Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-04-16
INDIAN HoP-PFCkERS.
an EFenlng in Their Camp.-Thcir Gamb-
hhs fropensities-Sunday a Gala Day.

ling Propensities-Sund :. Gala Day.
In the evening the weary pichers re-
tdrn to their tents An hour later the
savage element appears III stronger re-
lief. The braves. in lazy enjoyment.
bask before the blazing en- ers while
the women prepare the evening meal.
Fish Is the principal dish. baked in the
ashes, boiled, or dried Cakes ordough,
together with wild crabapples and
CLAIMS, form the bill of fare. The diff
terent tribes camp by themselves. A
kllckltat, from the far cascades, struts
around in his new blanket and challen-
ges his Alaska tillicumS to a gambling
game. But they are not 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 trench
erS shaped like boats, some two feet
long. Two men possess one of these
IN common, from which they eat with
enormous spoons, larger than soup
ladies. Some of these spoons are beau
tifully wrought with ebonized wood aud
mother of pearl. Their wives dutious-
ly wait on them until the repast is over,
when they and their children receive
their share. A vesper-bell yibrates on
the breeze, calling the faithful to pray
er. Towards a large tent they Wend
their way, where, falling on their knees,
they offer their supplications as ear
nestly as if in pillared church with
white-robed priests. 1t is an impress
sive scene to watch the dusky faces
turned heavenward But 'Sla Halle
is cried, and the gamblers assemble in
the centre of the campus, where they
prepare for the nights dissipation. A
fire is built. Two poles are laid on eth
er side, behind which those who en-
gage in the game take their places.
They beat upon the poles with sticks,
to exercise the bad spirits, chanting a
wild song resembling the Chinese
gambling ditty, but ten times intensi-
fed. The money or other articles at
stake are placed in a pile. Two bits
of carved bone are the means by which
they gamble, and are used by being
swiftly changed from one hand to
another, while those on the opposite
side attempt to guess in which hand
they are held. If success sful, they gain
one point; if not, they lose one. This
is repeated first by one side, then by
another, until all the points are held by
the one side, when they receive what
is at stake. The Indians are passion
arely fond of this game. Twenty of
them will gamble a whole night for q
single dollar.
Sunday is their gala day. Then,
mounted on their cayuses, they throng
the thoroughfares OF engage in races.
An occasional dance is held, especially
at the close of the season. | attended
the ''Close Tum Tum" dance of the
Alaska Indians. At signal from their
Chief a large circle was cleared. On
one side were ranged a sea of dusky
faces; on the other, the native Orchest-
IA, consisting of dozen men with GU
riouS-Shaped drums and wind instru-
ments, upon which they played. Sud
denly figure sprang into the centre
of the ring, whether man or beast was
hard to tell. Bare feet and arms, a
robe trailing the ground, upon which
were all manner of hideous dragons,
reptiles, and birds. Above this lowered
an enormous head surmounted by a
gilt crown, underneath which peered
out two great horns, mop of shaggy
hair, cleaning eyes, and four rows of
shining teeth. With yell he rushed
from side to side, now on his hands,
then on his feet, jumping, dancing,
crawling, flinging his fingers into his
face. Other grotesque figures join in
the wild orgie. AS they grew exhaust
Gle, but to return more frenzied than
ever. The scene was one wild pande-
monium, but to these saVages it was a
sign of a friendly heart. l was told that
if [ should visit their country they
would show me war-dance, but this
was sufficient. : Puget Sound Letter 10
Saf9 Francisco Bulletin.