Daily Republican., 1885-09-10
AHxNDIAHACCTION.

A correspondent says: "I witnessed
I'M interesting feature In Indian life q
short time ago At ono Of the camps In
| the Kaw Agency Indian Territory. a
tent mad been erected. and all the effects
of dead brave were deposited in the
tent. Tue Indians were going to hold
an auction. At early dawn before the
| sun the Indians gathered around the
tent. The auctioeeer, stepping out Of
the tent holding . blanket In his handS,
began 20 invite bids on the blanket.
-Four dollars, sang out an old man
who had patch Of yellow paint under
his right eye, and sat on the outer edge
Of the circle which had now formed
around the tent. I will give you Ave,
cried one OF the; Indians sitting In the
circle. 1T In yours, said the auction
Ger, and the bidder, after depositing q
due bill for the amount, received the
blanket. The auctioneer now brought
out pair of beaded legginss end the
bidding began,
One thing was noticeable, the number
bidding never exceeded two, and the
article was Invariably knocked down V
the second bidder. Moccasins, neck
laoos, fans OF eagle feAtherB-in fact the
whole p AraphernaliA Of complete In
dian outfit WAS brought out and sold u
the highest bidder. Finally gu lndiaI
, pipe OF red stone-a worry large ant
ihandsome one-was brought ont, ant
the bidding became livelier. Five dol
2ars, ~wAs,shouted. Eight, sana.out'
trader, who, besides myself, was tn
only pAleface in the audience, and VII
already saw the pipe In his minds'ssy
hanging with his other Indian curios
itioe; bat he was doomed to disAppoinI
fnens when . hungry looking membe
of the circle, who WAS evidently wan
. ing his break fast and WAS Anxiou
J. 70 bring the ceremonies to = clos
, said;
MY brother, that pipe has been smoke
& In many councils. Our brother who liz
a buried on yonder, HILL pointing 70
y pile Of rocks on high bill In the di
q lance, thought much of that pipe.
y an not willing 1t should fall into 9TH
hands. My brother. will give pom
!. for the pipe These remarks
!. Old Hungry were received with fe
d short yells, which denoted great eati
faction.
II Az this point member with nothir
on k.t q breech-clout came dashing II
= to the circle, holding in his hands
skillet filled with live GOALS. He ";
: followed by another one bearing In b
g arms q lot OF cedar, which was d.
. posted over the GOALS. These two we
T. followed by the dead Indians relAtiv
wife, sister and children-.moanir
Il and. wringing their hands. The bur
or ing cedar now began to pour forth
r. volume OF smoke, and one by one Il
mem bers OF the band rushed into Il
:, smoke. bending down closo 20 the Goa
a. turning round and round, with mar
u Wild gestures and with ouxtretch'
blanket. the smoke At times complete
= hiding them from view.
D Come on, my son, said one of Il
4 lPaSty. taking firm hold OF the trader
arm, and reluctantly the paiefaoe WI
drawn into the smoke, where he pc
y formed the smoke act To the evide
- satisfaction Of the party. Hast, y wit
- drawing In . ft Of coughing and gas
,R ing for breath. he WAS met with mai
II, cries Of Good, my son! Tho ghos
tn will never trouble you Tho perforI
arce wan now ended by the AIctione
-, tzrnipg over all the receipts Of the ss
* TO the relations"