The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-04
MUSTN'T LOSE PATIENTS.
A Hard Rule Enforced by tho Yo-
semitic Tribe of Indians.

San Francisco Chronicle.
Kalapine, Indian medicine woman. one of
the seven remaining aborigines who are
actually Of the Yosemite tribe Of Indians,
has lost her third patient and is in line to
answer to the immutable Indian law with
her own life The unwritten law Of the
Yosemite tribe. which is likewise the law
of nearly all the Digger tribes Of California,
Is that when the medicine man, or medicine
woman, has allowed three patients to die.
his or her life must be forfeited. With the
death Of the aged Piute squaw known as
Mrs. Uncle George In Yosemite valley, last
Sunday night, the skill Of old Kalapine is
declared to have met its third failure. This
she loudly declares is not true. but the In
dams, when they will talk about 1t at all.
say that this is the fateful third instance
and the white people Of the valley believe
that when the Indians shall again come
out of the woods for their summer gather
ing. old Kalapine will not be with them.
Among no tribe has the law been more cir
cumspectly followed than among the Yose-
Ten days ago the few remaining Yosemite
Indians and about forty members Of allied
tribes gathered under Sentinel Point to hold
an old-time war dance and jubilee. The
dance progressed as ii had not done in
years. The preparations and the pro-
gramme were all under the supervision of
Kalapine, said to be ninety years of age,
who, since the death Of her husband, Cap
tain John, several years ago. has acted as
the chief of the tribe. She was greatly re-
spected and feared by the Indians because.
though sQuaw, she possessed all the
mystic lore and unh0ly knowledge OF the
medicine man. For years she has been the
doctor and conjurer when an evil spirit
brought sickness upon an Indian of the
vicinity. In way this war dance was a
celebration of her success, not only a
leader. but also as a healer. Her joy was
to be short lived.
At.the height Of the dance the widow OF
old Uncle George fell violently sick. The
long journey across from the foot of Mount
CONFESS had been too much for her waning
strength. Kalapine undertook to drive away
the evil spirit and cure here. The aged
squaw lay on a dirty blanket in the shadow
of Sentinel Point Pine boughs were set up
as her only shelter She would cry out with
pain and touch this or that portion of her
body. Kalapine would ny at her and, APP
plying her lips to the part touched by the
patients fingers. endeavor 10 suck away
the plain. Tho medicine woman muttered
strange words and went through marvel
Gus lamentations. All the Indians were af-
fected by them except the sick woman On
Wednesday night. Aug. q. the old squaw
stifened and appeared to have died. I'm
mediately the dance stopped and the hid
eous death wall (Ah-NokD was commenced
by the Indians. All night the valley rang
with II. Kalapine brewed tea from a
| strange herb and next morning the patient
came out of the trace. The money which
had been collected at the Sentinel Hotel
| from guests for burial expenses was held
| In reserve. A Vigil was kept day and night.
and on Sunday night the patient really
died She was buried with great ceremony
at the foot Of Indian canyon on the follow
Ing day.
The death put an abrupt end to the as
| sembly, but before the braves began to
| load their traps upon the squaws TO be
| carried over the trails TO their distant
| homes an old buck announced that Kala-
pines third patient had been lost. Instant
| " all was commotion. Kalapine's protesta-