The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1908-04-24
FAREWELL Of S|WASHES.
CHIEF ToMANAWAs AND TRIBE
TAKE FINAL LEAVE.
GIVE UP HUNTING GROUNDS.
Final Pow-wow and Potlateh Closes
with Tribal Salute to the Coming
Of the White Raee-Passins OF the
Red Man From Washington Valley.

Red Man From Washington Valley.
Spokane, Wash, April 1S.-Chief
Tomanawas and his tribe of Siwashes
have said their farewells and taken
formal leave OF their ravorite hunt.
ing and fishing grounds on the Col.
umbia river, near what is to be the
town OF White Bluffs, in Douglas
| county, southwest of Spokane. The
final pow-wow and potlatch took place
at night, and closed with the tribal
salute TO the coming of the white race.
Graceful in his gestures and elo-
quent in tongue, Tomonawas deliver
ed the farewell Grafton, holding his
people literally spellbound for a quar-.
ter hour, while he glorified their deeds
of valor, told Of their struggles against
the white man and of their battles
with other tribes who sought to in
wade the rich valley, where he and
his tribesmen and their forebears held
sway for many years.
The ceremonials were witnessed by
number of Yakimas, one time the
bitterest foes of the departing tribe,
also by large gathering Of settlers,
who came into the valley in advance
of the rans-continental railroad now
building through Washington.
The farewell was preceded by three
days of dancing, during which the
chief and headmen visited the old
stamping ground which marked the
scenes of their victories in the Yak.
ina Indian wars. This was followed
by twelve hours of fasting, during
which the squaws and girls prepared
the camp for the final leave taking.
At dusk the heads of the bands visit
ed the tribal burial grounds, request
ing the newcomers to permit the re-
mains Of their departed brothers to
rest undisturbed This rite being car
ried out with much ceremony and
pomp, the Indians assembled at the
waters edge, where small fires had
been started and the flames smother
ed. Chief Tomanawas impersonated
the war god to salute the newcomers.
When the moon appeared at a GER
tain point in the sky, the squaws be-
gan death chant, which was weird
and wild in the extreme, their voices
mingling with the bowling of the coy
otes. Winnebishu, declared to be the
Oldest sQuaw in the Pacific northwest,
prostrated herself before the central
fire at the beginning of the chant and
as. her voice gave expression to tones
like the wall Of lost soul, the fires,
in turn. were uncovered and the
squaws formed a circle about them.
AT points between the fires the head
men took positions, each decked in
the war paint and head-feather of the
old days.
Squaws and girls, with old-fashioned
pestle and mortar, ground grain for
the food. The corn and wheat had
been charmed by the medicine men.
The chanting of the squaws continued
twenty minutes, when Chief Toma-
nawas arose from a crouching position
in the center of the big circle and Civ
ing a shout which echoed along the
hills, commanded those assembled to
harken to the last voice of the war
riors which would ever be heard in
the Columbia river valley.
At the close of his address, which |
was largely of historical character,
the veteran chieftain squatted on the |
ground, and the Indians joined the
chant of the aged squaw, who during
the early part of the ceremony and the
iu
squirming to free herself from the |
bands which bound her and the others
of the tribe to this part of the river
lands. When all was quiet the squaw
uttered terrifying scream and swoon- |
ed, striking the ground with force.
Without the slightest heed to the
woman, the chief and his tribesmen,
all formalities, gathered |
around the caldron of steaming |
''mulligans," and during the following
fifteen minutes they did full Justice |
to the dish. At the close of the feast |
there was a dance, several OF the
Indians doing the torture dance with |
their war clubs. When this was over
Chief Tomanawas and his men knelt |
at the waters edge on the bank of
the river, and raising their faces to
the heaven they voiced another dirge-
like song.
At midnight, when the moon had
reached the point in the sky for which
the farewell had been timed the fires
on the river bank were smothered,
canoes were pushed into the water,
the aged squaw was placed on a rude
ly built litter and showed into one OF
the skiffs, and with blankets around
their heads and shoulders, Chief Tom
anawas and the Indians took their
places in their craft. At signal from
the chieftain the canoes were padded
out into the swift waters of the Colum.
bia river and the passing Of the red
men from the valley became a matter
OF history.