The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-05
NEW YEARS
FEAST OF
THE INDIANS
Ponca BIeods Receive Neigh
borhoring Tribes With
Great Ceremony.
WHITE EAGLE SPEAKS
Redmen Can Give Many
Pointers to White
Brother
WHITE EAGLE SPEAKS

White Eagle. o. T. Jan. Anew Years
receptions are held in every public and
private abode in the land. We read Of
this or that great function where the old
world is mournfully and tenderly layed
aside. While bands Of glory play Hail
Columbia as the great clock OF Time
sounds the division strokes. announcing
10 al the world that a new life has been
born and the New Year is upon Us.
The festivities are conducted along the
same old lines each year and it would
seem more like performing a duty than
any merry making. But there is one
people who each year celebrate the COM
ing Of the new year in a far different
manner than those of most sisters or
brothers. Few people know that the
Ponca Indians mold each year a three
days feast and THANKSGIVING welcoming
the approaching steps OF the newly born.
1t is an old custom among the Indians
likely dating far back, when the red man
was wont 10 carry the tomahawk and
how and arrow But even If molding with
age IL is an Interesting spectacle 10 any
who have never been present at gor-
gously arrayed wis-wam warming.
The Poncas invited the KaWs, Otos.
I'awnces and Omahas TO be their royal
guests for their glorious feast for the
FIRST DAY of nineteen hundred and two.
They selected on the Arkansas river east
oI White Eagle q sheltered nook sur
rounded by cliffs of rock and heavy tim
ber 6nording them a cosy nest to pitch
their wiggie-uDs.
About the center Of the little valley was
a large round shed covered with swamp
grass ana enclosed with canvas sides
This was the pen that the night dances
were held in. Around the pen and in an
outside ring. enclosing the Ponca circle
was the canvas houses of the invited
guests The Poneas had been preparing
for the feast for several weeks and ha0
gathered together one Thousand pounds
of flour, two hundred pounds Of coffee.
one hundred pounds Of sugar, nine hogs
eleven goats. two beeves. four hundred
chickens and one hundred and seventy
FIVE turkeys Each Indian was supposed
70 furnish something in the eatabie line
and they all responded in a free hearted
manner
New Years Day was to be the hour
for the great feast and when Old Sol
peeped from behind the eastern hills max
ing golden streaks upon the swiftly flow
ing Arkansas water, he found the red
mans canvass village all astir. From
each pointed topped tent curled a blue
coil of smoke announcing that each fam
ily was preparing the morning meal. Oc-
cassionally the mournful wall of some
unfortunate poodle dog reached US as he
bid farewell 10 New Years morn. But
departing with life for a just cause, sat
-isfying the red mans mind and appeas-
ing the gnawing at his stomach.
All the accumulated nick-nacks were
10 be served in the afternoon, therefore
the morning meal had to be prepared
from the scrapings Of the larder, so IN
lucky was the doggie that happened to
DE nearest the bucks mallet or sauaw S
butcher knife Children played buffalo
and war times around the camp, while in
some secluded spot some noble young
blood of a visiting tribe courted the dusky
maidens Of the Poncas arranging to
carry away the Indian girl on his home
ward journey Others ealloped over hills
and valleys. searching out their different
bands OF Indian ponies. Thus the time
lassed until the hour arrived for the
jubilee 10 begin.
Lieutenant General Robert 5. Weax-
bone who was marshal OF the day walk
"a with military step into the middle of
The inclosure. Ete wore his brilliant
ladge of office and with raised tomahawlA
announced in clear and distinct native
tongue that the hour had arrived for the
feast To begin. and that Major White
Eaglc would give the visitors IN address
OF welcome.
I had an educated Interpreter by my