The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-11-12
sIWASH WlTcHCRAFT.
A Missionary Saves an Indian Boy From
Death by Sacrifice.

Death by Sacrlnce.
Prospectors, hunters and mission
aries who have been among the Indian
tribes in northern districts of British
Columbia have from time to time
brought news of shocking barbarities
practised by the Siwashes in connec-
ton with some incantations arranged
by the medicine men, or, as they call
them. "The Oo-oosh-tuck-yu." These
men have more power than the chiefs
of the tribes:
Recently the stipendiary magistrate
at Telegraph Creek received informa-
ton from miners that human sacrl-
flee was in contemplation in the viii
lage of the Tahantanis. An Indian
boy fourteen years old was to pub
licily meet horrible death by order
of the tribal medicine man for bewitch-
ing and causing the death of q young
squaw. The girl, who, it seems, was
a great favorite of the unfortunate
bow, took sick about month ago with
what seemed to rational men malarlal
fever. Afterward rash appeared on
her face resembling smallpox.
When the medicine man came he
thumped and squeezed the poor girl
and scratched her body with small
needles fastened to his finger nails.
She died soon after and relatives
thanked the medicine man for his Ell
forts, though it was plain to the min
ers that his brutal treatment had
caused her death.
On hearing of the matter the magis-
trate went to the Rev. Mr.. Appleyard,
the Church of England missionary
working in the district, and together
they gathered the Indians on the
banks of the Tahltan and big pow
WOW was held. The boy, bound hand
and foot with ropes, was carried te
the meeting.
Mr.. Appleyard told the Indians tina
all who helped in Staying the DO!
would be punished by death. This
together with many other arguments
finally brought the Indians around
and the boy was given into the charg'
of the missionary, who agreed to plac
him in the mission school at Metlaktl
for three years and teach him tn
English language, which, at the en-
of his term, he could teach to hi
fellow tribesmen, and help them t
get along in the world.
About a year ago an Indian boy wa
, mutilated and killed by the Tahantanl
Indians, near Telegraph Creek, b
; command of q medicine man, VIII
, accused him of having bewitched on
: of the tribe. The one supposed t
have been bewitched had undoubtedl
, died of natural causes, but accordin
:, to the Siwash view disease is neve
caused except by evil spirits throug
, the medium of a living person.
. They believe that any evil perso
possesses the power to shoot into tn
body, without detection, stones, sticks
, leather, bones and such things, an al
termed by the north aborigint
= "minookeitl." They believe that an
. such evil disposed persons can, b
y stealing portion of any ones clothin
9 and putting it through mysterio1
process, poison that part of the bod
p which the garment had former
covered. The murdered boy was sal
to have been guilty of the act, but
+ reality his sole offense consisted
a stealing the painted straw hat OF tt
= Iadian whom he was accused of ha
r ing bewitched.
= In the minds of his tribe
n doctored the hat, and the death OF tt
= owner by poison resulted.