and their reluctance to pick a quarrel
Witchcraft they believe in implicitly
If man dies OF consumption, smallpox
or of any other disease or accident, and
any person can be remembered to hav'
spoken i'll OF or quarreied with him, tina
person Ia said TO haye caused his deatt
by witchcraft. II witch be woman
she is given three bowls filed with ,
deadly poison; and IL a man. he is River
four bowls Of the same mixture. If ths
unfortunate being accused of witchOraf
has weak stomach which rejects thu
poison, he is supposed to be innocent
but if his stomach Is strong and retainl
the deadly infusion, he is guilty. WheI
the body OF the victim begins TO swell
and death is seen to be drawing near
the people seize him and, dragging hin
ont into the open air. pelt him with club
and stones, and injure him in every pos
sible manner until he dies. If q perso1
accused of being q witch refuses to drinl
the poison, he Is placed in the loft of ,
hut and q hot fire is built under him
Pepper is thrown into the flames, and
the tortured being in the loft soon con
Dents TO risk the trial of the powerful
drug. The manner of finding the per
Qon who caused the death Of any one il
e follows: The corpse is sometimes pm
on the shoulders Of the relatives, wht
pretend to be moved by the spirit Of the
departed, and, passing from hut to hut
stop at the witch's door. One Of tht
o6ices performed by tho devil men is x
watch sharply for any controversy thai
may take place between any two people
and when one of them dies the other Il
accused of causing his death. have
seen mothers killed for the death Of theil
babes, having chastised them at s0mt
former time for q misdemeanor. A higt
priest lives in each town, and his persoE
and premises are peculiarly sacred. II
Aman is pursued by q crowd OF his fel
lows for having committed some deed
and he steps across the threshold Of Z
priest's house, he is safe from injury
and II the high priest places hand OF
his bead he is exempt from all furthel
violence. When man wishes to satisfy
nis vengeance on any other person whs
may have done him any injury, he goea
% the priests house and sharpens hti
knife on stone placed before the dool
Tor that purpose. II the priest asks nc
questions, he is at liberty to take the
other mans life; but If he questions the
injured person and prohibits the settle
ment Of the affair in that manner, sort
ef trial is held and punishment meted
by order Of the priest. By these wis<
laws the natives are prevented from act.
ing indiscreetly when excited, and they
ate obliged to wait until, a. they say
"their hearts lie down." The morning
nlutation of the natives ID, ] am glad
you have come out" meaning that they
njoice to see You have revived from the
oeathlike repose Of sleep.
Sap is collected in earthen jars from
the palm trees, and when fermented It d
called palm wine. These jars oan b
eeen at intervals through the bushes, aud
traveller who is thirsty is at liberty tc
partake Of the contents Of any Of them
= no has any money, he II expected e
place a few coins bes,ds the jar ~ c0m
Pensation; but, money or no money, be
y entitled TO drink. II he 10 near Z
town, he must first ask permission e
drink of the owner Of the jar. Thcil
debates are carried on in very system
ATTIC manner. The men sit in circle
and talk together until the meeting i
called TO order, when one Of them stop
INTO the center and, taking mp a cant
lying ON the ground, addresses tho a.
sembly. Othsrs follow at their owI
sOfan nupos nvA - tsvv,n u Onlraalnnn IN A 2