The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-12-10
PUGET SOUND INDIANS.


In the evening the weary pickers return
10 their tents. An hour later and the savage
'lementappears in strong relief. The braves,
m lazy enjoyment, bask before the blazing
embers while the women prepare the even.
ing meal. Fish is the principal dish, baked in
the ashes, boiled, or dried. Cakes of dough,
together with wild erabapples and CLANS,
form the bill of fare The different tribes
camp by themselves. A KlielSitat, from the
far Cascades, struts around in his new blan.
ket and challenges his Alaska tillicums to a
gambling game. But they nre not yet
ready. They are seated around the council
fire in their bark lodge. The Chief foolish
has charge of the cuisine, and from an i'm
nense kettle deals out their repast. The
fishes consist of wooden trenchers shaped
like boats, some two feet long Two men
possess one of these in common, from which
they eat with enormous spoons, lorger thar
soup ladies'. Some of these spoons are
beautifully wrought with ebonized wood
and mother of pearl. Their wives obviously
wait on them until tho repast is over,
when they and their children receive THEN
share.
vesper-bell vibrates on the breeze call
ing the faithful to prayer. Toward large
tent they wend their way, where, falling on
their knees, they offer their suppllcations M
earnestly rs if in pillared church with white.
ROBBED priests 1t ia an impressive scene to
watch the dusky faces turned heavenward.
But " Sla Halle is cried and the gamblers
assemble in the centre of the campus. where
they prepare for the nights dissipation. A
fire is built. Two poles are laid on either
side, behind which those who engage in the
game take their places. They beat upon
the poles with sticks, to exercise the bad
spirits, chanting wild song resembling
Chinese gambling ditty, but ten timer
intensified. The money or other articles at
stake are placed in pile. Two bits of cary
ed bone are the means by which they gam
BILE, and are used by being swiftly changed
from one hand to another, while those on
the opposite side attempt to guess in which
hand they arc held. If successful. they
gain one point; if not, they lose one. This
is repeated first by one side, then by the
other, until oil the points are held by the side
when they receive what is at stake. The
Indians are passionatcly fond of this game
Twenty of them will gamble whole night
for single dollar. The scene reminds one
Of "Dante's Inferno" As they grow ex.
cited IL is not safe to trife with them, es.
pecially If they have imbibed little FIRE
wster. ##4t
Sunday is their gala day. Then mounted
on their cayuses, they throng the thorough
fares or engage in races. An occasional
dance is held, especially at the close of the
season. attended the "Close Tum Tum /"
dance Of the Alaska Indians. At signal
from their chiefs large circle was cleared
On one side were ranged sea of dusky
faces ON the other, the native orchestra,
consisting of a dozen men with curiously
shaped drums and wind instruments, upon
which they played. Suddenly a figure
sprang into the centre of the ring, whether
man or beast was hard to tell Bare :reet
and arms, robe trailing the ground, upon
which were all manner of hideous dragons
reptiles, and birds. Above this lowered an
enormous head surmounted by gilt crown,
underneath which peered out two great
horns, mop of shaggy hair, cleaning eyes,
and four rows of shining teeth. With yell
he rushed from side to side, now on his
hands, then on his feet jumping, dancing
crawling, 6inging his fingers into the faces.
Other grotesque figures join in the wild
orgie. AS they grew exhausted they were
escorted outside the circle, but to return
more frenzied than ever. The scene was
one wild pandemonium, but to these saw
ages II was sign of friendly heart. l was
Told that if should visit their country they
would show me a war dance, but this wa,
sufficient. ae
A week ago the Indians returned to their
homes. The hop season is over. Probably
half million dollars will be released from
the hop sales, principally made in San
Francisco. Sound Letter to Sun
Francisco Bulletin.