Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-03-07
INDIAN CUSTOMS.
The Marriage Rites of the Musko-
KEGS and ChoctaWs.


with the traditions, customs and man
ners Of life among our northern Indians,
writes Mr.. III. PaXson in the Kansas
City Times. So long as these books are
read, so long will live the beautiful,
fanciful imagery of these tribes. But
the Indians whose homes were further
south, who were subdued later, have
been neglected. Little has been writ
ten OF the tribes who for so long
wandered through our southern states,
peaceful when unmoested, and asking
only 10 be allowed the free range OF
their hunting ground.
Most of these tribes Of the south are
now gathered into the territorial land
given them by the government. In the
semi-civiized state of society in this
section, there is little to recall the rO-
nance and sentiment usually connected
with thoughts of the red man. A civil
lied Indian possesses but little attrac-
tion 10 the casual observer. Yet when
the inner life of the people is reached,
when the outer form Of stolidity is
probcd, and the real heart Of the people
revealed, there is still much to attract
the romancer.
The Indians are very fond of recall
ing many Of the exploits of their ances-
tors, and when they gather around the
camp-iires at night, pipes are lighted
and many tales are told OF the strength
and prowess of their chiefs in former
days, before the pale face made women
of their braves. There the young In
dams are carefully instructed in tho
laws by which the tribe was formerly
governed.
Among the most interesting of these
former customs, now almost extinct,
was the marriage ceremony. This differ
ed widely in the different tribes.
Among the Muskoliee or Muscogee tribe
the ceremony was quite amusing. The
loving youth DESTROYS OF taking into his
wigwam some captivating, black-eyed
maiden first went to the father of the
girl and bargained for her. 1.-The could
give a sufficient number OF ponies the
contract was concluded. But the WOO
ing OF the girl was yet TO come. As hui
man nature is much the same, be the
skin white or red, it is supposed that
the girl was not totally ignorant of her
lovers preference. But, true to her
feminine nature, she would not betray
her knowledge. In n few days the lover
comes, riding his ileetest pony and lead
ing another. These he ties in a clump
of trees some distance from the house
of his bride. Then begins course of
action showing the natural love of the
Indian for stealthy action. The family
is expecting him, and have prepared
he,
hut as though his life depended upon
cOncealment. No foe ever invaded an
enemy's camp with more caution.
Springing from one tree TO another,
hiding behind bushes, crawling across
open spaces, he approaches nearer and
nearer. When further concealment is
impossible he arises erect and walks to
the hut or tent. He is invited TO enter
and eat supper. He no sooner accepts
the invitation than the girl, who has
watched him in supposed ignorance of
his mission, takes a gourd and goes TO
the spring for water. She is soon fol-
lowed by the lover, who picks her up
in his arms and carries her to where
the ponies are tied. OF they go TO his
home and people, and the brave has
married a wife.
The Chatah or Cboctaw tribe has
more public ceremony. After the pre-
liminaries have been arranged with the
parents, the friends of the families are
called together in some pleasant grove
near by, and n certain distance is mark
ed off on smooth, level ground.
The girl rs given start OF q few
yards, and at the signal begins TO run
to the end OF the course, the lover in
close pursuit. If he overtakcs her, he
must carry her back 70 tho starting
point, Notwithstanding her struggles,
and she is then his lawful property, be-
ing captured in the chase.
1t may be presumed that when the
young brave has found favor in her
sight, the girl would not run very fast;
but If he chance1 to DO old and ugly the
girl sometimes showed great aeetness
of foot.
The religious ceremonies OF the tribes
are many and interesting. All worship
a supreme being, and have much the
same ideas ofheaven as the happy hunt
ing ground, and all OF hell as a place
of torment. The great religious service
of the year is known as the "buskin
season." on green corn dance. Not an
Indian eats n grain of corn until after
the celebration. The men prepare for
this by system of publication, eating
of bitter herbs and taking OF medicines.
This sometimes makes them very sick,
but is always rigidly adhered TO. On a
certain appointed day all the tribo
gather together in one place and a sac
riiice of Thanksgiving is offered to the
Great Father in the burning Of fish,
the heart of a deer and an ear OF corn.
Then the dance begins. There are
separate dances for the men and the
women, and another dance is partici-
pated in by all. In this last dance the
inner circle is for the women, the next
for the men and the outer one for
strangers. These lines are strictly
watched, and any unwary stranger who
in his curiosity oversteps his line is inn
mediately besieged until he pays one
dollar, or an equivalent. The dance is
kept u, during the entire day, and at
night, tired and happy, all return to
their homes.
Use Of Money Now and Fifty Years
Ago.