The record-union., 1899-07-21
INDIANS AS MAGICIANs.
Stories of Remarkable C1everness
Of the Arickarees.

''The greatest -magicians I have ever
seen," said Dr. Washington Mathews
of the army, 1.-The most expert in leg
erdemain, were the Arickaree Indians,
who in my time-in 1S65-lived at Fort
Berthold, in what is now North Dakota.
In the autumn of that year, when the
harvest was done and before they went
out on their winter hunt, weeks ana
months were spent in ceremonies OF all
kinds, picturesque and Symphonic
dances, the celebrations and anniver-
saries of secret societies, ETC., among
not only the men, but the women and
the little children.
Events of this kind occurred every
day and every night. They had in the
center of their village a great medicine
lodge, probably ninety 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 a city. It was place of resort with
us every night. Part of the lodge was
fenced off for the audience, and the
rest reserved for the performers. In
addition to songs and dances they had
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 it chirp, were among the most
amusing. The last trick was probably
performed by the use of a 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 a 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 ourselves, be-
cause we might be struck by some of
the flying brands. Apparently they
went into the fire barefooted and bare
legged They wore nothing but breech
clouts. - -
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 is the greatest trick you have
ever seen among the Navajos?"
1.-The growth of the corn is a 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 small plant. They sing
awhile and the ring closes again. When
it opens a second time the yucca bac-
cata plant is noticed. In Indian rites
everything goes by fours. 1t is their
sacred number, as three and seven are
acts in the rite. The second is the
flower The ring closes again, and when
it opens there is the fruit, with great
beans six inches long hanging to it,
The explanation is that they bring into
the inclosure with them the various
parts of the plant, which they deftly
place in proper position 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 1t must have been
a great 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 supernatural power. The
performance is partly religious wor-
ship and partly amusement 1t is
partly with a view of making abundant
fruit and partly for entertainment
Correspondence of the Chicago Record.