The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-03-16

tcian and 1inancier among the 0sages-
7 his wealth consists OF cattle. land and
numerous investments outside Of the res
ervation. He is fun blood although
he dresses entirely in citizens clothes.
II al any time ne imagines his power IS
waning or # there = some scheme he
wishes 20 Derpetuate. the chiefs and lead
inS ne. OF the tr.i,. are invited 70 z grand
feast II =. eNr, nse IT - marriage
Ct Bigllesrt's daughter. which occurred
recently. FIVE beeves and six hogs were
slaughtered and eaten daily for week.
place very frequently among citizens Of
the tribe
The government. however. Is slowly
but surely weening them from the old
ways and bringing them nearer 70 civili-
zation. One Of the greatest is made IN the
marriage costume. They are now requir-
ed to secure a license from the agent in
case OF 2 separation, a divorce must be
secured before either party IS allowed
to marry again. A separation was equiv
aIent 10 a divorce formerly. The marriage
license was considered toy 10 he broken
or cast aside al will. Plural marriages
were very common among the Indians
and even nov few OF the older bricks
support two wives. Some OF these families
draw as high as $3.50 quarterly. They al
live as one family. When a young Indian
sues maiden he wishes for wife. his
parents are informed Of the matter. They
Immediately call upon the young Isdy's
parents or guardians. as the case may
be. and If satisfactory terms can be made
the marriage is agreed. Otherwise. the
affair is declared of and the young man
is obliged to loo kelsewnere for a wife.
The terms consist OF the number OF PONIES
CT other property the young lady's
parents are willing to take FOR her. on
the wedding day all the relatives and
friends of both parties gather AZ the ap-
pointed place. The groom is dressed iH
his finest apparel. some OF the wedding
suits cost $3.50. The bride is taken in
charge Of By her relatives and adorned
in a most gorgeous costume. The extent
Of these preliminaries depe1d entirely
upon the wealth of the parents. To Sc
cure the greatest number Of bright cclors
IS the main object in dressing the bride.
One Indians bride recently had twenty
different col0rs Of ribbon in her lair.
After the dressing has been completed
the young lady is lifted on the back OF
a pony, great care being taken not u
let her feet touch the ground. and con
veyed to the teepee Of the expecting and
anxious groom. Here the pony IS tarned
loose and belongs TO the Indian catching
him. Great efforts are made in trying
10 catch him. as the lucky man is suppos-
Cd to he always attended by good luck the
balance Of his life. The bridal march. |
headed By the bride and groom IS Their
taken Up and ends at the banquet hall !
The banquests consist to q great extent
of barbecued meat. After partaki7g Of !
the eatables the happy couple IS pro-
nounced man and wife. The eating is
very essential. as the marriage IS not |
completed until both parties have salts /
fed their appetites. Very often marriages
take place much against the viii OF the /
young people. The parents or guardians /
never miss chance 70 marry their chill /
dreu TO wards of, as they call il. pro /
viding the requisite number of ponies or /
other property is forthcoming.
One willing young lady positively rcfus- !
ed to eat a mouthful for two hours. but /
finally submitted to the entreaties and /
threats of their friends and relatives. a I
laughable incident occurred not long
since. when Saucy Chief. one Of the lead I
ing Usage chiefs. attempted to marry (
OF" his niece. Prudie Eagle Feather /
Pr7ldie had been educated in the east and 4
was soon To return home Her urcle, I
who was also her guardian. concluded /
this was the chance OF a lifetime So /
wagered ten of his best ponies THAI he I
would have the girl married of within .
a certain time after her return. Prudie /
came and the old man. not wishing 20 /
lose any time. informed her that 4 was I
best that she choose a husband, as he I
vas growing old and mentioned several I
promising young bucks from whom she I
was TO select her better half The young
lady informed her uncle she would .
have none OF his Indians and further
more that she Intended 10 marry a white .
man. The old fellow was nearly pros T
trated. To be rudely disobeyed was bad 1
enough but to lose ten OF his best ponies
was more than he could bear. Entreaties
and threats proved useless. In his ex-
tremity an appeal to the agent was made. /
All of no avail. Prudie carried the day.
married her white man and is now living /
happy and contented about three miles
west Of the agency. Prudie is a full blood I
but she dresses as neatly as the average
American woman One very injurious
pasttine among the Indians Is eating the
mescal bean. They cIothe the practice
under the garb OF religion by claiming
it is a part OF their religious rites and
while under the influence Of the bean they
see and converse with Diety and go 10
their happy hunting grounds. etc. The
bean is brought from Mexico and is a
product OF the cactus. It is fat and about
one inch in diameter. The top is -5-ered +
with white soft down. Some step on
il and drink the Juice bot q more com
mon practice IS 70 place the bean "a the
mouth. keeping It there until the strength
has be AaSsoThed in the system Il re-
quires from to beans to produce IN
The effect Is similar 20
that produced ~ morphine or opium. The
agent always breaks up the mescaI camps
whenever he hears Of tnen. ore mode
the Indians have Of entertaining their
visitors is called smoking. II consists
IF presenting al sorts Of presents 70 their
company. Very often the gifts amount
10 several hundred dollars The Eaw
Indian. as a general thing. make u a
po5nt 10 call on the Osages soon after
PAYMENT. The Indians are called to-
-ether for the smoke by their drum
ners and appear in their best cost -Ines.
Ths drummers consist OF SIX or seven
indians seated a7oaad enc big drum upon
n hich they pound with sticks covered
WITH cloth or some Kind q skin After al
have assembled q large circle is formed.