The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-20
uSrd Chants Heard on Puget
Sound Reservations.
.~uyAL OF OLD PRACTICES.


d. c. Gosan. agent Of the Tuiaip Indian
.~vafyor. has been In The city for sew
-s d,ys attending TO the distribution OF
- xoyernmeu, annuity goods. such as
.-,ru;tural implements and other sup
-. He has contrak as agent OF the four
..,systicus attached TO the Tulaiip. be-
s.. the Luuagni, on the Nooksack river:
- swfuemssf, on the fats near La Con-
- ths Madison, across from Port Mad
- ard the Muekleshoot. eight miles
- Auburn between the White and
cesen rivers
.rnes In only one disturbing element
=. IN reservation now" said Mr.. Govan
,nneerfay Ia the Seattle hotel, ''and that Is
= maker dance. 1t was started on the
nndnaulf reservation near Tacoma, and
~ understand that d general meeting
II III the Indians on the yound viii be held
= 1rly 10 teach the dance and propagate
- splisious beliefs in which Il has origin.
- revival of the old Tomanamus
nsesiceg by which certain inspired Indians
wstsnded to be able to cure the Illness Of
49, fellows. The doctor uses incanta-
G1na. breathes in the face OF the sick
nan, makes certain dramatic motions OF
ehe hands and the invalid Is supposed to
- under healing spell. Such practices
tnferfere with the work OF the regular
lnciors TO such an extent that the Indians
refuss 10 be treated by them. On this
account was compelled recently to cause
the arrest OF one Of the Shaker dancers
Who Was doing much 10 prejudice the
o&tives against the white physicians. The
arrst Of the Indian Is contrary 10, the
policy OF the government. but I did not
tAke such step without the authority Of
the Indian court
Since 80 many troops have been drawn
sway By the war with Spain | have re-
ceiyed Q telegram from Washington asking
II any Soldiers were Likely to he needed
10 prevent an Indian outbreak. 1t was
feared that the Indians might take adj
vantage OF the absence of the regular
soldiers 20 90 on the warpath. l fest that
there n absolutely no danger IL such a
step BY the Indians on the sound, though
] shall keep close watch on the Shaker
. spirit antagonis,ic to order and gov
e9nmsut ] shall take steps 10 have IL
checked. The revival and spread of these
ansknt religious beliefs Is not prolific OF
good.
There are now between LOO and 1900
Indians on the Tnialip and the four rssef-
yatoHs attached to Il. Contrary TO the
erDefal idea their number IL not decreas-
NJ They have just about held their
own during the last six or seven years.
Iass attempt TO eiviIize them finds its
chief drawback m the nomadfc disposition
u the people. They are forever wander
hg from place 10 place and refuse 10 set
BE long at any steady employment. Very
few make good agrsculturss.s. On the
e~snomfsh fats are a few good farms
WI For the most part the Indians get
their living by fishing In the sound. They
90 10 the beach when the tide is out
Tor clans. crabs ard musssis and are
satisfied 10 live principally on such food
financially the Indians are better off than
ever before.
z The more intelligent Indians claim that
civilization. by compelling them TO live IN
houses. has increased among them an
hereditary tendency 20 consumption and
nrenchiiis, Moss " them die of such
troubles, II aas always heen wonder TO
me- that they dii not fall victims more
frequently TO pneumonia. They constant
" expose themselves i'm Indictment weather.
have known the older Indians 10 make
practice OF plgngng every morning, win
ter ard summer. in the sound. and walk
abou, barefoot IN the snow II Ia these
Gid fellows who accept the Shaker dance
esosi enthusiastically. 7 hardly look 10
Gee The educated Indians embrace the
teachings and follow the practices OF the
Shakers"