The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-09-22
INDIANS AS MAGTCIANS.

"The greatest magicians l have evel
seem" said DR.. Washington Mathews
OF the army, "the most expert in leg
erdemain, were the Arickaree Indians
who in my time-in lS65-lived al
Fort Berthold, in what is now North
Dakota. In the autumn of that year
when the harvest was done and before
they went out upon the winter hunt
weeks and months were spent in ccr,
monies of all kinds, picturesque and
symbolic dances, the celebrations and
anniversaries of secret societies, etc
among not only tue men, bnt the wo
men and the little children.
"Events Of this kiad occurred every
day and night. They had in the cen.
ter of the village a great medicine
lodge, probably 80 feet in diameter
circular in form. In it they had per
formances every night, and we idle
men, who had nothing else to do, Wis
tied these performances more regular
ly than we would visit the theaters in
a city. 1t was place of resort with
us every night Part of the lodge was
fenced off for the audience and the rest
fixed for the performers. In addition
to songs and dances they had exhibi-
tions of legerdemains. cannot think
of all their tricks, for years have roll
ed by since then. Making little
wooden images smoke pipe, putting a
stuffed bird on the end of stick and
making it chirp, were among the most
amusing. The last trick was probably
performed by the use of reed in the
mouth of one of the magicians.
The fire dance was one of their
most interesting performances. They
would build a tremendous fire, dance
around it, and at certain point the
men would break out and rush into
the roaring flames, dance in them and
throw the embers madly into the air.
1t was then time for us to rush out for
ourselves, because we might be struc..::
by some of the flying brands. Appar-
emily they went into the fire barefoot
ed and bafelegged. They wore moth
ing but breechclouts.
might after night they had some
thing new. Another trick was appar-
emily to run knife through a mans
arm and let the blood rush out. They
would entertain us for hours with songs
and dances. No admission fee was
charged, but we frequently made them
presents"
"What was the greatest trick you
have ever seen played among the Nava-
joes?'
The growth of the corn is very
pretty trick. 1t takes place at 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 growing out of the bare ground
of the corral a small plant. They sing
awhile, and the ring closes again.
When it opens second time, the yuc-
ca b.,ccata plant is noticed In In
dian rites everything goes by fours.
1t is their sacred number, as three and
seven are sacred numbers with u.s.
There are four acts in the rite. The
second 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 on it. The explanation is
that they bring into the inclosnre with
them the various parts of the plant,
which they deity place in proper posi-
tion while the ring is closed during the
incantations.
"They use their blankets to cover
the work. For rude people like them,
with poor instruments in the days
when they had flint knives, it must
have been difficult task to prepare
for this trick. Our wax workers and
toymakers would not find it difficult.
The Indians in the audience believe
the dancers to be gifted with supernat-
ural power. The performance is part
ly religious worship aud partly amuse-
ment. 1t is partly with view of max
ing abundant fruit and partly for en-
at is possible that the Chinese have
little appreciation of our humor," said
4 woman whose visiting card bears
81 a. r