Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1884-03-27
TWhen fheir enemies iestro-

i IWhen their enemies destro !
the house In which this holy ire
was kept, ii was said the ERE set
tied down into the earth, where it
still lives. though unknown to the
people. The place where they lost
this holy fire is somewhere in one
OF the Carolinas.-IRafd (SRake- u
This new fire, made by friction,
Ike the original holy fire, must not
be used for any common purpose,
Except when made especially to
supply the nation with new fire.
No torch must be lighted by it, nor
q coal taken from 1t for common
use. After the su-E..ice was burned
and the ceremonf nded for which
the fire was made, 1t vas delivered
to some one to keop.-Shield Eater
or T. Smith.
Originally they had twelve tribes
but on account Of disobedienee with
regard to marriage, It was resolved
to have but seven.
II their journeys through this
wilderness, the tribes marched sep
arately, and also he clans. The
clans were distinguished by having
feathers of different colo-s fastened
to their ears. They had two great !
standards, one white and one red. /
The white standard was under the |
control of the priests, and used for
civil and religious purposes but
the rSd standard was under the di-
rection of the war priests, for pur-
poses of war, or alarm. These /
were carried when they jonrneyed, |
and the white standard erected /
in front of the building above-men-
toned, when tkey rested. The |
priests had trumpets, also, for their
own particular use.
In going through this Wilderness
they had two waters to cross, be-
tween the first and the last liver.
before getting to their country. |
These two their leader struck. as
he had done the first, and the wa
ter stopped, so that the children /
could wade through. But their
whole journey through this wilder
ness was attended with great dis
tress and danger. At one time
they were beset by the most deadly |
kind Of serpents, which destroyed |
a great many of the people, but at
length their leader shot one with
an arrow and drove them away.
Again, they were walking along
in single file, when the ground
cracked oren and a number of the
people sunk down and were de-
stroyed by the earth closing upon
them.
At another time they came nigh
perishing for water. Their head
men dug with their slaves in all
the low places, but could find no
water. At length their leader found
Z most beautiful spring coming out
Of rock
They were great many years
In getting through this wilderness,
and many Of the people died They
never could have got through, the
dangers were so great, if God had
not helped them.
When they came TO the land
which God had given their fathers,
hey had a large river to cross.
This had been told them all along.
But when they came to this river,
heir leader struck it with his stick
md the water above stopped, so
hat all the children could wade
through. After they had crossed
hey camped on the other side and
named the place Tahmitoo.
They had then TO engage in wars
and on one occasion their leader
,aused the sun to stand still and
.hus heightened the day, that they
night destroy their enemies. And
It another time the Lord destroyed
heir enemies by sending a hail
storm upon them, some OF the hail
stones being as large as a hominy
mortar. SHIELD EATER.
NUIsAwI.
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IfghfniHr fraek RahhIia~x