The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-07-05
The Yakima Aboriginal When In His
Cups.
A SCENE FROM INDIAN LIFE.
How Dipsomania IL Treated By the
siwashes-A True sketch from the
Yakima Hop Fieids-The Gamb.
ling Mania.


there himself. But he was only giving
us one side Of the matter. Wine is q
tonic. 1t cheers the hearts Of gods and
men. tits the fux OF wit and taciturnity,
Of reserve and good fellowship. OF itself
it 10 only good, and its abuse alone is
bad.
The child Of nature, as we'll as the
judge Of liquor, likes his straight"
There are no half measures with the
savage. He seems to prefer pure alcohol.
Failing that, the highest proof whiskey
he can obtain is welcome. But judicious-
ly tyrannical law has forbidden ardent
spirits to the Indian. While he is when
sober) more reserved, self-possessed, dig
nified and calm than his white brother,
when inebriated he is an unholy terror
q veritable wild beast, knowing no law sa We
that OF bis own moods. He does not be.
come gracefully mellow, or gloriously
full, but actively, recklessly, detestably,
crafty drunk. Aggressive disorderliness
is the mildest way Of expressing his con-
dition. Poor fellow! how he does love
the fire-water of the paleface, and II he
can't get it, he will take the next best
thing, according TO his lights. Hop Bit
tiers, Jamaica ginger, essence Of lemon,
andsoiorth, as the case may be. He has
no other idea than that there are substi-
tutes for the Liquor Gehemie for which
his wild soul longs. What stomach he
must have Such an one as many civil
lizsd epcure would give half his kingdom
to possess. He likes to get his bottle Of
distilled devilment off into quiet corner,
and enjoy it alone. 1t may be that were
be free to take it in an open and rational
way, be might learn the social side Of
drinking, but the experiment would be
too dangerous. The end would not justify
the risk.
We were amused and instructed once.
We should no doubt have been filled
with sorrow and shame, but we were not
to see the altogether admirable way in
which the Indians treat one Of their mum.
Der when suffering from an attack Of
whisky dementia.
1t was hop picking time in the fair
Yakima valley, The dusky sons Of
Gitche Mantle had brought their nimble-
fingered squaws to earn the big silver
dollars of the white man. The first tick
cts had been cashed, and the lazy lords Of
| ssgebrush and mountain had ridden into
town 10 squsnder the product Of their
kloochmen's toll. by the way, why does
not some philanthropist devote him OF
herself to preaching woman's rights to
the Indians? The field is ripe,) They
had got some liquor, and one OF them was
DEMONSTRATING drunk. Now, the white
man would have hauled him off to prison,
locked him up out OF sight till next day,
and would then have fined him 30 many
dollars and costs. Not SO the ignorant
redskin. The Spartan parent used to
make his helot tipsy, and exhibit him to
the young men that they might take
warning and learn to despise the drunk.
ard. The Indians did better. They did
not make their brother drunk, but, being
drunk, they made an example Of him
which might be seen and reflected on by
every one in the camp, and they 80 dealt
with him that that when he came to him
self he would know what a fool he had
made Of himself.
Only Remington could paint the
scene. The tepees were pitched in a
field lying hard against the hopya ard. 1t
was the cool OF the evening; the Indians
had had their muck-a-muck, and were
engaged, the squaws and old men in rest
ing after their days work, and the bucks
in gambling away the money their wo-
men had earned. On one side stretched
the green vines, heavy with golden fruit.
On the other wide reaches Of alfalfa, the
greenest thing on earth, if we except the
verdant but perlshsble populist.
Beyond all, the hills. resting in thou.
sand lovely, melting. tints Of blue, pur.
pie and violet. The whole scene swim
ming in that strange fairylike green-blue,
amethystine haze, the poets light that
never was on sea or land"
In a semi-circle, with dying fires scat.
tered about in front OF them, were the
dirty but picturesque tepees. Squatted,
or moving slowly about, the squaws,
young and not uncomely, or old, bent and
haggard; their faces smeared with YER
million and grease mosquito proof and
their dark locks covered with many-col-
ored silk kerchiefs, the gayest procurable.
The horses and dogs wandered lszily
about, consciously no unimportant mem
bers OF the tribe.
On the outskirts of the camp the
bronze-colored, bright blanketed bucks
squatted on their hams, and eagerly stak-
ed blankets, saddles, horses, and help
meets on the chances OF their favorte
game.
In the center a stout, high stake had
been driven into the ground. Attached
to this, his hands tied behind his back
the lariet giving him about twenty-five or
thirty feet Of play, was a fine looking
young Indian, careering round to the full
length OF the rope. He was full Of tan
glefoot and evil passions, II not in full
dress. Waving his arms and yelling on,
mingled chants aud imprecations, inter.
rupted by bursts Of fiendish. mirthless
laughter, his face distorted, and his eyes
blazing, he circled round the post.
Every now and again he came q fearfu
cropper, but quickly sprans to his feet
and resumed bis magnlheently vigorous
drink dance. Save for wise looking Ole