The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1891-12-31
ALASKAN INDIANS.


Queer aiid Picturesque Costume Of the
Hoouah IndtaDs.
Looking ont over Sitlxa bay we saw
i've 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 cere monies
attending the arrival Of 4 large party
Of Hoonah Indians
in times gone BY Hoonah HAD mar
ried Sitlxa squaw, 30 the tribes are
friendly, and continue to 70 In larQe
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
costumes had very brilliant kaleido-
scope effect as the men, women and
little children, about eighty in all, sat
huddled together in the canoes Above
them hoated he stars and stripes ana
. British f4 used with an eye to
decoration. and with no idea Of sailing
under false colors.
Hoonah, the place they came from,
is one hundred and twenty miles from
Sitka; it takes over 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 hard trip for them.
Indians become used to the cramped,
uncomfortable position necessary in q
canoe, yet think it Injuries them,
especially when they are young, and
that 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 q great hurry to disembark, but
there were 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. If they
were true, it was sad that she could
not have lived forever as bright and
shining example He kept on for fully
twenty minutes, then sank down in the
canoe, overcome with grief, weeping as
II 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: I'VE are cold-we are weary--we
have travelled far. - s~-'','T
The sad, entreating voice had SEEM
ingly 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
entertain them. Even then8 there was
no response. Then in loud, wailing
voice he made personal appeal to
those whose family name she knew:
%, come out Whale! Listen to me,
Crowl Hear my words, 0 Bearl"
This was evidently the cue for the
next speaker. Midst the loud beating
of drums, the door of one the houses
on shore opened, and on It's threshold
an old Indian called Gather Of Rats"
appeared dressed for the OCCASION. He
had on three or four blankets that
might once have been red, but had
grown brown with usage. Over the
blankets he wore large robe made Of
eagles breasts, handsome enough to
make a tourist wild with envy; long,
yellow leggings and 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 arms as if about to take
fight in his eagle plumage.
While he was going through these
contortions another old Siwash came,
and standing beside him welcomed the
strangers in the canoes and invited
them to land. Then at last the cere-
mony was over. and the poor people,
after being an hour and half in the
drizzling rain, were allowed to find
shelter and comfort Month";
ly.