The Portland daily press., 1886-11-15

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Il suppose the Indians did that on yonder
green," said the Professor.
81 think So" replied "They had war
dances before going to BATTLE dances of vic
tory after battle, dances to thank the,good
Great Spirit, 'Ketsi Niouaska,' dances to
propitiate the bad spirit 'Matsi Niouaska.'
and dances to placate the 'Madaodos' or
minor deities doubt if they had any mu
sic except rude drums, as they appear always
to have accompanied themselves with pro-
dlgious bowling. Now our young people are
doing better"
We listened. They had tired themselves
with dancing, and were seated on the rocks
ana ground, singing very sweet choruses to
the accompaniment of guitars and banios.
u think / could have loved an Indian
maiden If she would have played the guitar
and sung like that" / remarked.
NO doubt, no doubt, believe you, my
Doy," replied the Professor. Bachelors do
not seem success among nomadic races"
But tell me, he continued, "what do you
know about the really old families of the
town. What do your records relate of the
particular sayages who ate clans and danced
war dances on this isand?"
They are described as hospitable and
generous. In July, 1906 Champlain met at
SacQ Marchim, the Sycamore of Casco Bay.
Champlain describes him as grave, dignified.
graceful, and reputed as one of the bravest
men of his country. Champlain gave him
presents and, in return, received from him
an Etchemin boy who had been capturedin
some foray to the eastward, for that tribe
lived on the st. Croix and st. John rivers,
1t was probably Marchim's daughter, whom
Levett met in 1923 who had then married
the Sycamore of Saco For said Levett.
you must understand that the father was
the Sycamore of this place and left it to her
at his death, having no more children
Here we have a real Indian Princess, and
not only the acknowledged leader of Portland
society, but also the ruler of Casco Bay. and |
IL is pleasant to see what gracious and no. |
ple appearance she made as queen. Levett |
TOOK her, with the king, the prince, bow and |
arrows, dog and kettle, in his boat, while |
thelr noble attendants rowed beside them in |
canoes When they passed English fishing |
vessels, she welcomed their crews to her |
| country and drank to them because they |
were Leyett's friends and countrymen. She |
drank to her royal husband also, and well
coined him because he was come into Casco
Bay, which was her patrimony. The drink
ing healths was new fashion which she
had learned of the whites along with the
taste of rum. Doubtless she drank out of a
black bottle, but the sentiment of hospitali-
ty was the same.'
THAT looks as if the rights of women
were well considered among the aborigines
of Maine, said the Professor
of
as general thing their wishes were more
considered than their rights. Among semi
civilized races woman generally has'her own
way, but it is as boon and not as right.
Where might is right, woman must persuade
and not demand Where law makes the
dwarf as strong, in liberty, as the giant,
woman may claim equality as a right We
may get picture Of their domestic relations
from the French historian"
The young man who wishes to marry Of
ters to the girl whom he desires to take for
his wife bracelets, and belt and collar of
wampum. If the girl accepts these presents
the two young people live together for some
time. After this period of experiment, if
tne grl still pleases the youth, the marriage
IS celebrated and the union made permanent:.
but if the girl does not please him, he loses
MS presents and chooses wife from some
other family. These unions are contracted
IN the presence of the chiefs and of the rela-
tions of the young couple Their manners
slder si' women as slaves, yet they never insult
them. A young man who dared commit that
fault would be severely punished.
"A significant indication of the influence
of the women" Iadded, sis that they were
allowed TO participate in the councils of
war"
'And in helping torture the condemned
captives, were they not?" asked the Profess
sor.
''Yes, but that was an entertainments, and
of course the ladies would be invited. But
to return In 1851 Squidrayset was the
chief of Casco Bay. He might have been the
prince referred to by Leyett in 1923, but more
likely was an older chief, for he led the par
ty who Slew Bagnall and his family on Rich
mond's Island in that year, what time was
lost that quaint gold ring which our fair
friend Mrs. E. was showing us on her finger
the other day. Each tribe had two head
chiefs, one the War chief, the other the
Peace chief, WHO kept order in the tribe.
This reminds us of the japanese genera
tion ago, when the Mkado was the
Peace chief. and the Tycoon the War chief
Squidrayset was evidently the War Chief,
and Marchim had held that post before him,
for lie was especially commended for his
fighting qualities"
There was light step on the veranda
and the little widow broke IN upon us.
What are you two talking about so long?
the pyramids ?" she asked.
The !. W. always thinks people are talking
about the pyramids when they are not say
ing something sweet to her.
''No, madam" replied the gallant profess
sor, ''we were discussing your lovely prede-
cessors the dusky aboriginal maidens'
I'VE are the aborigines now that the new
colonists have built on the other side," said
the widow, 'and have come to warn you to
begin at your lastly. The girls are having
recitations now, and when that is through
the whole tribe is coming down to dance in
the cottage
Why the little widow should always treat
my most entertaining conversation as preach
ing never could make out.
You were speaking of the two chiefs"
suggested the Professor.
"Yes. 1t is somewhat difficult to ascertain
exactly the powers of those chiefs. The In
dians lived together like large families, and
seem to have held their lands in common.
They had two Councils, the Grand Council
and the General Council. The Grand Coun-
ell was composed of Tribal chiefs and heads
of families. In this they consulted about
every matter concerning the interests of the
tribe, and pronounced sentences of death.
The General Council admitted all members
of the tribe, men and women, and in that
women were allowed to speak as freely as
the men. When question of war arose in
this council the War Chief called for volun-
teers for he was only leader and not alb
solute in his commands. Yet in the dis
posal of land to the Whites both Peace and
War chiefs seem to have had power to sell.
Probably they acted as agents for the COM
munity, and their power depended on their
personal influence at the time. The earliest
deed found is from Squidraysel in 1867, con-
veying two miles of land between Capisic
and Ammoncongan to Francis Small The
chief styled himself Sycamore and received
for his territory one trading coat and one
gallon of liquor year. Land was cheap
then, but in thus receiving yearly rental he
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