The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-03
HOW INDIANS OUTLAW DEBTS.
Tho Grizzly Bear Crushes the Copper
at Cape Nudge.

at Cape Nudge.
Nanaimo Free Press.
Rev. A. E. Green, who recently returned from
a visit to the Cape Nudge Indians, gives the
following description OF the revival OF the old
"copper" custom for the payment of antiQuated
debts, for the Indians have not yet adopted the
white mans principle of a six-year ouriawry
like their pa!e-faced brethren. On Sunday
morning about 900 Indians assembled in sep
arate sections, each section being about sixty
feet apart For about two hours a most ex-
citable and spirited "wawa" took place among
the Indians In regard to a number of potlach
debts of from forty TO fifty year, standing,
which had not been yet finally adjusted.
Among the early days the article of most
power and value to the Indians is what Is called
by them ga copper" 1t is held to be equal
III value to $500 i'll money or merchandise, and
was, and apparently still is, used in the payment
OF old debts. This "copper"" is in fact fiat
piece of soft copper, about "a OF an inch thick,
"a feet IN length, IL inches il width at the bot
tom and tapering to IS inches at the upper end.
On the surface of this sheet OF copper the In
dams execute some most elaborate carving and
straight and prominent line is drawn across
the center. The result Of the paaver was that
honor and justice prevailed. a six-year outlaw
ing OF debts was spuEned with contempt, and
"a copper was brought out aid placed in the
open space between the sections. Then great
silence fell upon the multitude and all eyes
were turned toward the door OF an adjacent
house. After few minutes OF this stoical silence
the door opened and out rushed large grizzly
bear, and made straight for the "copper"" which
he picked up in his fore paws, and then, bear
like, gave ii a long, strong hug. unit. the fiat
sheet OF copper was nearly bent double As the
ends Of the copper came together the chiefs Of
the tribes rose to their feet and st once took
the blended copper" from the bear, while sew
eral OF the strong men took hold OF bruin and
marched him back from whence he came. Then
the silence was broken and the hum OF many
voices could be heard. while the chic! pro-
ceeded TO cut the copper into strips OF about en-
inch in width by four inches in length. These
were handed around. and thus the old debts
were paid, the financial and social crisis was
avefted. and peace and contentmens sgain pre-
dominated. The memory OF the dead had been
respected and the ceremony closed.
The "make-up" OF the grizzly bear would
have made Bsrnum green with envy, for many
OF those present, who did not know what the
ceremony meant. took il to be real wild
grizzly which had stalked into their midst un-
invited and unsolicited. That some were sca,ed
Is TO put Il mild.
Mr.. Green says there is now much better order
in the camp, the native constables carrying out
Mr. Vowe. is instructions not 10 allow white
men to stay in the camp at night This pre-.
vents much OF the liquor selling
The Indians have arranged for Mr. Galloway
the Methodist missionary. TO take up his resi-.
denee near Ithe village, giving & beautiful site
for church and school, near the village Tha
lumber for the mission viii be taken up from
Grants saw mill THIS week. The young peopie
of the Tribe are quite anxious Tor the estab.
lishment OF the school.
ASA, the chief, and his friends have deposited
- copper with Mr. Ga loway Us a security or
bail that they viii appear before The courts
when called upon, IN regard 10 the recent liquor
troubles