The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-09-09
LODGE OF THE SIX NATIONS.

LODGE OF THE SIX NATIONS
Jacket, for instance, is a lineal descendant
of the famous chief whose fervid oratory
used to illuminate our school readers, while
Chief Laporte comes of family that has
been famous for centuries among his peo-
Pile, and the doubly suggestive appellation
of Solomon O'Bail belongs to the grandson
of old Chief Cornplanter, who was friend
of George Washington. Chief Jack of the
Tuscaroras, the secretary of the Iroquois, is
here, and also one of the champion runners
of the world, Deerfoot, who raced in Eng
land years ago, and whose record for an
hour has never been beaten.
The present civilization of the Six Nations
is very much the same as that of the rest of
the people in New York state. They have
houses and schools like those of their white
brethren, and many of them attend Chris
tian churches of their own building. Some
of them still retain their primitive religion,
however, and number of the old cere-
monies, games and dances still survive, and
the visitor may witness in the Worlds fair
village the appeal to the Great Spirit, the
joyous festal ceremonial or the grim war
dance performed with the same fidelity to
history that characterizes the material
features of the place.
The Indians excel in the manufacture of
pottery, baskets and beaded embroideries
and are justifiably proud of their skill
They make mats out of corn husks that
seem too good for ordinary uses, and their
fans and embroideries display considerable
artistic taste. They are allowed to sell their
wares, and their method of business seems
peculiar to people who have had experience
with other dealers in souvenirs and curios.
They are stolid and do not haggle. They
state their price and are apparently indiffer-
ent whether you take an article or leave it.
To the ethnologist the village presents
some rare food for reflection, and it is to be
found not only in the relics, customs and
ancient history, but also in the fact that the
Iroquois are the only Indians who have
come in close contact with civilization who
| are numerically stronger today than they
| were in the days when they possessed the
| land.
The exhibitions of the United States life
| saving service are especially interesting to
| inland people. Those who live on seacoasts
| have opportunities enough to familiarize
| themselves with the maneuvers, though
of course there are thousands of them, too,
| who know nothing Of the service but what
| they read. The exhibitions are given on
| the shore of the lake just off the north end
of the Manufactures building and are
valuable illustrations of the work and
worth of the service, though they lack the
impressive accomplishments of hurricane
| winds and mountainous waves.
A mast is rugged up about 300 yards from
shore to do duty as wreck, and man
perched in the crosstrees is the person to be
saved. The lifeboat, mounted on wheels,
| is hurriedly drawn down the beach, hastily
launched and quickly rowed out to the
/ not hanly In ctrat n
use of the life line small brass mortar Is
| used. A bomb from this carries out a line
that drops across the yardarm Of the mast
The shipwrecked man pulls on this, and
with it draws out big rope, which he
fastens to the mast. Those on shore then
tighten it up and send out the 'breeches
buoy" which is something like pair OF
butternut canvas trousers mounted on a
hoop, and in this the man is hauled ashore.