Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-04-15
rHs NEW BIzTa.


THn NEW BIKTa.
II waa at the grand annual festival Of
the Sun, held at Claliam Bay, that this
ceremony was witnessed. -
There were thousands Of Indians pres
snt, and the chanting had lasted for two
days when oneof the number suocumbed
to sheer exhaustion, falling supine and
lifeleas. Than the chant
ceasod and he was taken to the swsat-
house. After undergoing hot air bath
for st,sue fifteen inmates, he was rolled
in q biankes and put on q shelf TO dry.
He remained In this state for hours,
days-in fact it was doubtful
il he could revive. From tests mace,
tho cataIeptic rsdskin was quite insen-
sible 70 pain. One Of the Indians, who
spoke little English, was asked:
Docs the man ever der
"Sometimes, he replied; sometimes
the spirit lose his way and cannot come
back. Then Indian die"
The present subject, when be did re
cover consciousness, WAS led forth by
his friends 70 position in the circle
near the chief. And now another inter
sstin2 part Of the ceremonies beg IN.
The restored Indian looked about him
for a whiio In dazsd sort Of way. and
spoke, at first in a low tone,
raising his voice BY degrees. There was
. revsrential hush throughout as the cir
Gle and every head vas bent, eager to
catch tho words Of the speaker. He Was
the favorite Of the god of the
month, and tho communication he had
to make was given him wniie he lay un-
conscious. Often his spesoh lasted an
hour, and it was generally an exhortation
or tribal lesson to his Fellows on their
simple duties, and whether tho god was
OK displeascd with their conduct.
AZ s0on a. he had oeased he commencsd
10 part with his worldly possessions. To
one he gave his canoe, to another his
Hudson Bay Company gun or his how
and arrows, 20 another his wickiup, to q
fourth his cooking utensils, hls horses.
etc. At last, stripped Of all his goods,
he stood with only the old blanket COW
ering him; then the principal chief ad-
vanced and, Withdrawing tho fastening
at the throat, lot this drop about the
heels Of the messenger from the unseen,
and he stood before his tribe naked "a
whom he first came into tho world. This
was the new birth. He was considered
~ born again BY tho ordeal through
which he had passed, and ready 10 COM
mencs life once uIore. After q pause the
medicine man, taking q brand-new blan-
ket, approached the "infsnt adult and
covered his nakednesa, manipulating his
head with every sign of affection, and
grooming a song OF rejoicing at the same
time. A mighty shout vent up from the
tribe 90 they also welcomed the new
ohjef-tho favOfite Of their god. Such
was the scene 10 DO witnessed at Port
Ludlow, or Port Gamble, Olympia, or
some other selected spot on the Sound,
before the white man invaded tho " for
ests prImeval." II is to be presumed the
noble red men" are too busy nowadays
attending to the slAbs and scansling Of
tho sawmills; and his chsnts TO the moon,
il he indulge in any, Ars drowned by the
ecurr of a thousand circu,ars, converting
bis forests into money far the paleface.
There IL not much romance or sentiment
Indian or other, about sawmill.
rHD sQUAws' LsCruaE.
There was another curious practice
among the Indians on the Sound in tho
sariy DAYS. Il was the lecture or sermon
that, at stated periods, Was delivered sx-
clusiyely % the Indian women. An inn
portans meabsr of tho tribs, the big
nhief or the msdi&ne man. voold select
B promonsory or island remote from the
perhaps in tbs vicinity OF Port
Ludlow. and paddle himself there. soli-
tayy and alone, on = fine day. Soon all