Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1895-12-20
MEDICINE MEN.
IMMENSE ADVANTAGES OVER
WHITE DOCTORS.
Their Lives Forfeited, However, II
Their Predictions Fail-Helig-
ious Ceremonies at the
Death OF a Chief.
Z EDICINE men of tho Color


he any error about their decision as
to the recovery or death OF their pa
tients. When Moiave Indian feels
i'll the medicine man is called in. He
SAYS nothing, but administers medi-
zines, and keeps quiet for a few days.
If his patient improves aud shows a
likelihood OF recovering the willy prac-
titioaer sententiously announces that
the sick man will get well. On the
other hand, if the patient does not
give reassuring signs of cOnvalesccnce
his fate is ut once sealed. The doctor
makes the statement that he find him
self powerless to overcome the bad
spirit that has attacked his patient,
and that he will die-and he does die,
for all attempts to cure him are Mt once
abandoned; 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 consciousness he is cremated. 1t
can then readily be seen that the
medical men of the Yuma and Moiave
tribes are nearly infallible, and, as
they have no annoying post mortems
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 to
be impostors, and killed without loss
of time or ceremony by the nearest re-
latives of the aggrieved patient.
\ short time ago Yuma Indian was
convicted in the Federal courts of Los
Angeles of the murder of a medicine
man. The prisoner made no attempt
to deny his crime, but pleaded the i'm
memorial custom of the tribe AS his
/ excuse. The medicine man had been
called III to attend his child, and had
said that the youngster would recover,
but, on the contrary, 1t died. The
father had killed the doctor, who had,
/ in fact, expected such fate. 1t was
the law of the tribe The Indian, how
ever, was convicted of murder, aud
was sentenced to be hanged. The af-
fair was brought to the attention of
the President, who committed the pen
atty to term of imprisonment when
ali the facts were laid before him.
Some time ago there was consiaera-
BILE excitement among the tribe at
Needles, for it looked as ii they would
once more have the privilege of kill,
ing their medicine man, who had an
nounced that Houaka would die. The
sick mans medicine, food and drink
were stopped, but the patient was OBJ
stinate about the affair, and hung upon
life desperately, even showing occa-
sional signs OF recovery. The sick
mans family and friends became much
excited and continual round of IN
carnations and chanting of prayers to
various deities was kept up by his pal
let in the wIckiup, the idea being that
these would ease his sufferilgs if he
died and might bring about recov-
cry.
The medicine man naturally became
nervous, and eviuced desire to resign
his Office and to leave the country, but
pending Honaka's fate, the doctor was
kept under guard. But the chants,
the nominations and the deprivation
of food and water soon brought about
the end that Honaka's strength had
managed to postpone. He gave up the
fight and died, and the medicine man S
appetite and prestige came back to.
gether.
Old Honaka was remarkably good
Indian, and was an important mem Der
of the councils of the tribe No one
knew his age, but he could tell OF
many years ago, before the white man
had been seen in California. He had
been fascinating young buck. and
was related by his children's marriages
with nearly every family on the river.
So it was determined TO give him a
funeral in keeping with his posses.
sions, which were large, and his rank,
which was high. The pyre was built
about 800 yards from the old mans
wickiup, and was of simple make. A
hole was first dug about three feet
wide, eight feet long and four feet
deep the pit was filled with light,
dry, CREASED wood, aud over it was
built criss-cross pile of cottonwood
logs, SO laid that the edges were slight.
ly higher than the sides. In this de-
preston the body was laid,
Meanwhile, the squaws had pre-
pared the corpse for cremation, and
the rehabilitated medicine man exor-
clsed the evil spirits in the hut. The
body was rolled in blanket, the end,
OF which were tied together, a strong
pole was inserted through the loops SC
: formed, and two big bucks shouldered
it and marched away to the pyre. fol
lowed by procession Of wailing rela
tives and the entire tribe. All that
was mortal of poor Honaka was placed
in the concSve portion of the pile OF
logs, then quantity of twigs and
] small wood were placed about it, an6
more of the cottonwood logs were
] piled on top for several feet. By the
! side of the body were laid all the per
sonal 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 the Esprit drive" began. Six
, young braves, wearing grotesque
J head dresses, appeared. They carried
6 long wands of willow, to which feath
3 ers were attached by red strings. Two
older men, carrying bows and arrows
= headed the procession as masters o
= ceremony. One old squaw with q
voice like a caIliope brought up the
rear, and at short intervals would
emit screech like the boot of an owl
An old white haired man stood up ant
t delivered long address, which wa:
said to be a eulogy of the dead leader