The Indianapolis journal., 1885-07-01
A PAGAN CEREMONIAL.
The Adoption of Pale-Face Lady by ii
Seneca Tribe of Indians.

| CATTARAUGUs REsERvATIoN near Irvine ~
| Y, June 30.-A novel and picturesque macs.
ceremonial took place on the Seneca Reservat;o1
here last week. 1t was the adoption of palA
faced woman from the city of New York into ~
| Seneca tribe with all the accessories of aneier
Indian rites It was probably the last occasioa
when this curious revival of barbarous customl
will be witnessed among these peaceful sons ana
daughters of the forest. The old people ~
they are termed here, are rapidly passing awav
and, with the progress of civilization MANY ~
the old customs have been abolished and arr.
forgotten by the younger of the present generaA
ton. The lady who was the object of this RE-
markable attention was Mrs Harriet Maxwsl.
Converse, of 136 West Forty seventh street
New York. She is a daughter ef the lats
ex Congressman Thomas Maxwell, of Ell
mira, who was himself adopted by the
Senecas in 1902, and was an intimata2
friend of Red Jacket, probably the most famous
Indian of American history. The adoption o2j
Mrs. Converse was offered by Sacheln Tho.Na%
So-Wah, otherwise William Jones, who is tbs
Indian descendant of Horatio Jones, celebrated
in American history as one Of the first whita
prisoners taken by the Indians during the revo
lutionary war, and who was an interpreter forz
the government. She was rendered the mama
of Ga-YaNes Ha-Oh, which was the name OF
the stepdaughter of Red Jacket 1t signifies
'"The bearer of the law" When the Sanecas
adopted the republican form of governments
many of the old customs pertaining to the once
powerful league of the Iroquois were abolished
and among them the adoption of naming cere.
mony by public rites 1t announced as the
Intention on this occasion to reproduce an almost
forgotten ceremony, and the few very old In
dans who still living on the reservation were
Ire
York to receive her name. Four sachems, eight
chiefs and about 200 braves were invited to at
tend The weather was lovely and the cool |
breeze which bent the pine tops of the thick
grove just sufficiently tempered the heat of the |
suns rays to make every one feeI comfortable |
At an early hour in the morning young and old |
Indian women gathered at the house of Sachem
Sho- -Na-So- Wah-for these Indians do not live in
tents or cabins but in modern built and com.
Portable farm houses-and began preparations
for the feast by making bread and boil
ing corn and meat in the ancient style.
Toward noon the Indians had gathered in
considerable numbers Most of them
were attred in the picturesque costumes of the
aborigines as they climbed down from farm.
wagons or dsmOunted from horses and clustered
group after group, in the shade of the lofty trees
Pipes and tobacco were passed around, and the
adoption ceremonies begun. Logs were arranged
beneath a cump of the loftiest trees to
form three sides of square. This was the
enclosure of the council fire. Mrs. Converse was
led to seat at the head of the council. Instead
of war paint she wore smiles and look Of con-
siderable embarrassment and instead OF wan
pun belt, beads and moccaSinS she was fash /
ionabe attired, and had natty French heels on
modern kid boots. Some Indian madens how.
ever had insisted upon adorning her head With
Indian wild flowers. Chief Moses ratified tom.
tom, and, mounting a stump, shouted to those
entitled to sit in the council to take places by
the fire according to the various clans. of which
there are eight, in the Seneca tribe, Wolf, Bear,
Beaver, Turtle, Deer, Snipe, Huron and Hawk
Three clans were represented. Snipes took their
place at the left, Wolves at the right and Turtles
at the head Members of brass band, com.
posed entirely of Indian musicians, took their 1
seats at the head of the council, and, after play
ing several airs from modern comic operas, which
sounded strange enough amid the strange sur
roundings, the programme of the day was au-
nounced by Chief Moses in the Seneca language,
which interpreted by an old Chief, Niok /
Parker. Prayer by the Rev Mr. Trip, mission |
ary to the reservation, preceded short address
in the Indian tongue by Sachem Andrew Snowl
Snpe.
The warrior then led Mrs Converse to the
center of the council. In addressing the intense
y interested red faces in her behalf, ',e -ealod;
their attention to the subject of adoption which
had been ordered by Sachem Jones, and asked
of all the friendship, respect 10y atty and afec
ton of the clan 1.-THE Snipe) into which she was /
entering. Then, invoking blessing with up.k
lifted hands over the smoking embers he named /
hereafter be known to them all A sachem Of 1
the Wolf, the cousin clan took her by the hand 4
and led her to a seat ir the council with the 4
Snipe clan, beside her brother, Sachem Jones 4
This doughty warrior received her with manifes 4
tations of affection, and introduced her to each
individual member of her clan.
BY this adoption this deniZen of the forest OF i
Manhattan island becomes the great grand.
daughter of Red Jacket. She is considered by 4
her clan substantially and validly their sister by
law, and accepting all the rights and honor
pertaining to such position. After more music /
by aboriginal band of modern airs, large iron
kettles were brought forth and cracking wood I
fires started under the outspreading branches Of 1
some neighboring apple trees The kettles were
soon smoking and ooorous of boiled meat and l
soup. When ready the recl ptacles were placed I
in the center of the council The adopted sister /
was served first, and then all partook of the /
feast. Songs and joyous merry making contm |
ued until late in the afternoon.