West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-08-22
THE INDIAN MEDICINE MEN.
ARMY SURGEONS ARE OFTEN AS
ToHISHED AT THEIR CURES,
They Maintain Their influence Over
aTribc by denominations Scenes at
Council

They Maintain Their Influence Over
Tribe by Incantations-Sc Scenes at
u Council.
The habits and customs of some of tho
western tribes are so little known 10
the general reader that, perhaps, de-
scription of some of their curious practices
may be OF some interest Mr. Paul Beck.
with has published an interesting paper
on the Dakotahs in the last report of the
Smithsonian Institution, and among other
things he remarks that the medicine man
or high priest in invaribly chief, and
although he maintains his sway by the
use of mysteries and nominations, never.
thelesS at times shows power which is
not understood 10y those outside of the
cult or brotherhood, and through know.
ledge of the medicinal properties OF herbs
often performs cures that lead one 10 be.
lieve he is not altogether the charlatan
he is represented. His cures are often
the wonder of of the army surgeons.
An incident in point is cited in the case
OF an Indian who one day came stagger.
ing into camp with his leg horribly swol.
len from bite OF venomous snake.
The camp surgeon could do nothing for
the sufferer, but he was completely cured
10y the medicine man. Another case is
quoted in which cataract OF the eve was
cured by inserting brass filings into the
affected organ. To Impress upon the
mind of the patient the divine nature of
of his medicine, the medicine man adds
to the efficacy of his remedy mysterious
pantomimcs, contortions of the body and
Nnu fnaNn oil.
ment. IL the patient is affected with a
serious ailment, he places paper or bark
figure on the ground, and, while the pa.
tient is held over it, he fires gun, by
which act the sickness passes into the inn.
age in the ground and is killed by the
discharge OF the gun. They claim that
all this power is received from the Great
Spirit, who confers upon them a spiritual
medicine so powerful that they can kill
at will, resuscitatc the dead, and cure the
sick. This spiritual medicine is repre-.
sented by anything that strikes the fancy,
MS bunch of feathers, claw, bird, OF
the head of an animal.
When n council is held, n barricade is
erected in the form of AN cllipsc, and n
tent is raised at each end of the inclosure,
one for the high priests or medicine mcr
and the other for ten men who have beer
selected to keep order and conduct the
ceremony, acting as a sort of police. The
high priest, from his seat i'm the medicine
tent, appoints four assistants, one bearing
"A drum, one pillow and stick, one rat.
tie, and the last assisting by grunting. A
big drum in the center OF the circle is be,
ing constantly beaten by several drum.
mers. The high priest then speaks tc
them of the holy dance which was founded
centuries ago, and tells them of the power
of the medicine of their ancestors, and
warning skeptics not 10 scofT at them ol
their craft, as they have the power OF
thrusting a claw or stone through the
body Of any one at will, causing instant
death In proof of this assertion, he call,
one of his assistants to him and points 10.
ward him with the medicine bag, at the
same instant putting at him with his lips.
whereupon the assistant falls 10 the ground
apparently senseloss. Then the priest
salaams TO the four points Of the compass.
and invokes the Great Spirit to aid him
and the other members present in bring.
ing the dead brother TO life The drum,
are then beaten and frantic dance
is begun, when the lifeess form
gradually returns 10 consciousness and
spits into his hand mass Of froth
and blood, in which is found q
claw or a stone. The high priest now
dances around the circle, and waving his
medicine bag, blows upon some one else,
who, IN the same manner, falls 10 the
ground senseless. The chief continues,
and the "dead men," reviving, assist in
shooting others, until the inclosure is full
of bowling savagcs dancing, yelling, and
shooting each other The dancing is
kept up in the most frantic manner. Ar.
ter a certain length Of time the four as.
sistants, who have been trotting around
the ring faster and faster. form in line.
and after advancing and rctrcatino scv.
eral times, thrust the instruments into
the hands Of others who become their
successors and then take seats, and now
represent the Gods Of the North. South,
East and West, the high priest represent
ing the Great Spirit, or Wan kan tan.
ka. When new member is initiated.
he is taken into the council tent for in.
structiOns, which are secret. He is then
''iipp'N bi ulo flOiNlNHf excepting an
apron and moCcaslns on his feet lie r.
then painted entirely black except n small
red spot between his shoulders. The
candidate is exhortcd TO be good, and is
told that his medicine will be correspond
ingly powerful, and he must also give =
feast once year II he does not. he
will meet with misfortunes, sickness,
or death. The candidate now receives
the holy claw or stone The medicine
man, approaching him from the cast, de-
scrbes tho course of the sun with the
medicine bag, and bowing to the four
points Of the compass, mutters an incan-
tation, and thrusting the bag toward him
says: "There goes the spirit" The
candidate then falls PROSTATE, and
blankets, skin, ornaments, otc.. are
thrown as offerings over the candidate.
AZ command Of the high priest the novice
RECEIVERS and is presented with the mcdi-
cine bag, becoming a recognized member
Of the order. After these ceremonies the
feast begins, and the food which has been
cooking before the tents Of the assistants
is distributed among the people. The
dance lasts from daybrcal< 10 daybreak Of
the day following, and as these dances
are frequently given In winter with the
thermometer often far below zero. it may