Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1884-02-21

When God created the world, ne
made heaven OF armament about
as high as the tops Of the noun
tains, but this was too warm. He
then created a second, which was
also too warm. He thus proceeded
till He had created seven heavens,
and in the seventh fixed His abode.
During some of their prayers
they raise their hands TO the first,
second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth
and seventh heaven, and then ex-
press their desires 10 God, who
dwells there. But when they sung
that special prayer designed for the
morning of every seventh day they
commenced with the third heaven,
ascending TO the fourth, fifth, sixth,
seventh. and then uttered their
PRAYER 10 the father and the son, in
substance as follows: "Oh, God,
thou hast created US, and hast the
hearts of all in thy hands. We
pray for thine aid, and for long life
and health. Aqra (Abrahan) our
father taught US TO pray thus
They then prayed TO Abraham to
take them into his arms. This
prayer was sung every seventh
morning, seven times, commencing
a little before day, and about day
break they repaired to 8 stream Of
water and plunged entirely four or
seven times. The water washed
away their heaviness, and God
gave them comfort and joy in their
hearts. They then prayed to Him
to continue this JOY in ntheir hearts.
On returning to the house they pu:
their hands on the white ashes COW
ering the Goals, and rubbed their
faces and breasts.
The old men said that God Gre
ated all Things in six days, and
rested the seventh and therefore
all must rest every seventh day,
and meet at the town houses.
The principal men called the peo-
pie together at an early hour. No
work was done except by women,
who brought forward the food. The
old men smoked, and the young
men occasionally danced before
them
At usual breakfast time the vic
tuals were brought by fourteen
women previously appointed, seven
of whom waited on the men and
seven on the women. The priests
sat on their appropriate white
seats other old men on seats near
the middle of the house other
men and boys on seats to the right.
and the women and girls at the left.
The victuals were set on the ground
in dishes, before the several seats,
and then the waiting women took
their seats with the other females.
The priest then arose and told the
people that God, the creator, had
given them food, and that, by par
taking of it, they would be re-
freshed, and then told them 10 eat.
The repast being ended, the four
teen women took away the dishes.
The leader Of the dancers was then
called forward. He arranged the
company in single file; the leader
followed by his wife, the next prin-
cipal man and his wife, and so on,
a man and his wife /; or, if a man
had no wife, he was followed by a
single female who was a near rela-
tive, or of the same clan. This ar
| rangement might form a number oi
circles in the house. Being thus
arranged, while standing, the con-
gregatiOn was addressed by foul
priests successfully. They occu-
pied the white middle seat. The
eldest arose and spoke, holding q
white wing of a fowl by the right
side of his face. Together with
various other instructions, he
charged the people TO love and be
kind to one another. On conclud-
ing. the first took his seat, and
handed the white wing to the on,
next him, and so on, till ali foul
had spoken. The white wing wa.
then hung in a sacred place Ovel
their heads. The dance then com
mencsd. Towards evening, all be
ing again seated. the same womer
who had provided breakfast now
brought forward the dinner Cor sup.
peri which was served as in thC
morning; and the night wholly
spent in dancing None must sleeI
but small children. On Monday
morning breakfast was brought ,anc
after eating, all retired to theii
houses.
The first man and woman were