The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-03-17
BECOMING A CHIEF.
The Arduous Road to nonor and Dissinc-
ton Amonc the Onahas

tion Among the Onahss-
A man became q candidate for the
order of Ne'ka-ga-he Sha' bae by having
accomplished certain acts called wa
thin'sc-thae. a word indicating that n
gift of prescribed articles has been
made under certain circumstances, in
accordance with ancient custom When
man could count publicly one hun
dred wa-thin'ae he was entitled
10 enter the order through certain in
itiatory rites His further promotion
in the order was gained bv his being
able TO count more than the required
hundred 81 these acts: the greater ,he
mum Der, the higher the rank secured
The prescribed articles used as gifts
In the wa-thin'ae-thae were eagles.
eagle war-bonnets, guivers (including
bows and arrowsl. eatlinite pipes with
ornamental stems, wa-wan pipes. tobse-
co-pouches. otter-skins. buffalorobes,
ornamental shirts and leggings. In olden
times burden bearing dogs. tents. and
pottery were in the list: these have been
replaced more recently by horses. guns.
blankets. red and blue cloth. silver
medals and brass kettles. Each of these
articles, if presented TO q chief, counted
one: but If given to man without
rank, the gift won for the giver repu-
tation only. and could not be regarded
as wa-thin-ae-thae. The gifts TO chiefs
were in recognition Of the governing
pow % which the aspirant thas paid =
tribute II is worthy Of notice that all
81 l.
ton, as well as the manufactured ar
ticles were such as required of the man
prowess as hunter, care and industry
in accommodating, and ynlor as n war
rior. To obtain many of these things
he had 10 travel far, and he was not
only exposed 10 danger from enemies
while securing them. but in bringing
them home Moreover. as upon the men
devolved the arduous task Of procuring
NIL the meat needed for food, and the
pelts used TO make clothing. bedding
and tents, and az there wac no medium
for the exchange Of labor in q tribe
such as money affords, each household
had to provide from the very fcun-
dalton, so 10 speak. every article IL used
or consumed. II viii be seen that per
sistert work on the part OF the men
was necessary not only 70 provide food
and clothing for the daily use OF the
family. bat 10 accumulate the surplus
necessary 70 afford leizure for the con
struetion of the articles 20 be counted
as ws-thin-se-thse. The men made
the bows and arrows, the war.honnets.
and the pipes; the Communication WA
the wornan's task: her deft fingers pre-
pare the porenpine quilts. but her hus-
band or brother had frat 20 catch the
wary little animal For the slow iask
Of en- broidsring with the dyed qpiiis,
she needed leisure and a horn. we'll
stocked with food aud securely defend
ed from lurking war-partles A cow
srdly. lazy fellow. or am ifnpnisire. I'm
provident Indian. could in no way &C
ouire the property represented in the
gifts 4 thrifty man could seldom
count bis one hundred until well on 10
middle life. even though he wasted no
opportunity. The sfiHnuIus 20 reach
bopors kept the tribs active aud indus
tr.on.: and the men who obtained high
rank in chieftsiacy resehsd that grade
only b7 g slow process representing
work aud ability Miss Fletcher. In
CentC-y.
-"Hagxie.S called Huliigsn 20 his
accom- pli.ne6 daughter. what doyo
want is the planny bruk or ara
yez playtn' classical nEsieT"-HssA4Ss-
.oa Star.