News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-09-03
AN INDIAN AUCTION.
Selling Dead Brnve's Effects and Then
Laying His Ghost:
[From the Chicago Tribune.1

lrrom the Chicago 1rlDune.l
witnessed an interesting feature in
Indian life short time ago at one of the
camps IN the Kaw Agency, Indian Terri
tory. A tent had been erected, and all
the effects of dead man deposited in
the tent. The Indians were going to
hold an auction. At early dawn before
the sun the Indians gathered around the
tent. The auctioneer, stepping out of
the tent holding blanket in his hands,
began to invite bids on the blanket.
-Four dollars" sang out an old man
who had a patch of yellow paint under
his right eye, and sat on the outer edge
of the circle which had now formed
around the tent. 81 will give you five,"
cried one of the Indians sitting in the
circle. cit is yours" said the auction
eer, and the bidder, after depositing
due bill for the amount, received the
blanket. The auctioneer now brought
out pair of beaded leggings, and the
bidding began.
One thing was noticeable, the number
bidding never exceeded two, and the
article was invariably knocked down to
the second bidder. Moccasins, neck
laces, fans of eagle feathers-in fact, the
whole paraphernalia of a complete Indian
outfit was brought out and sold to the
highest bidder Finally an Indian pipe
OF red stone-a very large and handsome
one-was brought out, and the bidding
became livelier. give dollars" was
shouted. eight" sang out trader,
who, beside your correspondent, was the
only paleface in the audience, and who
already saw the pipe in his minds eye
hanging with his other Indian curiosi-
ties; but he was doomed to disappoint-
ment when a hungry-looking member of
the circle, who was evidently wanting
his breakfast and was anxious to bring
the ceremonies to a close, said: "My
brother, that pipe has been smoked in
many councils. Our brother who lies
buried on yonder HILL" pointing to a
pile of rocks on high hill in the dis
lance, Thought much of that pipe. 1
will give pony for the pipe" These
remarks of Old Hungary were received
with few short yells, which denoted
great satisfaction.
AT this point a member with nothing
on but breech-clout came dashing into
the circle, holding in his hands skillet
filled with live Goals. He was followed
by another one bearing in his arms lot
of cedar, which was deposited over the
Goals. These two were followed by the
dead Indians relatives-wife, sister and
children-moaning and wringing their
hands. The burning cedar now began
to pour forth a volume of smoke, and
one by one the members of the band
rushed into the smoke, bending down
close to the Goals, turning round and
round, with many wild gestures and
with outstretched blanket, the smoke at
times completely hiding them from view.
Come on, my son." said one of the
party, taking a firm hold of the traders
arm, and reluctantly the paleface was
drawn into the smoke, where he per-
formed the smoke act to the evident sat
isfaction of the party. Hastily with
drawing in fit of coughing and gasping
for breath, he was met with many cries
of "Good, my sonl The ghosts will
never trouble you" The performance
was now ended by the auctioneer turning
over all the receipts of the sale to the re-
latiOns