The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1884-02-06
IroQuOiS Indians.

Mr.. Hlrschfelder, the well-kpow arch
biologist, received letter from Chief
johnson. interpreter for the Six Nations
or Iroquois Indians on their reserve on
the Grand river, inviting him to go up
and witness the ceremony OF the sacrifice
of the white dog, which was to be cele-
brated by the pagan Indians, and accept
ing the chiefs kind invitation he spent
last week among the red men, in the
course of which time he has seen some
interesting and peculiar characteristics
of the aborigines, which he says will not
be soon forgotten or easily erased from
his memory. A reporter of THE Mail
called upon Mr.. Hirschfelder, who kind
ly gave his copious notes and account of
the festival to be published.
The Iroquois Indians, from the time
their league was first organized, have eel
ebrated six principal feasts or thanksgiv-
ings, which are held annually. These
events take place at certain periods, and
take the form of offerings to the Great
Spirit for tavors received from Him
Even now the Indians cling with great
pertinaclty to all their ancient customs,
and regard with sacredness the feasts,
dances, and other events practised by
their forefathers, and, although the Chris
tanned Indians take no part now in the
events which, what we now denominate
the pagan Indians celebrate, still some of
the most sincere of the reformed Indians
say that they would be very sorry Co see
all the ancient usages of their forefathers
sink into oblivion and in few years be-
come a thing OF the past. and in the
course of time have them rehearsed more
as fables than of customs which have &C.
tually been practised by branch of the
human family, especially such dances as
do not In any way refer to their religion
That it is only matter of short time
when these various events shall have be-
come things of the past is fact which
we are all aware must take place as
Christianity advances, and we ought not
to miss single opportunity to record
whenever at all practicable full and COM
plete particulars of such ceremonies as
may come under our observation, as they
are of the greatest value not only to the
chronological student but also to the his
Photographer. We have now grand
chance which will soon be lost as to the
feasts, etc., which are celebrated, although
somewhat modified, are even yet in the
main points adhered to as in the past,
and all the most important parts are re-
ligiously kept.
THE SIX REGULAR FESTIVALS
anciently observed by the Iroquois men
were. first. the Maple Thanksgiving, held
as soon as the sap commences to run. In
this they returned thanks to the maple
itself for yielding its sweet water. Next,
was the spring planting festival, which
took the form of an invocation to the
Great Spirit to watch the seed and bring
it to maturity. Then came the berry
festival, in which they returned thanks
for the first fruits; the green corn festi-
val, In which thanks are returned for the
ripening of the corn, beans, etc. The
harvest festival, which was instituted for
the same purpose as our general thanks
giving. And the sixth and last event
celebrated was the New Years festival,
the great jubilee of the Iroquois, at which
the sacrifice of the white dog takes place.
The Iroquois of the present day celebrate
almost the same events as the six lust
enumerated, and, as before remarked,
there is very little change in the form of
their ceremonies, as they adhere as near
ly as possible to the original ideas of
their forefathers. The only change of
any Importance in the festivals celebrated
In ancient times in comparison to the
present is that instead of having a maple
festival they. hold another vegetable
thanksgiving in the fall in its place.
TOrO1tO Mail