The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-11
S. s. s. FOR TIE BLOOD

into Europe tobacco was smoked only
in pipes as it Is now among the North
western Indiaps Oddly enough the early
European pipes closely resemble the pres
ent Indian FORMS being short and straight
in the stem, ana higher and narrower in
the bowl than the pipes of to-day. The
Indians much prefer their own pipes If
they can get them but pipes of native
manufacture are now seldom found in
use, although numbers of fine specimens
can be seen In the museums. The favor
lite material was catlinite, or red pipe
stone, and although this material is found
only near the present town of Pipestone,
Mimi so highly esteemed was it that
it passed by barter from tribe to tribe
and has been found over a thousand miles
from the place where it was quarred
When first taken out this stone is soft
and easily carved; afterward it becomes
quite hard and takes on a fine polish
Sometimes the bowls of these pipes are
inlaid with tin or lead, forming elaborate
and beautiful designs.
In social or i'm ceremonial smoking the
pipe Is never actually put into the mouth
but is pressed against the lips and the
mouthpiece remains dry. In taking the
smoke the lips are slightly parted at the
corners of the mouth and The cir which
is sucked in mixes with the smoke and is
fat this must be done with considerable
noise; according TO Indian etiquette such
noise is necessary in order to indicate sat
isfaction.
In ceremonial smoking the pipe or cigar
cite may be handed TO the right-hand
neighbor TO light, but in smoking it must
always pass 20 the left, from hand to
hand This is the true ceremonial direc-
ton, the path of the SUM- During a
ceremonial smoke silence is maintained
and IL any conversation becomes necessary
it is conducted in a whisper AT inter-
walls puffs of smoke are directed toward
the six cardinal points of the Indian sys-
tenn which are the same as ours but in
clude, in addition the zenith, the abode
of the wind gods, and the nadir, 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 few grains rolled in a
piece of corn husk, In former times every
Indian carried some of the latter in his
pouch, ana 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 care
fully wrapped them in the corn husk Ohey
never rolled a cigarette, but always vran
ped 10, he would light one end of 1t in the
fire or with match and proceed to en-
JOY it. Such cigarettes are hardly as
thick as match, but, Judging by appear
ance and noise, they yielded the smoker
an immense amount of satisfaction and
pleasure. 1t is an essential part of Indian
etiquette to testify openly enjoyment of
something thus in eating it is necessary
to smack ones lips, belch and so on: other
wise the host will feel offended: Similarly
in smoking the smoke is sucked in with n
loud nose, puff after puff, until the ci-
garette is consumed. But, contrary 10
our habit the smoke is swallowed. annar-
emily none of it is emitted.
The smoker, says Thackeray, has great
physical advantages in conversation
Breaks never seem disagreeable when fill
ed up with puffs of smoke. II have no
doubt he adds, that ii is from the habil
of smoking that the Turks and American
Indians are such monstrous wen-bred men
The pipe draws wisdom from the Inns Of
the philosopher, and shuts up the month
of the foolish; II generates a style of CON
versation contemplative, thoughtful. hen
evolent and unaffected"
Carlyle goes further and suggests tha
great advantages of introducing the prac-
tce OF smoking into parliamentary assem-
blies. Tobacco smoke" he saws. sis tho
one element in which, by our European
manners, men can sill silent together with
out embarrassment. "A man may take 70
his pipe again the instant he has spoken
his meaning, If he chances to have any.
The results of which salutary practice. il
introduced into constitutional parliaments
might evidently be incalculable. The es
sence of what lille 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 weH as social Indulgence. 1t Is assoc
ciated with practically al their religious
observances, and something of the sacred
character of the practice mas been trans
ferred 20 the material itself. for tobacco
Is often used as an offering to the dead or
sprinkled on rocks or in places considered
sacred. It is also sent as a peace Offering
either 10 individuals or 10 other tribes. Semi
with other offerings and some proposition
or question, Il is equivalent to a request
Tor an answer, an Indian r. $. V. p
When long journey or some serious nm
dertaking Is an hand there is always much
dehberation and frequent recourse to the
pipe or cigarette, accompanied sometimes
by retirement and prolonged fasting.
Cosmos Mindeleff