Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-02-16
INDIANS AT THE SHOW.
Interesting Feature OF the Com
ing Sportsmen's Exhibition.
ONLY THE FINEST BUCKS CHOSEN.
Chiefs of the Historic 'IroquoIs, Al
to lie Present - War and Peace
Dances and other Forms of Festiy-
tiles to Constitute the rosramme

Dances and other Forms of Festiv-
A special agent of the Canadian Ia
ciic railway has been in the vicinity OF
Montreal for some time past selecting
representative members of the lrOpuOl>
and other tribes of Indians who are I,
form one Of the striking features OF
the coming spOrtsmen' shows in New
York and Boston, writes the Montreal
correspondent Of the New York Com
mercial Advertiser. Much time has
been required in the selection and the
work Of cOstuming and training the
braves for the part they are to play nj
the coming shows. only the tallest
and finest bucks of their respective
tribes have been chosen, and all of
these have wardrObes which. from the
Indian standpoint, are most elaborate.
A majority of the redskins selected
are expert in the use OF the rife and
paddle and excel in the games of their
tribes.
The largest number of the Indians
TO go will be from the lroquOis reServa
ton at Caughnawaga. but in addition
there will be Chief Bugwujiinene and
two sons, Ojibeways; chief Bezildol
mandalSt and one Indian Of the Algon
quins. Commandant Simon and his
wife OF the NIpissings and ASsafama
gulkeya, with his wife and two sons
representing the Milicctes of New
Brunswick.
Together with Mr.. Armstrong, the
Canadian racitic's representative. the
above correspondent visited the Iro
quois village at Caughnawaga and
saw an exhibition of the dances there
by the Indians who are to represent
the tribe in Boston and New York
Mr.. Armstrong was made an honorary
member OF the tribe with impressive
and appropriate ceremonies. He was
given an lroquois name. Sakokweni-
ensta, which in English means re
spectcd"
The Indians, male and female. braves
and papooSeS, We're arrayed in piCtur.
esque garhs of buckskin. with beaded
embroidery and decorations in colors
The males wore the usual hcaddress
OF feathers. while each woman had a
single feather rising from a coronet
The refine MEMS and comforts of the
Indian homes are enough to make Fen
lmore Cooper turn in his grave. The
dancing was done in the spacious
drawing room Of an lroQuoiS house,
with windows hung with lace curtains
and under the light Of handsome chan
delierS. When the measured beat of
the odd musical Instruments commenc-
ed, the Indians moved into line and
began marking time and humming a
leader In the serpentine intricacics Of
the snake dance, their sincwy bodies
wrthing and turning, they seemed to
be transferred from the drawing room
to forest clearing. Wilder grew the
music and faster the dance till the per-
formers from sheer exhaustion ended
the ceremony. Then once more they
were smiling men and women seated in
a drawing room and surrounded by the
comforts of modern civilization,
The corn dance, a pastoral ceremony
of characteristic figures: the snowshoe
dance, the moose dance and other
forms of festivity will add to the pro.
gramme with which the Indian con-
tingent will entertain the Canadian
section at the Sportsmcn'S shows.
Following is a copy Of the contract
the Indians have entered into with the
Canadian Pacific railway: I'VE. joint
ly and seycrally agree to 60 to Boston
and New York. leaving Montreal on
Feb. 20. and to remain until the end
of the exhibitions for the wages agreed
on. We agree to keep from drink when
on the trip. We agree to submit to
the loss of our wages If we get under
the influence of liquor. We will do
whatever Mr.. Armstrong or any one
whom he may appoint tells us. We
will give our time. from s o'clock in
the morning till 10 o'clock at night If
necessary. spending the whole day in
the Indian villages or upon the stages.
We agree to keep our suits in perfect
condition during the exhibition"