Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-06-22

rev took 1t, but others tried it. White
traders tried it. They said 1t was good.
They tried to get in society, but the
Mescal society won't have white men.
They give lots of mescal to the women.
The women take much of it and give it
to children"
Hold Weekly Meetings.
Mary Rainbow is always informed as
to just where the meetings will be held
and at what time. She takes care TO
find out the new converts. Members
Of the Mescal society are free to talk
about their religion and will even admit
visitors to their meetings.
Once a week, usually on Saturday
afternoons, the Indians have a mescal
meeting. 1t is announced by the leader
who makes a our of the different
homes and informs the members of the
meeting place. The meetings are seldom
held in the same place twice in sue
c~ession, as the Indians still have fear
that the authorities will confiscate their
supply Of dope. Some lonely spot in
the woods which covers the rugged
bluffs along the Missouri river, some
places in the depth OF woods embraced
where the foot Of a white man has sell
dom trod even at this late day, is the
favorite meeting place Of the strange
society.
Gather for the Orgy.
Early in the afternoon the mem
bers begin to gather. It is a solemn
procession Of carriages and horseback
riders, as they dodge In and out among
the trees to go to the meeting place.
One by one they come struggling in.
A little circle is formed about an open
spot as for a dance of the braves.
There are young men with intelligent
faces and wearing the clothing of the
white men. There are old chiefs in
fantastic garbs Of the Indian nation,
wrapped In blankets Of brilliant red
or in snow-white sheets. Some are
painted as though for a battle. There
are squaws with their papooses on
their backs; others old and deaf and
blind; there are young girls with
striking forms and with bright faces
soon to be faded by using the poison
Gus tea. One enters the circle clad in
beautiful red satin; another in blue
calico. Some wear beautiful shawIs
in the colors OF the Mcleod tartan and
in the red and white OF the royal Stuart
full dress plaid: another wears a styl-
ish cravanet, her shoes are patent
leather, her stockings of open lace.
Her feet, as they peep from under her
short dress skirt and snow-white un-
~derskirts, are dainty and betray the
fact that she has lever worn a mecca
sin zinc childhood.
Horrible Effects on Victims.
Among this solemn tribe of wor-
shippers there are scores of men and
women who have lost their sense Of
hearing, and who are almost blind
from using the drug. There are chill
dren who have been In the boarding
school, as evidenced by their uniform
dresses or caps. All are to partake Of
the mescal. and almost without excep-
ton all will be PROSTATE on the ground
- -
meeting starts, their brains whirling,
their bodies trembling, writhing in
~agony-then the horrible numbness,
the loss Of facilities, the retreating Of
the blood from the hands and arms
until only a strong heart can keep the
warm stream flowing through the
veins. 1t Is a sleep, which Is so near
to his brother. Death. that hasty ex-
animation would cause any physician
TO pronounce the victim ~lifeless.
But the w~orshipers will arise at
dawn, o. when the sun begins to beat
down on them, and with faces bleached
as white as ghosts, drag their out
ragged bodies to their huts to recover
from the horrible orgy, which may re-
quire several days.
Exhorter Talks TO Indians.
While the Congregation Is as
sembling, an old man with hat OFF md
holding a heavy cane, exhOrtS the Wor-
shippers to be patient until the last
n arrives. Then a solemn dirge is
sung to the beating OF tom-toms. Some
of the women bring the mescal Juice
with them IN jugs and bottles. But
some of the tea Is always made at the
meeting In large iron kettles.
All the time while the mescal Juice
Is being brewed the w~orshipers are sing
ing and the old redskin Is exhorting
them. His harangue is tiresome. II is
q call like the singing of the psalms In
a cultural tongue. Those who have
brought mescal tea with them sip II
while the harangue Is going on m
the public mess Is being brewed.
Indians who speak the English on the