West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1895-02-28
INDIAN SUPERSTITiON.
Their Religion, Manners and
Customs.
Correspondence OF the Argus.


will tell YOU something about the
religion. minners and customs of
these Indians.
Their religion is greatly mixed
with Catholic faith, which was
brought among them by the Span
r'rds long before the United States
got possession of tits part of our
nation.
L heard an old indian pray for
one straight hour one evening to
invoke Coils aid in behalf of some
trouble they were having with an
other tribe. There is nothing Of
tAe real savage nature in these IN
dams, unless they get drunk, which
they will do as often as they can
get the fire water. Then they will
quarrel and fight among themselves.
The trouble over two chiefs. OF
which ! spoke in former letter. j.
about settled, without much blood.
shed and but one dead Indian. The
Indian Agent and Doctor were here
last Week to have final hearing of
the aifLir. All the Indians from
far and near were here. Old and
yonng; fat and lean: dirty and
clean; fair, pale and green: squaws
with pappooses strapped on board.
Some fairly dressed and clean, 9TH
ers with only a few rags on, and
they top dirty to spit on. The
house was full and the yard full.
The Doctor dispensed medicines
and the Agent listened to their
testimonies concerning their trou.
oles. Provisions were also given to
the most needy. All seemed to en-
I'y 1t as much as country fair. /
find the Indian is very shrewd in
giving testimony. 1t is impossible
TO tangle him. All went home with
smiles on their faces like two paral.'
lels of latitude.
/ had the melancholy pleasure of
being at one of their funeral cere-
monies the other night, and / can
near their wierd chants ringing in
my ears yet. The deceased was an
Old woman who had died and was
buried over two months since. They
dig grave and place the BODY in.
without coffin or any particular
ceremony, but they believe the
spirit stays around the old home
Tor over two months, and this is
tbe period of mourning for the de-
parted. At the expiration of this
time they hold meeting in the
house in which the one died. and
all the friends gather. They make
rag doll nearly life-size, place il
10 their midst to represent the de-
ceased, and weep, mourn and howl
over 1t asst it were a person. They
sing wierd chants, and the squaws
keep time by swaying their bodies.
ooooing their heads, jerking their
muscles and stamping their big, fat
feet. 1T reminded me Of tie muscle
d'nce in the Egyptian Theatre at
the Worlds Fair. They have a
leader or priest, WHO, LEARNED that
night' 10 one Of my pupils. He
leads in the singing aud prays some
times. They Keep this up all night.
making It hideoas for one who is
not accustomedrto 1t.
Early ia the morning they 20 70
the burying ground, build a fire on
the grave, chant and dance around
u in ring, then throw in the doll
aud any clothes the deceased NAV
have had. Then they return and
oIrn the house aud any other be-
iongngs Of the departed and then
sl0p mourning, as they think the
" s''A'r Nh4 viitH Ndhtl jus ftuNI HfWIE
for The hapPy htogti,g gcounA Then
the remainder Of the family build
another house some distance away.
which is ia torn burned when an.
other member dies.
! can countthe spots by the hun.
dred over the desert where houses
have been burut They do not care
% build good house, for it must
sooner or iater be consigned to Che
flames Or the family cverlastirply
tormented BY the evil one Tor their
neglect 10 honor the dead.
The Indians, End. est anvtbing
fom snake 70 an old carrion
horse who his died with old age
haoll, poil.cvil gIanders or a,v
other disease. nave seen them