The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-08-02
INDIANS AS MAGIClANS.
Some Stories of the Remarkable
CIeSerncsa OF the Arickarecs.

Some stories of the Remarkable
CIererncna OF the Arickarecs.
'The greutest magicians have ever
SEEM" said Dr. Washington Matthew'S
of the army. 1.-THE most expert in leger-
domain, were the Arickaree Indians.
who III my time-in 1S65-liyed at
Fort Berthold. in what ia now North
Dakota. In the autumn of that yeor.
when the harvest was done and before
they went out upon their winter hunt,
weeks and months were spent in cere.
monies of all kinds, picturesque and
symbolic dances, the celebrations and
anniversaries of secret societies. etc.
among not only the men, but the wom-
en- and the little children.
Events of this kind occurred every
day and every night. They had in the
center of their villuge great medicine
lodge, probably 80 feet in diameter.
circular in form. In it they had per-
formances every night, and we idle
white men, who had nothing else to do,
visited these performances more regu-
larly than we would visit the theaters
IN city. 1t was place Of resort with
Us every night. Part Of the lodge was
fenced off for the audience and the rest
reserved for tho performers. In addi-
tion to songs and dances they had ex-
hibitions of legerdemnin. | cannot
think of all their tricks. for years have
rolled by since then Making little
wooden images smoke pipes. putting a
stuffed bird on the end Of a stick and
making 1t cliirp. We're among the most
amusing. The last trick was probably
performed by the use of Il reed in the
mouth Of one Of tho magicians.
1.-The fire dance was one of their most
Interesting performances They would
build tremendous fire. dance around
&c. and mt a certain point the men
would break out and rush into the roar
ing flames. dance in them and throw
the emhers madly into the air. 1t was
then time for us to rusl. ont ourselves.
because we might be struck by some of
the nying brands. Apparently they
went into the fire barefooted and bare
legged. They wore nothing but breecl,-
clouts.
"Night after night they had some
thing new. Another trick was appa-
rently to run knife through n mans
arm and let the blood rush ont. They
would entertain us for hours with songs
and dances. No admission fee was
charged, but we frequently made them
presents.
"What is the greatest trick You have
ever seen among the Navajoes y''
1.-The growth Of the corn is a very
pretty trick. 1t takes place Mt night by
the uncertain light of the fire, which
confuses the eye Of the spectator. A
party Of Indians come in and dance,
bearing nothing apparently about them
They form ring, singing and dancing
The ring opens. and there you see grow.
ing ont Of the bare ground Of the corral
small plant. They sing awhile, and
the ring closes again. When it opens
second time, the yucca baccata plant is
noticed. In Indian rites everything
goes by fours. 1t is their sacred num-
ber. as three and seven are sacred num-
bere with us. There are four acts in the
rite. The eecond is the plant in bud.
The third is the plant in flower. The
ring closes again. and when it opens
there is the fruit. with great beans six
inches long hanging to it. The expla-
nation is that they bring into the inclo-
sure with them the various parts Of the
plant. which they deftly piece in proper
pUsition while the ring is closed during
the incantationa.
they Hse their blankets 70 c.ver the
work. Fos rude people like them. with
poor instruments. in the days when
they had flint knives, it must have
been great task to prepare for this
trick. Our wax workers and toymakers
wonld not find it difficult. The Indians
in the audience believe the dancers to
be gifted with supernatural power. The
performance is partly religious worship
and partly amusement. II ia partly
with view Of making abundant fruit
and partly for entertainment. Chi
caRo Re"nr1'