The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-25

noise is necessary in order to indicate sat-
isfaction.
In ceremonial smoking the pipe or Gig
arctic may be handed to the right-hand
neighbor to light, but in smoking it must
always pass to the left, from hand to
hand.
This is the true ceremonial direction.
"the path of the sum-" During ceremo-
NAL smoke silence Is maintained. and If
any conversation becomes necessary 1t is
conducted in a whisper. At Intervals puffs
of smoke are directed toward the six car
dinal points of the Indian system, which
are the same as ours, but include, in ad-
dition, the zenith, the abode of the wind
gods; and the radir, the home of the dead.
Among the southwestern tribes the pipe
is seldom seen; smoking is universal, but
tobacco is used in the form of cigarettes
consisting of a few grains rolled in piece
of corn husk. In former times every In
dian carried some of the latter in his
pouch, and when he met white traveller
his first inquiry was always for tobacco.
Plug was preferred and chipping off a few
grains with his thumb nail he carefully
wrapped. them in the corn husk; they
never rolled cigarette, but always wrap
ped it, He would light one end of it in
the fire or with a match and proceed to
enjoy 1t. Such cigar cites are hardly as
thick as a match, but, judging by appear
ances and noise. they yielded the smoker
an immense amount of satisfaction and
pleasure.
The smoker says Thackeray, has great
physical advantages in conversation.
Breaks never seem disagreeable when all
ed up with puffs of smoke. Il have no
doubt" he adds, that it Is from the habit
of smoking that the Turks and American
Indians are such monstrous well-bred
men. The pipe draws wisdom from the
lips of the philosopher, and shuts up the
mouth of the foolish; it generates a style
of conversation contemplative, thought
full, benevolent and unaffected"
Carlyle goes further and suggests the
great advantages of introducing the pr1c-
tice of smoking into parliamentary assem-
blies. Tobacco smoke" he says, lis the
one element in which, by our European
manners, men can sit silent together with
out embarrassment. A man may take TO
his pipe again the instant he has spoken
his meaning, if he chance to have any
The results of which salutary practice, If
introduced into constitutional parliaments,
might evidently be incalculable. The es-
sence of what little intellect and insight
there is in that room-we shall or can get
nothing more out of any parliament"
To the Indian smoking is a sacred rite.
as well as a social indulgence. 1t is as
ISOLATED with practically all their relig-
ious observances. and something of the
sacred character of the practice has been
transferred TO the material itself, for to-
bacco is often used as an Offering to the
dead, or sprinkled on rocks or in places
considered sacred. 1t Is also sent as
peace offering, either to individuals or to
other tribes. Sent with other offerings
and some proposition or question 1t is
equivalent to a request for an answer,
an Indian r. s. V. P. When long jour.
ney or some serious undertaking Is in
hand there is always much elaboration
and frequent recourse to the pipe or cigar
cite, accompanied sometimes by retire.
ment and prolonged fasting.