The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-09-30

such an enormous degree could only De
| brought about gradually Soon after
| birth tne lip Of the little girl baby would
| De perforated and for years she would
wear tiny wooden plug in the pe-fora-
ton This hrst perforation was always
the occasion on the part OF the parents
Of a potlach, or gift-dis,ri5uting cere-
mony, and as the hole in the lip could
| only De enlarged with the use OF larger
plugs, or labrets, and as on each one Of
these occasions additional polachs were
necessary, so it came about that la5-et
Of unusual size indicated great wealth
and stood for high rank.
The remoteness OF Tlingit villages one
from another and the difficulty already
spoken of OF finding the Tlingits a; home
made ii necessary TO postpone further
work among them for another occasion.
The next group OF Indians visited was
the Tsimshian. The coast Tsimshians
have decreased in numbers and changed
in culture. and so that they might be
studied in greater purity the expedition
took the Hudson Bay Company's steamer
Caledonia and went up the Skeena Riv-
er 10 Hazleton. a distance Of $50 miles.
Inasmuch as the fall OF this river is 500
feet from Hazleton to its mouth. its nav
igation by steamboat is extremity difficult
and ride on the Caledonia is probably
the mosa remarkable biz Of steanDoating
in the world, while the granduer of the
river scenery Itself, cutting as it does.
by means Of a succession OF canons.
through the lofty coast ronge, is OF un-
paralleled beauty. A description of this
river trip and of the villages and their
inhabitants viii form one Of the subjects
OF two lectures 20 be given by DR.. Dorsey
;his fall in the Field Museum course.
There are no less than FIVE Tsimshian
villages within the immediate vicinity
of Hazleton, while Just to the east is The
first representative of the great Dame
stock of Indians. Each one OF these VIII
lagos yielded up it share of chronological
material and physical anrilropologicai
data.
DRESS OF THE CHIEF DOG EATER.
Probably the most important set OF OBJ
jects collected was a complete costume
OF the chief of the dog eating fraternity.
and of nearly equal interest was the COM
plete outfit of the TsimShian doctor. /;
should be noted that, contrary 70 COM
mon belief, there is sharp distinction
between an Indian doctor and an Indian
shannon or priest. although both classes
are often spoken Of as medicine men.
The collection purchased Of the doctor
consisted of mis- ra-les, charms, herbs,
exc, with which ne was supposed TO ad-
minister 20 the sick. The doctor readily
consented 70 change his peculiar collec-
ton of remedies because a good Boston
man" OF the photographs of special
interest We're those showing the people
engaged in their native occupations.
such as weaving, making baskets. etc.
One Of the most remarkable views TAX
en- on the whole trip was made by Mr..
Allen from the Overhanging cliffs of the
Canon OF Howelgait. where he photo
graphed the Indins fishing for salmon on
spider web scaffolds built out from the
wall of the canon far beneath. The next
collection made by the expedition was
the one watch they replaced, with the
kindly assistance of the officers of the
law. on Memaloose Island. near The Dial
les. Oregon.
Dr.. Dorsey had long known Of the ex-
istence Of this island and of the uses TO
which it had been put by the Indians in
former times. In foct, one OF the officers
of the department OF anthropology OF the
worlds fair had visited the island in
1892, and had secured a half-dozen skele-
tons and some additional skulls, which
are now in the Field Columbian MI
scum. Orher skulls from the some island
formed part of the purchase of a large
collection made made by the museum
soon after its organization. and from the
further fact that skulls which have been
taken from the islond had become
taken from the island are for sale by the
relic dealers of Portland and the Dalles.
was supposed that the Island had become
public property. And so i; was thot with
the assistance of the Two captains of two
steamboats,, and with the knowledge Of
of the authorities. Of the steamboat COM
pany, the island was visited in broad
daylight and no effort was made - con-
ceal The object OF The visit. DR.. Dorsey
and Mr.. Allen spent six hours on me is
land and in tina: time secured eig1ty-iwo
skulls. and the steamboat company land
ed them the same evening az me dock
at The Dalles.
FORCED TO RETURN THE SKULLS.
Then, and apparently for the first time,
the pursuer OF the steamboat which
brought the bones up. and tele very indi-
vidual who had accepted the bones az
freight, together with the man in charge
OF the waterworks. remembered tina;
there was an Oregon state law prohibit
ing the desecration % Indian graves
This law they Immediately se in modon.
and within short time wsrrsnts we're
sworn out for the arrest OF Dr. Dorsey
and NJ. Allen. They were taken before
a justice % the peace, released under bail
and asked 20 appear on he fol0 wing
Monday morning. AL o. his II spite o.
Inc fact TIA; the island had long SINCE /
oeen abandoned by the Indians as
burial ground. had been systematically /
plunderei and r05ed by The citizens Of
The Dalles and vicinity. and in soi,e o. I
tie fac; thai IN 1885. during he unGsgs. /
high wafer on me Columbia River. the I
on ths Island had oeen wash I
e away ami hundreds % skslet0ns had I
been borne OF BY the a35f AMI the r. 4
naming bones ~ere lef. Jlm5iea up Ia /
d tsx pr3miscu9us heaps ID soch an 4
extent nal re food sSep, over re - 4
and ma. i was 10, only impossible t. I
secure 2 complete ske'e,5n. bu; even . 4
zes a complete 7-lvis.
I, was soon found. On re f9lioSlnz /
morning. ;ast the sens y jDs;ioe % tie 4