The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-10-03
QUEER RITES
OF AMERICAN
ABORIGINES.

Mr' james Mooney. who had ChaTge
or the installation OF the Indian ex-
hihit at the Nashville exposition. Is now
IN the extreme southwest section OF
the United States engaged i'm studying
the social and religious organization OF
the aboriginal tribes there. His spe-
eial Investigations heretofore have been
into what has proved to be complete
system OF heraldry in use among cer-
tain Indian families during centuries.
the signs and symbols with their mys-
tic significance and ceremonies having
been communicated from father TO son
for generations
In the course OF his researches as a
representative Of the bureau OF ethnolo-
gy OF the department OF the interior Mr..
Mooney joined the Kiowa- -Apaches.
nonadic tribe which lives In an almost
prlmeVal state. He was admitted 10
full membership several years ago and
has ever since annually passed about
two-thirds of the time with them, quiet
ly pursuing his Investigations without
exciting the suspicion or distrust Of
these red men brethren.
He found that among the Kiowas
ny was what is known to the whites as
the sun dance" a solemn ceremony
formerly observed by them each year,
but now only held at rare intervals and
without the fantastic pomp that origi-
nally attended it's performance.
Their sun dance differs, however. very
materially from the gyrations of the
same name practiced by the northern
Indians, who lacerate their bodies In a
horrible fashion. With the Kiowas the
dance is what it's name suggests, fan
tastic evolutions of the limbs and body,
continuing until the dancer falls ex-
hausted. This terpsichorean exercise
has been known 10 last four days and
nights without intermission for sleep
or food, until the subject dropped to the
ground
In addition to being a religious cere-
mony the convocation was a gathering
of the tribe for consultation as TO choice
of hunting grounds for the ensuing sea-
son, decisions regarding the wars to be
waged on other tribes and the settle
ment of various family matters. 1t
was then also that the displays OF the
heraldic insignia were made in COM
plete fullness.
The last OF these great gatherings ofs
the amalgamated tribes of the Kiowas
and Apaches was i'm June, 1867, and IL is
the desire of Mr.. Mooney to reproduce
this encampment. historically correct il
every detail. as a part of the ethno-
logical exhibit of some future ex-
position. The representation will be
comparatively in miniature. for the
original camp which covered a circu-
lar section of country about ten miles
in diameter, will be shown on an area of
three acres. The tepees of the Indian
families will be arranged in a great
circle facing the center close together
and presenting an unbroken line every
where except at the east, where wide
space indicates the entrance.
The encampment will consist OF go
tepees, each about 21s feet in height
and OF the same diameter These mini
ature homes have been made by In
dians and are historically correct rep
OF those in the final con-
To which reference has been
made. There will also he correct re-
OF the shields and heraldic
devices which were used in the days OF
the old regime.
The symbols emblaZoned on the tepees
OF these Indians have a peculiar sig
nificance. as the decorative work is ac-
by the most solemn religious
One of the unwritten laws
Of the tribe prohibits any member from
making q decoration which belongs to
any subdivision except the one of which
he is member After the confidence
)f the Indians had been secured suffi-
,iently to allow the models of the tepees
TO be made Mr.. Mooney has stated that
ne was obliged to secure the services oe
one or more Indians in each of the six
into which the tribe was
divided in 1867. The subdivisions were
Rec Elk, Kiowa proper Big Shields.
and Black Boys. This
work was finally accomplished, and the
models are now being made.
In obtaining reproductions OF the
shields the greatest difficulty was en-
The tribal law forbiddng
the making of a tepee OF another SUBJ
division applies with even greater force
10 the making of the shields
In order to get reproductions of these
shields Mr.. Mooney was obliged to find
me member of the tribe for each OF the
many different kinds of decorations
md learn from him the significance OF
he device. it's origin and the ceremony
Iccompanying it's conservation. This
vas "A most laborious task. but il has
,een accomplished, and the completes
ystem of heraldry of these Indians has
cen formulated. the significance OF
which has thrown light upon the early
nnals of the tribe and affords one
means of tracing the travels and all
eyed origin of this branch of the hll-
nan race.
There is no doubt but that the install
alton OF such "A miniature camp Of the
iiowas at some exposition will afford a
ubject for the consideration of the stu-
ent of ethnology and an important
xhibit representing the history and
rogress of the American Indian.
| NkZ
"Abandon ship" Drill. -.