The record-union., 1897-10-08
BURNING THE WHITE DOG.
Strange Rite OF the Iroqnois, Which
Few Whites Have Seen,


brothers among the Iroquois are said to
be planning to revive the ceremony Of
burning the white dog. This is one of
the most ancient religious rites of the
Iroquois nation, dating back far be-
yond the time when the white man
first came to know them; but it has
not been observed of late, except at
rare and irregular intervals. The fact
that the Indians noW wish to revive this
rite is only one of a number of indi-
cations that go to show the firm hold
which the traditions of his race have
upon the red man.
Almost every settlement of Indians in
this country to-day is divided into two
classes those who have accepted the
religion Of the white man as we'll as his
dress and manner of life, and those who
still cherish the beliefs of their ances-
tors and keep up so far as they can
the observances of their ancient wor-
ship.
So the fact that the Onondagas are
likely to revive the sacrifice of the
white dog means simply that the pa
gan party among them has been gain
ing ground during the last few years.
The old English recipe, How to cook
a rabbit started off by saying, First
catch the rabbit So, in the sacri-
flee of the dogs, the first and most diff
f1cult thing was to- secure a pair Of
white dogs. In order to make the rite
effective it was considered necessary
that the dogs be perfectly white, with
out dark hair ON their bodies, and the
1
secure such animals. The dogs were
treated with especial care, and made
as sleek and fat as possible before the
sacrifice. It was regarded as great
honor to be appointed to care for these
sacred beasts.
In the old times the hunters secured
the woods for days before the cere-
mony and brought in many fat buck
and other wild game for the feast,
which is an important part of every
Indian celebration. Now the deer
have disappeared, and the feast is sup
piled with more domestic animals
Many of the reservation dogs, whose
coats would hardly entitle them to be-
come the central figures in the saeri-
| flee, nevertheless mysteriously disap-
pear about this time, and 1t is suspect
ed that they help fill the steaming call
drons at the great feast.
| AT the appointed time the braves and
their families gather at the council
house. The variety of bright colors
| in the dress of both men and women
makes the assembly look like a piece of
brilliant tapestry. Everybody is smil-
| ing and happy.
| First comes the dance The crowd
gathers in silent rows about the long
| hall, while the musicians occupy an
open space in the center. A dried deer
skin is tightly stretched between up
right posts. This is the drum which is
operated ON by the chief musician. His
assistants have horns filled with shot,
or gourds containing beans, which they
rattle in time with the drummer. The
music that they make would ruin a
white mans nerves in short order, but
| it seems to fill the Indians with the
same sort Of joy that boy derives
| from firecrackers and torpedoes. AS
soon as the musicians strike up the eld-
est chief of the tribe rises and begins
| Shuffiing about the floor in time to the
rafting ourds and booming drum. The
others follow in the order of their rank,
with the women at a respectful dis
tance. AS the dance goes on the time
quickens, until presently a circle Of
leaping, shouting savages is whirling
about the room executing the most
grotesque and violent figures. With
short intermissions the dance is kept
up till almost morning, when the dane
ers retire to prepare for the final cere-
mony.
Just as the sun comes peeping over
| the tree tops the braves alone gather
| for the sacrifice. The two dogs are
| dangling by their heels from a rude
wooden cross, and they have been care
fully strangled, so that not hair of
their smooth white bodies is ruff1ed.
About their legs and necks are tied
| bright ribbons, and their breasts are
covered with gayly covered blankets.
| A heap Of bruShwood has been gath
cred and the elder of the tribe now
proceeds to light it, always using the
spark from a flint, for only virgin fire
can be used for this solemn rite As
| the pile blazes up two young braves
spring forward, and, taking down the
| bodies of the dogs, bear them to the
elder, who places them on the fire, at
the same time calling on the great spir-
it to observe him. AS the blaze rises
higher the elder, or chief priest, as he
might be called throws handfuls of
dried odorous herbs upon the pile. at
the same time pronouncing an Grafton
to the great spirit for the benefit of his
| friends who are gathered about. This
grafton he keeps up until the fire has
| burned itself out, and the victims are