The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-13
A POWWOW.
The Weird Spectacle of a Midnight Cere-
mony in Memory of Dead Indians.

mOny in Memory of Dead Indians.
Correspondence Boston Transcript.
''Would you like to attend powwowl asked
my friend Brown, at whose camp in the pine
wood party of us were stopping, for weeks
rest and few trout.
'Wouldn't l. was my reply 81 have always
desired to witness such ceremony A pow
wow, as presume most of my readers know, is
q sort of religious rite performed annually in
eommemoration of the dead. 1t is generally
held at some place where large number of In
dams are buried together.
''Wel, then, if nothing happens, you can
crafty that desire tonight" said Brown.
Years ago the smallpox killed off about half of
the tribe of Menomonees, and their burial
ground-or mound, rather, for they are all
buried together in a great heap--s about three
miles from this place. | saw some Indians to-
day, and, on asking them where they 60
ing they told me that powwow began to night"
"Are they willing to receive visitorsl" asked.
ooh, yes, answered Brown, nothing pleases
them more
We set off just before dark The trail we fol-
lowed led through the pine woods, and so
slight that an unframed eye never would have
known there was one But Brown, who has
spent most of his life in the woods. has become
almost an Indian in tie tricks and accomplish
ment of woodcraft, and he seemed to find it easy
TO keep in the path without the aid of a lantern
which we had suggested much to his amuse
ment The night was positively dark but as
the sky was full of clouds the way through the
woods was at best very shadowy and obscure
one.
''Hark!" said Brown we climbed to the top
Of a ridge We listened. and heard family
sounds that reminded of the bowling of
wolves, as remembered from my childhood,
which had been spent in wild. unsettled
try where wolves and other wild animals were
things we were so familiar with that "famil-
iarty" almost bred contempt"
''Thats them" said Brown. Its always the
same thing over'n'over. Shd think they'd get
tired of it and have change some time, but
they don't"
AS we went down the long slope of the ridge
the sound began to grow more distinct Now it
would come the wind from the valley and
seem near by; then the wind would die away and
the sound with it, until it seemed far off. 1t was
q sound betweed a howl and wall pitched in a
minor key, and verv mouruful. 1t suggested
grief, and was precisely the sound you would ex-
poet man to make in expression of his sorrow
il he had no words to express IL in All people
express grief in sounds very much alike when no
words are used, think There seems to be
universal language for the various emotions we
express. whether of joy or sorrow.
Presently We began to lights shining
through the trees. sharp turn in the trail led
us into clear space on the side of the hill,
from which we could look into the Indian camp.
which was situated on small stream running
through the valley almost beneath our feet. The
wigwams were at one side Of the clearing Of per
haps an acre in extent There were probably
about thirty of them The once powerful
Menomonee tribe is reduced 10 about two hun
bred men, women, and children. and is doomed
to become extinct in few years. In front of
each wigwam smouldered a fire.. about which
the cooking had been done. At the other end of
the clearing was circle of fires, fed from piles
of resinous pine split into small strips These
ignited Immediately, and sent out brilliant
blaze which gave out dense black smoke,
which rose and blended in with the gloom Of the
pines encirchng the little camp, In the center
of the circle of fires a large mound over
grown with bushes. In this the dead had been
buried in one CHASTITY heap.
For years they wouldn't come near the spot"
said Brown. WAS afraid they'd catch the dis
ease that carried the others off, you There's
nothing in the world the Injun S so much afraid
of as smallpox, And well no may be, for it goes
hard with EN-"
1t seem that one part Of the ceremonies of the
evening had been completed Just before came
in sight of the camp. for the indians were stand
ing about in little groups outside the line of
fires Most of them clad in the gayest
attire, which consists of buckskin legeings
long shirt of gaudy calico profnsely rutfled. and
blanket. The brighter the blanket the more