The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-03-03
JUGGLEas OF THE SOUTHWEST


Apropos of magic, Hindoo or other
wise, Charles Lummis, in his entertain
Ing book, ''Some Strange Corners OF
Our Country" gives several interesting
accounts of what he has seen in this
particular among the Indian tribes of
the southwest.
His first statements are to the effect
that the North American Indian re-
CARDS his art as sacred, and that his at
titude towards it is strictly religious
one. Nowhere will he willingly admit
the stranger to his seances, nor will he
accept a money consideration for the
performance of phenomena, although
from his own tribe he will take largess
in another form. Mr.. Lummis is also
careful to state that the Indian juggler
has none of the accessories of the mod
ern conjuror-no cabinets, no drawers,
no trap doors, no sleeves no pockets,
90 anything in fact, including clothes,
with the single exception of breech-
clout. All the feats witnessed by the
writer were performed on the hard
earthen floor of a hut, in plain sight,
and almost within constant touch of
the audience. The presence of light is
a general thing, a few only of the
tricks requiring darkness
''The principal occasions of Pueblo
and Navajo magic" says Mr.. Lummis.
'are at the medicine makings, when
the wise men of the tribe heal sick
nesses, foretell events, perform certain
rites, give thanks to the Trues, etc
The sittings are held in a great lodge
Or hut, generally round, sacred to the
medicine man, or Shaman, as he is
called, and never profaned by any
other use. In these sittings the dance
and the chant are almost continuous,
one or the other or both going on per-
petually. A bowl of water, cigarettes,
eagles feathers, weapons and few
other simple articles constitute the
stage outfit At the healing time of the
day the Shamsn dances up to a sick
person, puts the tip of the feather
against him, and, with the quill in the
mouth, sucks diligently for moment
The feather seems to swell to a great
size, as though some large object were
passing through it. Then it resumes
its natural size, the Shaman begins to
cough, and directly. with his hand,
draws from his mouth a large rag, or
big stone, or foot long branch of the
myriad bristling buckhorn cactus, while
the patient feels relieved at the remov-
ii of such unpleasant lodgers; no won
der he felt sick,''
Sometimes the Shaman does not use
The feather, but with his bare hand
olucks from the body the remarkabl
disease and waves it aloft in triumph.
Their witch killings are done through
the use of mannikins, precisely as the
waxen images of people were, and still
are, used among the would be sorcerers |
Of the ''pale-face" races, but these man |
atkins of the Navajos actually appear |
% run blood. Mr. Lummis also wit |
lessed the fire bath dance, during |
which the naked Shamans eat live Goals |
With the utmost seeming gusto in plain |
new Of the audience Whatever prepa-
ion was made for this feat was made
hours before, as the participants in the
iery ordeal had already been before
Re public that length of time.
Another wonderful phenomenon de-
cribed by the writer is that of magic
IN the hut The candles
III put out the a1ed audience sits
while IN the gloom in hushed expect
Incy- Then they hear the low gaowl
4 distant thunder. which keeps roll
ng nearer and nearer Suddenly
'liuding Hash Of forlsed lightning |
hoots across the room from side TO
ide, and another and another, while
he room trenbles to the roar OF the
bunder and the fash shows terrified
women and children eiinginr TO hus-
'znds and brothers Outside the sky
aay be ;winkiing with a million Of
tars. but in tie dark room fesrful
TORN seems 70 be raging. This LASTS =
ew minutes and then the room is re-
lghted for performances of other eere-
nonies
Mr.. Lummis also watched the swai-
owing of eizhteen-irch swords 10 the
cry hiiG The swords were double
dyed. sharp pointed. and about two
ucass wide. But the erowninT Ser-
er was the growing Of the sacred corn
"a feat The North American counter
art Of the HsnGoo mango seed pae-
ouseno1- At sunrise the kernel is
lauted by the Snsmzn. who seats
imself before IL and begins q
reird chanting measure OF song
he seed sprouts grows rip<as
, the rhythm OF this chant stopping
hen the chant eezses aud BEGINNING j