The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-11-27
PUGET SOUND INDIANS.
A Aboriginal Hop Pickers Of the
Far Northwest.
Servitude of the Wives and Gambling Pro-
pensities Of the Braves

oerVltuue OF Une wives ana GdmDllnS ITu-
pensities Of the Braves.
Ezra Meeker, said to be the largest
hop grower in the world, had 700
Indians engaged in picking hops this
season. The average number in a
yard is 200. 1t is interesting to visit
them. They form motley crowd.
The "Klutchmen" (Indian women)
are considered by their lords and
masters to be little better than beasts
Of burden; hence they perform the
work, while the "braves" take the
money. They pick on an average
box and half day, making $3.50.
In the evening the weary pickers
return to their tents. An hour later
and the savage element appears in
stronger relief. The braves, in lazy
enjoyment, bask before the blazing
embers while their women prepare the
evening meal. Fish is the principal
dish, baked in the ashes, boiled or
dried. Cakes of dough, together with
wild crab apples and CLANS, form the
bill of fare. The different tribes camp
by themselves. A Klickitat from the
far Cascades struts around in his new
blanket and challenges his Alaska
tillicums to gambling game. But
they are not yet ready. They are
seated around the council fire in their
bark lodge. The Chief Loolish has
charge of the cuisine, and from an
immense kettle deals out their repast.
The dishes consist of wooden trenchers
shaped like boats, some two feet long.
Two men possess one of these in
common, from which they cat with
enormous spoons, larger than soup
ladies'. Some of these spoons are
beautifully wrought in ebonized wood
and mother of pearl. Their wives
dutiously wait on them until the repast
is over, when they and their children
receive their share
A vesper bell vibrates on the breeze
calling the faithful to prayer. Toward
large tent they wend their way,
where, falling on their knees, they
offer their supplications as earnestly as
if in pillared church with white-rob
priest. 1t is an impressive scene to
watch the duslSy faces turned heaven
ward. But "Sla Halle" is cried and
the gamblers assemble in the center 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 the Chinese gambling ditty,
but ten times intensified. The money
or other articles at stake are placed on
pile. Two bits of carved bone are
the means by which they gamble, a I'd
are used by being swiftly changed from
one hand to another " hile those On the
opposite side attempt to guess in which
hand they are held. If successful,
they gain one point; if not, they lose
one. This is repeated first by one side
then by the other, until all the points
are held by the one side, when they
receive what is at stake. The Indians
are passionately 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 excited it is not safe tc
trihe with them, especially if they have
imbibed little fire water.
Sunday is their gala-day. Then
mounted on their cayuses, they throng
the thoroughfares or engage in races
An occasional dance is held, especially
at the close Of the season. l attended
the "Clo3e Tum Tum" dance of the
Alaska Indians. At signal from
their chief large circle was cleared
On one side were ranged sea of dusky
faces; on the other the native orchestra
consisting Of dozen men with
curio1sly shaped drums and wind
instruments, upon which they played
Suddenly figure sprapg into the
center Of the ring, whether man OF
beast was hard to tell. Bare feet ant
arms, robe trailing the ground upon
which were all manner of hideous
dragons, reptiles and birds. Above
this lowered an enormous head sur
mounted by gilt crown, underneath
which peered out two great horns, &
mop of shaggy hair, cleaning eyes
and four rows of shining teeth. Will
yell he rushed from side to side, now
on his hands, then ON his feet; jumping
dancing, crawling, finging his finger:
into the faces. Other grotesque figure!
join in the wild orgie. AS they grew
exhausted they were escorted outside
the circle, but to return more trenziet
than ever. The scene was one wilC
pandemonium, but to these savageS i
was a sign of friendly heart. -.Sa,
Francisco Bulletin.
Character in Hair.
Ill = Z.