The sun., 1904-11-20

for these occasions just as 1t was made on
the day Capt: John Smith and his COM
pany,. invaded Virginia The bread Is
peculiar when It Is done-a dark but by no
means mean "a, dolghy mass and very nutritious.
right out Of the pod into kettle and boil
them together for hours. When the bread
ID done the beans appear scattered all the
way Az through 1t like raisins in cake;
went these Preparations S on THURSDAY Thur
gan again before daybreak on the morning
OF the feast day; Great piles Of wood
had been cut and hehped up, and near the
Long House were half a dozen big ket-
ties with fires roaring under them in the
morning and Indian women working busily
about them. In these kettles soup was
mae and corn meal was boiled. Soon
after daybreak the Indians summoned by
the women began to arrive. They came
In from wagons and those who were more
prosperous in buggies.
Many came struggling in on foot after
walks IN some instances Of ten or fifteen
miles. They were dressed in all sorts Of
farm costumes, but only the older women
wore any OF the old Indian garments and
ornaments A number Of these had on the
historical red and blue leggings reaching
from the feet up above the bottoms Of
their short skirts. There is bead work
|
and in many cases II is very artistically
and neatly done.
1T was 2 o'clock in the afternoon when
the feast began. There were then assem-
bled in the Long House, / should think,
between 200 and 800 people-men, women
and children. The members of the Snipe
clan, the chief mourners and the hosts
ofthe occasion, occupied the central benches,
Inc rest were disposed about the room
haphazard fashion, save that the women
| ap1 a nd tho in ha otb
George Chief, the English name he has
snipe clan. He Is tall, straight as an arrow
and bears the burden OF nearly 20 years
civil war and man of decided force. 1t
was he, as chief mourner, who gave the
signal for the opening OF the ceremonies.
he did this by simply bowling gravely to
Chester Lay: Chester Lay is head man
interpreter and census taker. His Indian
name is Hobo Au-Tchia," meaning
Bearer Of the Earth"
AT this time all the food had been brought
In and was arranged on benches by the
The kettles filled with soup. the Indian
bread and cakes and the presents to be
distributed by the Snipe clan among the
other clan mourners-all these were there
in waiting. There was a deep and very
impressive silence in the room when 'Ho-
Do-An-Tchia' rose in response TO the sig
nal that all was ready. He spoke in the
Senaca language, which is very sonorous
and musical tongue, by the way.
Now we have all met together. he
with the younger brothers the great loss
they have met in the death Of Ya-i-e-noh.
She was like great tree in the forest.
Her strength supported us. Like spread
ing branches she sheltered us and protected
us. Her kindness and tenderness were
like blossoms. And now the tree is cut
down. The branches shelter US no more.
The leaves and the blossoms are all withered
and dead
.'By this time nearly all the women and
/ even many OF the men were in tears. ho-
/ Do -Au-Tcfia talked for nearly half an hour
recounting the good deeds Mrs. Converse
had done for the Indians Then Chief
William Crow spoke. He is head man
and the preacher as he is called. 1t was
he who performed the Indian burial ritual
at Mrs. Converse's funeral in New York
He expounds to the Indians the doctrines
Of -Ga- Mia -Deio, or Beautiful Lake. as
I his name would be translated-the great
! Seneca prohet and teacher OF over hundred
the Indians against the snares and tenpta-
| tions Of the white mems civilization
| the drinking, the fiddle playing and the
gambling. Chief Crow, as the expounder
| Of this prophets doctrine, holds high emf
nence among the Senecas:
We ought ALL Chief Crow said, TO
! thank the Great Spirit for having sent that
good woman among his people as the bearer
! Of his love for them. We should ever be
thankful for her good words-,words that
/ were wise, that urged us all TO abstain from
! vice and evil ways. We should thank her
! for her work for us among our white friends
| for making us to know that which we did
not know. At home or far away she was
always our friend-always our Ever Watch
full One
''Cmef William Crows speech made
great impression and the weeping broke
| out afresh as he went on His appearance
was very impressive, with his white hair
and strongly marked features. He is about
! 20 wears old. His Indian name is So-No-
Gah 1t means Falling Snow.
Job King, head man of the Beaver clan
| SPOKE and then tie food was handed around
! Ii was brought in great bow Is, and each
one broke OF bit Of the bread. The soup
was ladled out into pals and either eater,
woman OF the Snipc clan, was designated
! to distribute tie presents.
| aThey went to the runnersto all who had
assisted in preparing the feast and to those
! most intimately known to Mrs. Converse
| The presents and the food were received in
! silence. To have said thank you would
! have been sad breach OF etiquette as indi-
/ eating any kind OF thankfulness that there
should be occasion for such ceremony.
| The presents consisted OF knit mittens, OF
cloth for gowns, caps and other, useful
articles. 1t was long after dark when the
feast ended and the Indians went away,
evidently sad at heart, to their homes
INITIATION STUNTS IN PUBLIC.