The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-18


Menomoni, a strange Wisconsin people,
five years to chronological study. He
has visited almost every Indian tribe
of America. But of all the peoples
whom he has yet studied he considers
the Menomoni the most interesting.
On this account he has spent the great
er part of four years with them.
The Menomoni numbering over L.
900, occupy 2G0 square miles in the
northeast corner of Wisconsin, along
the shore of Green Bay, which is
part of Lake Michigan. Although their
children are being educated and Chris
tainized by Franciscan missionaries
now living among them the older gen
erations still adhere to the beliefs of
their forefathers. The odd feature of
this religion, handed down through
hundreds and perhaps thousands of
years, is that the greater number of
the tribe are under the influence of
few sorcerers who practice their wiz
ard craft apparently for selfish gain.
DR.. Hoffman has been initiated into
their sacred orders and has partici-
pated in many of their weird cere-
monies. He has had all details of
these strange creeds explained to him
tions translated literally into English
These when published in future re-
port of the Bureau of Ethnology will
be virtually the English version of
the Menomoni Bible.
Although most of the Menomoni have
lately built for themselves comfort
able log cabins they vacate these in
the warm months for primitive wig
tod n,l,, Hhn, 1i,1f two 70
scanty gardens but live mostly upon
government pork and meats obtained
from the hunt. They bury their dead
in wooden boxes. Over each grave is
built small board house with an OPEN
ing in the top through which rela-
tives and friends from time to time
drop cakes of maple sugar, rice and
other eatables as food for the spirit
of the dead. Mourners blacken their
faces with charcoal and ashes. Wild
ows adhering to an ancient custom
stick this smut to their skins with
pine resin and are not allowed to mar
ry again until this has worn off.
The principal institution of these cur
ious people, DR.. Hoffman says, is the
Great Medicine society, into which he
has been admitted. He is the only
white man who has ever been so hon
ored He persuaded the chief priests
of this order to admit him that he
might preserve the sacred traditions in
the literature of the bureau. over q
hundred men, women and children be-
long to this society. It's ceremonies
might be said to bear the same import
ance to the Menomoni which the Pas
sion Play bears to those Christians
heretofore practically unknown either
to the popular or scientific mind. His
researches have resulted in what scien.
titic men here consider to be one Of
the most valuable contributions to eth
nology made in recent years.
In an interview with the writer
few days ago DR.. Hoffman described
these people in a manner which would
suggest that the author of the weirC
and mystic style need not ventur,
from our own country-into the jungle
of the Orient or the heart of Africa
in search of new plots with which t.
amuse the lover of the unusual.
DR.. Hoffman is a well-known eXplor
er. He has devoted the past twenty
who indulge in it. In the Great Medi
cine Lodge a large wigwam in whicl
the festivities are held, the life of tn
hero god who is the Menomoni Mes
siah is dramatized and his good deed
related at great length. Such cere
monies are held from time to time, be
ginning always at sunset on Satur
day and lasting until sunset of the fol
lowing day.
The initiation of candidates to tn
Great Medicine society," which cere
mony he was obliged to undergo, Dl
Hoffman described in an interestin
manner. This is the closing event O
the long meeting. The preceding hour
are spent in listening to long and mo
notonous chants and sermons, witness
ing odd tricks performed by the sorcer
ers, feasting and smoking. Aroun
the edge of the great medicine lodg
sit the members, clad in their gaudies
paints, beads and feathers.
THE SACRED CIRCLE.
When the time for initiating the can
didate arrives he is given a seat mex
to the high priest and his assistants
Who occupy conspicuous positions /
the sacred circle. At a given sigma
four medicine men" step in the centr
of the lodge, each carrying a lon
medicine bag" made of the hollo'
skin of some small animal and file
with small white shells, which haV
great sacred significance. After dane
Ing about and uttering the cries {
wild animals the medicine men al
proach the candidate. and, pointin
their medicine bags at him, are SUI
posed to shoot their contents into hi
breast. This is repeated several time
and at each supposed assault the car
didate quiVers and shudders as thoug
in great agony, finally falling upon hi
face, apparently dead. II is now SUI
posed that one of the sacred shells ha
entered the candidates heart and kille
him. The priests now gather aroun
the PROSTATE body and the chief stooI
and raises the candidates head.
' shell, supposed to be the fatal one dror
from his mouth. After this the cand
date returns to life and is declared
member
There are six men among these pee
pie, DR.. Hoffman says, who set as spin
itual mediums. They are known q
"tshisaqkas," and they claim to be prC
phets and healers of disease Whe
one of the tribe falls i'll he is suppose
to be the victim of an enemy who ha
hired "tshisaqka" to conspire wit
the evil spirits against him. In ordt
to be cured the sick man must pay al
other "tshisaqka" to call upon the goo
spirits and cause them to battle the eV
ones. Before attempting and serioI
undertaking the "tshisqka" enters
domeshaped tent, covered with bar
and shuts himself in. He has with hi
several large stones, heated very no
Upon these he blows sprays of wat,
from his mouth until his cell is file