The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-07-25
A plcruRRsouR CEREMONIAL.
lExehange.l

dian reservation, near Irving. N. Y, a feu days since, which is vividiy described hy correspondent of the New York Sss, 1t was the adoption of a pale-faced woman from the city of New York into the Seneca tribe, with all the accessories of ancient Indian rites. 1t was probably the lAsl occasion when this curious revival of bar barous customs will be witnessed among these peaceful sons and daughters ot tue forest. The old people," as they are termed here, are rapidly passing a~ay, and with the progress of civilization abolished and are forgotten by ;Ae younger of the present generation. The lady who was the object of this remark able attention was Ms Harriet Maxwell Converse of I3o West Forty-Seventh street, New York. She is daughter ot the late ex-Congressman Max we'll of Fl. mira, who was himself adopted by the Senecas in 1892. and WAS an inumaIe friend of Red Jacket, probably the most famous lad,an of American history
 The adoption of Mrs. Converse was offered by SAchem rho-pa-so-Wah, other wise William Jones, who Is tae lndian descendant of Horatio Jones. celebrated ! in American history as one of the hrst white prisoners taken by the Indians l during the revolutionary war, and wno was an interpreter for the government She was rendered the name of GA-ya .neS- ha-oh, which was the name ot he step daughter of Red ackes. 1t siKnihes the bearer of the law
 When the Senecas adopted the repuo- lican form of government many Of the old customs pertaining to the oace poE- ertul league of the lroquols were aool ished, and among them the adoption or naming ceremony by pubic rites IL was announced as the intention on this occa- son to reproduce an almost forgotten ceremony, and the few very old indians who are st,li IlVng on the reservation were summoned, as was Mrs. Converse from New York, to receive her name Four sachems eight cnlcts and aoout two hundred braves were invited to at tend. The weather was lovely, aod the cool breeze which bent the pune tops ot the thick grove ust surfi >iently tempered the heat of the suns rays to make every one feel comfortable.
 At an early hour of the morning young and old Indian women gatnered at tae nome of Sachem rho-nA-so-~Aa-tor these Indians do not live ln tents or cabins, but in modern built and com- fouaole farm houses and began prepAr- ations for the fe Ast by making bread AnI polling corn and meat ln the ancieat style. Toward; noon the lndtani had gathered in consider Aole numbers. Most oi them were atured In the picturesque costumes of the aoorIsInes as they climbed down from tarn WAS ms or dis mounted from horses, and clustered, group alter group, ln the snAie ot toiy trees. Pipes and tobacco were ptss-d around, and the adoption ceremonies oe- gun.
 Logs were arranged beneath clunp of the lofiest trees, so as to form three sides of square. This vas the enclosure of the council fire. Mrs. Converse was led to seat at the head of the councii Instead of war-pAint sne wore smiles and look of considerable emo IrASsment, and instead of wampun oeit, o.lds and moccasln1 fasnlonAole New YofN street ature, diamonds and nAty Frelcn neels on modern k,d boots. Some youas lndian mAldens, nowever, hal InsistSd upon adorning her head with indiAa wild flowers and feathers. Cutet Moses Lay rattled tom tom, and, mouating d stump, shouted 10 those entitled 10 sit in the council to take places oy the tre Ac- cording to the varlous clan, ot ~nlca there are eight In the oenecas Woit, Bear, Beaver, Turtle, Deer, Snipe, Huroa and Hawk. Three clans were repre- sented. Snipes took tnen place ai the left, Wolves at the right, and Turtles Al the head. Members of a brass DAnd C composed entirely of indian musicians, took tnelr SC its at the head of ue codn- ell, and, after playing several airs iron modern comic operas, which souaded strange enough amtd .he strAase sur roundings, the programme oi tae day, ann ounced by Caief Moses Lay Ia tae Seneca language, was interpre ed oy old Cnief Mex PArxer. Prayer by Rev. Me. rnpp, missionary to the reservAIon, pre- ceded a short address in the in lIan tongue by 5 Sicnen Aodre~ S.o~, Saipe
 The w4rrior then led Mrs. C,averse to the centre of the couacIl. Ia Ad ire,slns the intensely interested red faces in her behalf ne called ,aeir atenuon to the subject of adopuoa, wnicn had oeea or- dered by Sacnem Jole,, and Asked of all the friendship, respect, loyal,J ani .f::- tion of the ciaa (tae Snipe) into wnich she was entering. Thea, invoking d blessing with uplIfted hands oyer the smoking emoers, ne named her Gu VI nes-ha-oh, oy which she would hereafter DC known to them all. A sacaem of the Wolf the cousin cIAn) took her by tne hand and led ner to seat In me colnch ~lth the Snipe clan beside her oro,ner Slchem Jones. fms doughty warn or received her with m manifestauons of afe. ion, and introduced her to eAca mai vidual member of her clan.
 By thus adoption thIs denizen of the forest of Mann tttan island becomes the great-granddaughter oi Red Jacket. Sle IS considered oy her ci4n suost4nnslly and valtdly their sister y la~, and a. cepting ali the rights and nonors pertain ing to such relation. After more mus,c by the aboriginal band of modern ac-