The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-09
TRAITS OF THE RED MEN.
Curfosities of Character Tint Puzzle
the Pale Face Stranger.

Rocky Mountain News.
Few white men know how to trade with
an Indian, remarked c. Z. Ward. OF TINS
city, who has made study of Indians for
ten years past. Il once met an Indian with
a magnificent mountain lion skin. lie was
willing to part with the ornament, but ms
price was too high. l offered MIN slz.So,
but he Indignantly refused Later on the
same day after had learned to trade with
an Indian bought the skin for 81 So
The secret of trading with the Indian,
according TO Mr.. Ward, is to appear IN
different. The most successful trader Is the
one who goes with a supply of the same
article he is most DESTROYS of buying. the
Indian sees that the stranger has had eX-
perience and negotiations are carried on
upon a strictly business basis. An Indian
refused $40 for bow and arrow. 1t was
bought for 81 by man who carried several
bows and arrows in his hand. This willy
individual leased the supply from a store
in order to impress his copper-colored
friends, and he succeeded.
1.-The Indian" said Mr.. Ward in speaking
of traits of character he has observed in
his red friends. lis one of the most faithful
followers in the world if he has confidence
In you If he takes liking to you there is
nothing you can ask he will not do If he
dislihes you the less you have to do with
that Indian the better.
1.-THE Indian is very much abused fell
low, and he has never been treated as he
deserved to be by the white man. His vices
are largely the fault of his white neighbors,
and one of the greatest dangers that
threatens the Indian race is the travelling
shows. The government reports declare
that the Indians who went to Europe with
menace to their people when they returned
home. They had contracted all the vices
and none of the virtues of the white men.
1.-THE nature of the Indian cannot be
learned from books 1t must be studied by
actual contact. So far L have observed.
| all the Indians are Catholics. They graft
Catholic religion. and it is indeed a peculiar
mixture. You can't eradicate the Indian
| nature by any education, and II is a mis-
take h,, to send Indians away to school Ihe ,
| own people, and their progress ought to be
| gradual otherwise the whole race will soon
disappear Our government mas been In too
| along congenial lines to his nature, aid
| something may come out of all the expense
and time devoted TO the solution of the In
| dian problem. My idea is that the Indian
| is all right, but his ways are not our ways.
| Let us give him a chance and give him
| time TO work out his salvation. A Carlisle
Indian gets the swelled head, and one such
| Indian may spoil an entire village. He is
, overeducated, but in the end he is worse
off than at the beginning"
Mr.. Ward says his Investigations show
| that 30 per cent. of the Indians die of tuber-
culosis. Whether the disease was intro
duced by contact with the whites he does
| not know. This is a subject that is receiv-
| ing the attention of the authorities a,
| Washington. and is regarded one of the
| most important subjects of investigation by
| lnOSe VINO are interested Ill TIE survival vi
the race that once dominated the continent
1.-The customs of the various tribes is q
| never-ceasing topic of interest" said Mr.
| Ward. after white man lives awhile
among the Indians he is gradually taker
| into their confidence and shown many curl
| Gus performances, all of which have q
| meaning to the scientist. One summer dowr
| among the ApacheS l was invited by the
chiefs to be present at their great medicine
| dance. This ceremony has from time i'm
| memorial been performed on the banks of g
| stream that flows into Sinking lake, TWEEN
| ty-five miles from Duilce. N NJ. Two large
the stream. The women take their places
| in one arbor and the men in the other. The
| ceremony lasts two days.
1T commences at sunrise when the mer
| and women are seen lying on the ground
with their feet in the water. They lie per
fecty still, the water moving past and, &C.
cording to their belief, carrying their sins
of the last year down the lake. On the
morning of the second day we were warned
| to hold our horses, and had hardly secured
them tightly when in instant at a sigma
the two lines of men and women arose to 6
standing position and began tapping theil
blankets in the air. The noise was almos
deafening. The Tapping was continued
while the Indians stood with their toes In
the water. They were shaking the evi
spirits into the stream and causing them Il
be carried down to the lake and drowned
The ceremony is somewhat in the nature o.
an atonement of the Jews. After the re
ligious part of the business is over all joir
in dancing and gambling. and a season o.
feasting and enjoyment follows. These In
prevent them from continuing their ancien
nractipp ~