The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-02-18

No race OF people on earth Is more ZEAL
Gus in paying respects TO its dead than
the Indians, Especially Is this so when
the deceased was warrior or chief,
Then Il Is that this characteristic OF the
Indian develops in full force The
mighty deeds Of the dead warrior are
celebrated in story and song. and are
handed down from generation 10 genera
ton as examples for the young to EMU
late and the middle aged to rival.
Tohee. the blind chief OF the Iowas.
died a few months ago. and his burial
was celebrated with all the savage rights
OF long ago when the tribe was numerous
and strong. He was the last OF the old
generation OF warriors. and had been for
years the principal chief OF the tribe. the
one to whom all momentous questions
were submitted. and from whose dictum
there was no appeal.
He had been Warrior in his time. one
OF the bravest OF the brave. in whose
wigwam hung many scalps of the pale
faces and OF Indians with whom the
Iowas had warred in days gone by. and
even in his blindness he was feared and
his commands implicitly obeyed.
II is related that some years ago a
young chief endeavored to wrest the
relns OF power from The old mans hands.
He had attracted quite n number OF the
young bucks TO his standard and seemed
to be having things all his own way.
He called council to depose Tohee.
and made an impassioned speech. calling
attention to the old chiefs age and IN
firmities. and declaring he wss no longer
At TO be the leader Of 4 great people
Then Tohee appeared at the door OF the
council chamber, arrayed in all the re-
gala OF his Office and over his shoulders
sort OF a cape. made OF long strands
OF hair Of various colors. There was q
silence like unto death. and the orator
paused in the middle Of one OF his most
vindictive periods.
Without a word Tohee drew his tomP-
hawk. and. guided by the sound OF the
loud breathing made by the malcontent
after his great oratorical exertion. threw
1t with such unerring aim that the re-
belllous chief was Drained upon the spot.
Still speaking not a word. the old wa--
rior stalked out and returned TO his own
tent That was the last Of the rebellion.
The burial ceremonies continued a week.
and the whole tribe gathered to do him
honor. In some manner. known to the
Indians alone, his body was embalmed.
and. arrayed In his chieftain's robes. the
old man was placed in his chair at the
head OF the council chamber. and one by
one the members Of the tribe passed be-
fore him and bowed the knee. all the
time keeping up solemn and impressive
chant.
Great fires were hndIed at night, and
many beeves were killed to regale the
members Of other tribes who gathered
to do honor 10 the old chief, whose
bravery and wisdom were known
throughout all the tribes. A solemn
dance was kept up around the fires, one
party taking the place of another. as
soon as they were exhausted with their
exertions.
On the seventh day the body was re-
moved from the council chamber and
taken to its last resting place under a
wide spreading oak. The grave was deep,
but half filed with evergreens and leaves.
In this the old chief was placed. in a
sitting posture, his headdress with its
waving plumes put upon his head, his
tomahawk in his hand and his famous
cloak over his shoulders. This cloak,
so the legend has II. was made Of hair
taken from the scalps Tohee had taken
in battle-none from the heads OF any
save warriora
When all was ready the body was COW
cred with evergreens and leaves, and
then with rich. black dirt. On the grave
twenty of the finest ponies OF the tribe
were slaughtered, so that he might be
assisted on his journey to the happy
hunting grounds. and great urns full OF
corn and maize were placed at the head
| Of the grave so that he might not be
a-hungered on his long journey.
When this was done the whole was COW
cred with huge bowlders, until a mound
several feet in height was formed.
Around this mound the Indians marched
for many hours. chanting and singing
the praises Of their dead chieftain.
A liberal translation Of their chant Is:
Tohee, Tohee, great was Tohee.
Great in the council chamber,
Great in the chase,
Great on the warpath,
Great, great. great was Tohee.
Receive him, o Great Spirit.
Give him place as a great warrior.
Make him a lodge near Thy throne.
For great, great, great was Tohce.
Wisdom was with Tohee.
Bravery was with Tohee.
Swiftness was with Tohee.
Great, great, great was Tohee.
The wisdom OF the snake.
The bravery OF the bear.
The swiftness OF the deer.
Great, great, great was Tohee.
The chief was upward OF 80 years old
when he died, and he had been chief for
more than half century With him
died tribal relations, for none have risen
to take his place or attempt to take IT,
The old spirit has died out, never TO be
revived.
Old Tohee's grave, however, is watched
with jealous care, and no white man Il
allowed to approach nearer 1t than one
hundred yards, a fence being built all
around 1t. The mound is all that tells
Of the last burial place Of this great
warrior.
KARLS CLOVER ROOT will purify