The Portland daily press., 1883-09-27

echoes of the lake. At this village there are
about 80 families living in one-story houses,
some Of which werevery neat and pretty when
first constructed but are fast falling 10 ruin.
The church, schoolhouse and residences OF
the sisters are the only buildings that betray
evidence of paint upon their exteriors. The
state provides for the repair of these, and
also appropriates $500 for educational pur-
poses and 500 for the expenses of the priest
OF Calais Who ministers to the tribe. Every
thing under the care of the priest and sisters
is kept in excellent condition, and the tran
sition to the interior of the Indians houses
is very great Many of the Indians are too
lazy to provide for the home, and meals are
eaten from the floor as frequently as from
Table, and general filth prevails throughout
the place. The food of the tribe consists
almost entirely Of salt FORK and flour, and
has resulted in general scrofulous affections
among the Indians.
The same indifference in their food also
characterizes the nursing mothers, and as
child is veaned it is put upon the same
food as its parents have, and the result IS
great mortality among the infant population.
The scrofulous faint in their blood also
breeds consumption, which has as many
victims as any other sickness, unless it
should be the measles. The Indian doctor
with his herb medicines is unknown, aud if
sickness prevails the Indian agent has to
send doctor up from Calais, "a miles.
The state has endeavored to have the In
dians cultivate portion of the land aroand
them by offering rewards for the largest
crops besides doing the plowing and furnish
ing fertilizers, but the crops have been de-
creasing during the past few gears from one
reason and another, chiefly on account OF
the laziness of the tribe. What work is
done in the field is chiefly done by the
squaws, and the production OF last year
here and at Pleasant Point, near Eastport,
where the balance of the tribes resides, only
amounted to 1850 bushels of potatoes, 325
bushels of oats, 25 bushels of buckwheat,
lis bushels of beans and peas, besides some
wheat, turnips, carrots, etc. 10 talk to the
Indians and threaten to cut oil their state
aid does little good, for while acknowledging
that they are lazy, they make little endeayor
to overcome it. During the present season
the governor of the tribe, Mitchell Newell,
planted nothing. Before our party left the
point the Indians we're called together in the
town-house, and enough good advice given
them by Gov. Robie and Messrs Bolster and
Mclaughlin to supply any past deficiencies
in this respect, but the next years products
will probably gain little by the effect.
The great event of the visit was the war
dance of the tribe. Very few of the party
had ever seen such an exhibition, and the In
dians were induced TO crafty our curiosity.
While sitting around the town hall awaiting
the gathering of the tribe, suddenly the
chief, clad in long scarlet robe, embroid-
cred with needle-work and his head decked
with waving turkey feathers, burst through
the open door with hoop that startled the
ladies. About dozen other Indians fol-
lowed, and the procession moved slowly
around the hall with a shot, quick step, each
one chanting the war-cry, Hi-hi-b-w-a! hi
hi-b-w-al amid the contortions of the body
and pautomine of the hands. Music for the
dancers was furnished by the Oldest man in
the tribe, who sat at the side of the hall
pounding shot horn against the wall in al
ternate cadence with the stamping of his
foot upon the floor. The war-dance was
followed by the snake dance, executed with
more enthusiasm than the former. Taking
the shot horn himself, the chief headed the
procession about the hall, shaking the horn
in front of him as though he was sprinkling
salt upon the floor Several squaws also
joined the dancers, and then the fun grew
fast and furious as the circle first closed
round itself like the coils of a snake and
then unwound again. During the dance
the cry was changed to Wa-ha-wa! wa-ha-
wal amid the notes of which the shot-horn
could be distinctly heard, shaken by the
chief. The sports ended with a conoe race,
there being three competitors. Senator Nc
Laughlin bet % cents upon the winning
man, and the paddles of the Indians flashed
in and out of The sunlight as they each
strove to reach the goal.