The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-02-15
INDIAN HOP-PICKERS.
AN EVENING IN THEIR CAMP AT
PUGET SOUND
Dusky Faces Turned Heaven-Ward-Pa%-
siOnate FOndness for GanbIing-Sun-
day a Gala Day-"CIOse Tum
Tum'' Dance of the AIaskans.
Cor. San Francisco Bulletin


In the evening the weary pickers return
to their tents An hour later and the
savage element appears in stronger relief
The braves, in lazy enjoyment, bask be-
fore the blazing embers while the women
prepare the evening meal Fish is the
principal dish, baked in the ashes, boiled,
or dried Cakes or dough, together with
wild crabapples and CLANS, form the bill
of fare. The different tribes camp by
themselves A klickitat from the cas-
cades, struts around in his new blanket
and challenges his Alaska tillicums to a
gambling game. But they are not yet
ready They are seated around the cOun
Gil fire in their bark lodge. The Chief
Loolish has charge of the cuisine, and
from an immense kettle deals out their re-
past The dishes consist of wooden trench
eTs 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 beautifully wrought with
ebonized wood and mother of pearl. Their
wives obviously wait on them until the re-
past is over, when they and their children
receive their share
A vesper-bell vibrates on the breeze
calling the faithful to prayer. Towards
large tent they wend their way, where.
falling on their knees, they offer their
supplicatiOns as earnestly as if in pillared
church with white rObed priests. 1t is an
impressive scene to watch the dusky faces
turned heavenward But "Sla Halle" is
cried, and the gamblers assemble in the
center OF the campus, where they prepare
for the nights dissipation. a fire is
built Two poles ale laid on either
side, behind which those who engage in
the game take their places. They
beat upon the poles with sticks, to exor-
else the bad spirits, chanting a wild song
res embling the Chinese gambling ditty,
but ten times intensified The money or
other articles at stake are placed in pile.
Two bits Of carved bone are the means by
which they gamble, and are used by be
ing swiftly changed from one hand to an
other while those on the opposite side at
tempt to guess in which hand they are
held. If successful, they gain one point;
if not, they lose one This is repeated
first by one side; then by the other, until
all the points are held by the one side,
when they receive what is at stake The
Indians are pa siOnately fond of this
game Twenty of them will gamble a
whole night for a single dollar The scene
reminds one of "DantS's Inferno As
they grow excited it is not safe to tride
with them, especially if they have imbibed
a little fire water.
Sunday is their gala day. Then
mounted on their cayuses, they throng
the thoroughfares or engage in races. An
occasional dance is held, especially at the
close of the season. [ attended the i" lose
Tum Tum" dance of the Alaska Indians
At a signal from their chief large circle
was cleared. On one side were ranged
sea OF duskY faces; on the other, the ma
tive orchestra, consisting of dozen
men with curiously shaped drums and
wind instruments, upon which they
played. Suddenly a figure srrang into
the center of the ring, whether man or
beast was hard to tell. Bare feet and
arms robe trailing the ground, upon
which were all manner of hideous
dragons, reptiles, and birds Above this
lowered an enormous head sur
mounted by a gilt crown, under
meath 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, dane
ing, crawling, tiinging his fingers into his
face. Other grotesque figures join in the
wild orgie. AS they grew exhausted
they were escorted outside the circle, but
to return more frenZied than ever. The
scene was one wild pandemOnium 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
A week ago the Indians returned to
their homes The hop season is over.
Probably $500, 900 will be realized from
the hop sales, principally made in San
Francisco.