The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-08-12

interior consisted of a single room. in the center
Of which was cook stove. Around the floor
next the wall were mats and blankets on which
the Indians sleep at night and lay in the day
time. In the corners were their trunks and
clothes. The Indian invariably has trunk. if
he doesn't possess another article in the world |
a fter staying here some time we started on to
where they had been dancing short time be- |
fore Here my guide used a great deal more |
ceremony than was necessary. we found out at |
terward- He got out some tobacco we had |
brought along and entered the tents where the |
Indians were lying about. He presented the to- |
baceo to one who was lying beside large drum |
trimmed with beads and silver ornaments, The |
Indian put the tobacco on a small platform in |
front of the drum. where tobacco was kept con-
stantly for them to fill their pipes from. My
guide stated our business and they examined us
closely. We soon found there would be no diff
fculty in buying specimens of their bead work,
as we were soon flooded with offers to sell vari-
GUS pieces, but did not buy much, as thought
1 could do better elsewhere.
They told us there was to be dance that night
at house about a mile distant, and after re-
naming here short time we started. but had
not gone far before it rained, SO we stopped in
ct anothc. house to wait for the rain to cease
This house was somewhat different frcm any
had been in. 1t had only one room, and all
around against the wall was sort of platform,
about foot high and five feet wide, covered
with bark and rush mats. On this platform the
Indians were sitting. There was no stove. but
a fire was built on the ground in the center OF
the room, and a hole in the ceiling allowed the
smoke to pass through. The Indians moved
aside and gave us room to sit down. After L
had been sitting awhile turned around and
whom should curled up behind me but
little old Indian named Kyanomihe. whom L
had met in Keshena, He was the funniest look
ing creature 1 ever saw, with great broad face
which was constantly smiling. think he must
| have been considered a sort Of innocent by the
| Others as he was too good natured for an Indian
| had measured him in Keshena and it struck
| him as being very funny The didn't understand
| a thing that was being done to him) and so
| every time saw him after that he had a broad
| grin on his face. While we stayed here the
women were busy getting supper. They made
| kind of bread and baked it in spider before
| the fire. and had soup of meat and vegetables
| to eat with it. They asked me to have some,
but 1 thought 1 would not partake We found
here that the white man with whom we expect
ed to stay all night lived six or seven miles
away, SO we had to find another place We
heard of place and aftor an hours wandering
| through the woods, found the house. The In
dian who keptit said we could stay The house
was like the others, except cleaner. and had
| several beds They prepared us supper which
was clean enough. considering the surround
ings, but consisted only Of bread, potatoes. pork
and tea After supper we started for the place
where the dance was to be held, a mile away.
| When we arrived the Indians had already C )m
meuced dancing. The house was much larger
thai apy had seen, and must have been thirty
| feet square, Nearly every thing had been taken
ont to make room for the dancers We were
given seats near the wall beside some OF the
Indians taking paIt, The weirdness oil the
scene can hardly be described. In the center OF
| the room was large drum, around it sat doz-
| en- indians. Around this circle was an outer
one of thirty five more. who took seats next the
wall in the intervals of the dance.
| The dance was about as fullows:s One man
| who seemed TO be the leader. gave one tap with
| his drumstick on the drum, then another did
! the same, till all were pounding the drum. AT
| The SAND time they Sang d song apparently
| without words. The hOise tor it was nothing
more increased in volume at times till it was
| almost dealening. and again sank almost to
nothing While this was going on those on the
outside stood up held up their tight hands. and
! Kept Time W luS Hu WIN thSAA ASSo' oSS'
sionally jumping and running about. and utter
| ing terrific warwhoops. At times also the mel
would cease singing and the music was carried
| on by a few squaws sitting about on the floor
| From time to time there were ceremonies gone
| through with which / could not understand
| such as the waving Of a pipe over the drum
mers, and other things of similar nature
! Every little while pipe vas carried around
from which everyone had 10 take few puffs
During the intervals of the lance speeches were
made by an immense big Indian. The dance
with slight variations was continued for ovel
two hours, until they had nearly tired them
selves out, when it ceased with a sudden crasf
| of the drum. The whole party started home by
| a narrow path through the woous, marching IL
true Indian file. will admit that did not fee
| particularly courag geous about this time, tht
only white man alone with fifty Indians in the
woods at night. But they proved to be as peace
able as could be. and we arrived safely at oul
stopping place.
The next morning we made a long detoul
through the woods, visiting about dozen more
houses. at some of which made few purchase
of costumes. etc. About noon we started fo
| Keshena, where l arrived in the evening. hav-
ing walked the last six miles. The journey W al
only interrupted by the sight of bear, which
hurried off through the woods on approach
| MAXWELL F. RIDDLE.