The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-15
THE MoJAVE MEDICINE MAN.
SOME ADVANTAGES THAT He HAS
OVER HIS WHITE BRETHBEN.
His Predictions Fnii-ReliEious
Ceremonies at the Death of "A Chief

Indian tribes have an immense advan-
tage over their brethren. the white doc
tors, for there can rarely be any error
about their decision as TO the recovery or
death of their patients. When a Mojave
Indian feels III the medicine man is called
in. He says nothing. but administers
medicines. and keeps quiet for a few days
II his patient improves and shows like
lihood Of recovering the willy practitioner
sententiously announces that the sick
man will get well. on the other hand, If
the patient does not give reassuring signs
Of convalesceuce his fate is at once sealed
The doctor makes the statement that he
finds himself powerless TO overcome the
bad spirit that has attacked his patient
and that he VIII die-and he does die for
all attempts TO cure him are at once aban-
doned; this might alone effect cure. but
the poor creature is literally starved to
death. as he is deprived Of all water and
food. and as soon as he loses conscious
ness he is cTemated. IL can then readily
be seen that the medical men OF the una
and Mojeve tribes are nearly lnfalnble'
and, as they have no annoying poSl-iuof-
tens or inQuests, their lot as rule Is a
happy one. But when they do make an
error, or at least one that is found out
they are Immediately declared 10 be i'm
pastors, and killed without loss or tine
or ceremony by the nearest relative or
Some little time ago a Yuma Indian
was convicted in the federal courts of Los
Angeles Of the murder OF = medicine
man. The prisoner made no attempt to
deny his crime but pleaded the immem-
orial custom Of the tribe as his excuse.
The medicine man had been called in TO
attend his child, and had said that the
youngster would recover, but on the con-
trary. il died. The father had killed the
doctor, who had, in fact expected such
fate 1t was the law of the tribe. The
affair was brought 10 the attention OF the
President who cOmmuted the penalty to
a term OF imprisonment when all the facts
were laid before him.
Another example of this custom occurr-
ed at the Needles. town on the Colo
RADIO river, where the Atlantic and Pa
cific railway crosses into Arizona. 1t was
some years ago and the chief actor in
the affair is now known as Shorty he
is a sort Of local clown, whose legs are
frightfully deformed. As that overland
train comes into the depot the Indians
always crowd about the cars and offer
curios for sale. Shorty" is always in the
lead, and for dime VIII DO a grotesQue
dance. and make a monkey of himself
generally. a performance that is always
ended by his having pail Of water thrown
into his face.
The poor wretchs history as a buffoon
dates from the time when he overturned
the predictions Of a medicine man of the
tribe. who had long held his position
without making a bad guess, and caused
his prompt execution. In fact, shorty"
is the only Moiave who is alive after be-
doctor, and he had a remarkably narrow
escape. To all intents and purposes he
did die and his wake was attended by
all the customary ceremonies His fun
eral pyre was built. his horses We're clubb-
ed TO death and the torch was applied
The flames mounted quickly about the
mass Of dry wood and all went we'll
when suddenly frightful cries came from
out the blaze, a tremendous commotion
in the pile followed and soon shorty"
bounded from his position of honor in
L n ha mid Lee Of 30
astounded mourners. At first the Indians
thought II was the supposed dead mans
spirit but were soon convinced that the
mealcine man had made a mistake and
acted accordingly. Shorty" had evident
~ been in a cataleptic condition and the
heat had brought him to consciousness.
he had been wrapped in blankets when
placed on the pyre, so that his legs and
arms had suffered most from the flames
ana were twisted into the curious shape
Some time ago there was considerable
excitement among the tribe az Needles Tor
y looked as II they would once more have
the privilege of killing their medicine man
VINO had announced that Hona5a would
die The sick mans medicine food and
drink We're stopped, but the patient was
ODsunate ABOUT the affair, and hung upon
IRE desperately, even showing occasional
signs OF recovery. The Sick mans family
ana friends became much excited and
continual round OF incantations ana chant
ing OF prayers TO various deities was kept
up Dy MS pallet in the WickiuD the idea
Delns mat these would ease liis sufferings
cry.
According to the story told by a resident
o. the Needles, the proceedings were as
AOloWs. me medicine man naturaIl,- he
came nervous, and eVinced Il desire IL re-
sign MS once and TO leave the .-otInf1-,y
Dul penolng Honaka's fate the doctor was
Aept under guard. But the chants, the in
carnations and the deprivation OF food ana
water soon brought about the on1 fb4t
Honaka's strength had managed TO post
"a HfnrN
the medicine mans appetite and prestige
came back together
Old Honaka was a remarkable good IN
uldh' ana was an important member of the
councils Of the tribe. No one knew his
age but he could tell of many years ago
before the white man had becn seen in
California He had been a fascinafin
young buck, for he had innurner;tlle
bquaWS, and was related by mis- chiblral,'e
Anarflages with nearly every family on
the river. 50 II was determined to give him
funeral IN keeping with his posieSsfons
Whlcn were large, and his RANK which
Mas hlgh. Inc pyre was built about 800
yards from the old mans wickiuD and was
OF simple make. A hole was first duo about
three feet wide, eight feet long and f.nir
leet deep; the pit was filled with light, dry,
SISdseu WOOD, ana over II was bull a crisis
cross pile of cottonwood logs so laid that
the cages We're slightly higher than the
siass. IN TINS depression the body was ia i'd
MeanWhlIe the squaws had prepared
the corpse for cremation. and the reha H.
Inflated medicine man exercised the evil
e'AAtto III the nut. Inc DOUV rolled
IN blanket, the ends of which were tied
together, a strong pole was inserted
through the loops so formed and two
big bucks shouldered it and marched away
to the pyre, followed by a procession
OF wailing relatives and the entire tribe
All that was mortal of poor Honaka was
placed IN the concave portion of the
pile OF logs, then a quantity of twigs
ana small wood were placed about If
and more of the cottonwood logs were
piled on top for several feet. BY the side
OF the body were laid all the personal
effects of the dead man, blankets, brides.
guns, ornaments and trinkets
Then the squaWs and the older bucks
squatted in circle about the pyre and
the religious ceremony, called tie "sDrit
drive" began. Six young braves. dressed
IN new breech clouts and wearing gro
tesque headdresses, appeared. They car
ria long Wands of willow, TO which feath-
ers We're attached by red strings Two
older men, carrying bows and arrows.
headed the procession as masters of GER
emony. One old squaw with a voice like
cahlope brought up the rear and al
snort intervals would emit a screecb IKE
the boot of an owl. An old white-haired
man stood up and delivered a long adj
dress, which was said TO be a euloev of
the dead leader He spoke first to the
mournerS then to the assembly genera IN,