The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-22
ALASK AN INDIANS.
Queer and Picturesque Customs of
the Hoonah Indians.
From the Overland Mon hlv.

queer and Ptctur eSQue Customs of
the Hoonah Indians.
From the Overland Mon thly.
Looking out over Sitka bay we saw five
big canoes coming toward the Rancherie,
or that part of the town on the waters
edge, where the Indians live. We hurried
down there, and were very much interested
in the ceremonies attending the arrival of
large party OF HooDah Indians
In times gone by Hoonah had married
a Sitka squaw, so the tribes are friendly,
and continue to go In large bodies visiting
at least once year. though the man and
| woman that made the relationship have
been dead for some time.
Indians are fond of bright colors, and the
red, yellow, blue, and green, of their COS
TUNES bad a very brilliant kaleidoscope
effect as the meu, women and tile chill
| dren, about eighty in all, sat huddled TO-
gether in the canoes. Above them ioated
the stars and stripes and British flag, used
with an eye to decoration, and with no idea
of sailing under false colors.
Hoonah, the place they came from. is 100
miles from Sitka; it takes over a week TO
come from there In canoe. The visitors
may have stopped to rest at different
islands on their way, but even SO, it must
have been a hard trip for them. Indians
become used to the cramped, uncomfortable
position necessary in a canoe, yet | think it
Injuries them, especially when they are
young, and that it may be the reason why
so many of them grow up bow-legged,
pigeon.toed, and otherwise deformed.
We thought these people would be in a
great hurry to disembark, but there we're
many ceremonies to be gone through with
first.
An old Indian stood up in one Of the
canoes, and extolled the virtues of the
maiden who had married into their tribe
He told traditional stories Of her goodness
and perfection. II they were true, it was
sad that she could not have lived forever as
fright and shining example. He kept on
for fully twenty minutes, then sank down
in the canoe, overcome with grief, weeping
as it the coffin lid had just closed over the
dear departed.
Then up rose another aged warrior, and
in the most pathetic tones called out to the
people on shore to take them in: 1--WE are
cold, we are weary, we have Travelled far. -"
The sad, entreating voice had seemingly
no effect though the words were repeated
again and again. He next tried bribery.
he held up new blankets and other gifts
they had brought to enteruai1 them. Even
then there was no response Then in loud,
wailing voice he maae personal appeal to
those whose family names he knew:
20, come out. Whale listen TO me,
Crow Hear my words, o bear"
This was evidently the cue for the next
speaker. Midst the loud beating of drums,
the door of one Of the houses on shore
opened, and on the threshold an old Indian
called Father Of Rats" appeared, dressed
Tor the occasion. He had on three or four
blankets that might once have been red.
but had grown brown from usage. Over
the blanket he wore large robe made of
eagles breasts, handsome enough to make a
tourist wild with envy; long yellow Leg
gings, and a remarkably tall cone-shaped
hat completed his costume.
With stealthy, cat-like tread he went
down to the beach and out on big rock
that was in the water. There he squatted,
Indian fashion. swaying his body from side
to side, occasionally Tapping his ans as il
about TO take flight in his eagle plu age.
While he was going through these con-
tortions another old Siwash came, and
standing beside him welcomed the strangers
in the canoes and invited them to land.
Then at last the ceremony was over. and he
poor people. after being an hour aud half
in the drilling rain. we're allowed to find
shelter and comfort