Wichita eagle., 1888-02-01

Scenen at the Autumn Festivities of the
Creek Indians-A Very Thorough Clean.
ing Process-A Perpetual Priesthood.
Sacred Eire-Hospitality.
This festival is religious rite and is far
from being what is generally supposed an
ordinary dance. 1t usually continues for four
days and the ground on which it is held Is
consecrated to the service for which it is used
by being cleared of all distractions and laid
off into different rings or places for the
dances A post is planted in the center Of
one Of these rings and fire is kindled near
the post, and around this post and fire the
company, composed Of men, women and
children, dance to the music Of a peculiar
kind Of drum, which is accompanied by the
singing and shouting of the dancers.
The first day is occupied in feasting and
the night is taken up with a dance The
second day is used as fast, in which they
take no food and the night is spent without
sleep, the dance continuing all night. On
the third day, about noon, they parta,e of
what is known as the bitter medicine" COM
posed of some wild herb known only to a
certain member Of the tribe, who attends to
the preparation with religious zeal and great
solemnity. The effect of this bitter medicine
is very powerful in the way of stirring up
the inward organization of the person
taking it, producing violent vomiting,
and Is intended as 4 cleansing power. In
case the medicine does not act sufficiently
q long feather, usually from the wing OF all
eagle or other large bird having feathers OF
proper length is taken, and the leather edge
trimmed off. except small bunch of the
point. This the person that has not been suf-
ticiently ceansed inserts into his mouth and
down into the stomach, giving it peculiar
tickling twist, and by repeating this opera
ton and laying himself over leg, face down
ward, he finally is relieved of the contents of
the stomach, and arising he pronounces him
self internally cleansed. After thoroughly
satisfying themselves that there is nothing
left in them, the whole number Of those who
have taken the cleansing process repair to the
river, where they all stand in the water, and
at & given signal from the leader they dive
under four times, and thus they claim the
outside is cleansed also.
Then they dry themselves in the sun, and
each one securing an arm load of wood re-
turns to the dancing ground, and rebuilding
the fire with the wood they have brought,
and sweeping the ground perfectly clean,
they renew the dance until the fourth day,
when they break up and return to their
homes.
These grounds are selected and established
with great care by the elder members of the
tribe, Que of whom is leader, and one who
holds his Office during life, and at his death
the Office descends to some other one, also
member of the same family, thus initiating
the perpetual priesthood Of the Jewish people.
The grounds of this place were established
about forty years ago, and the ashes which
make the place sacred were brought from a
similar dancing ground in the state Of Ala
oama at the time, and are buried here, where
a new fire is built every year. aud the fire il
carried to their homes and kept burning all
the entire year. Thus the same fire that
5urns upon the main altar is to be kept burn
ing in the home OF each individual, and is in
tended to remind them constantly of the
sacred obligation that they are under in this
respect.
During these Nities the most perfec:
order prevails IN 4. mp, and anything OF
contrary nature is promptly checked and the
offenders reminded that the ground wherein
they stand is holy ground.
The dance is very peculiar, and In many
respects is less Objectionable in its features
than our more modern dances Each indi-
vidual operates independent Of any one else.
There is no choosing partners and no firta-
ton between the sexes, and nything Of that
hind would be considered a gross insult, and
would meet with strong resentment, If not
very prompt punishment. The costumes Of
many, especially the women, are very gaGdy,
and are composed largely Of fancy ribbons
and feathers One was very conspicuous in
in this respect, having beautiful head dress
Of ribbons, reaching from head to foot and
representing the coiors OF the rainbow.
These people are not barbarian. as might
ue supposed, but they wear the civilized dress,
ana only add these fancy ornaments a. others
ornament themselves.
The Greeks extend friendly Invitation to
the other tribss TO join them Ia this tssti-
val, and many Of their ueighbors sval them
selves Of The hospitality thus offered
The Shawnees living within reach always
attend, and Il Is thoagnt that they excel in
TIE matter Of dancing, many If the women
icing peculiarly graceful in their movements.
Kansas City Times