The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-09-14
THE LAST OF
 THE MOHECANS
Remnant of Fast DwindIing Connecticut Tribe Holds
 Annual Wigwam

l Mohegan, Conn.,, Sept. 14.-The rem
 nant of the Mohegan tribe of Indians,
 once owners of all the region here
 abouts, held their fiftieth annual ''wigwam" here recently.
 | For the occasion the young men | interlaced the supple branches of l white birches into leafy tent, where
 in was sold for the benefit of the lit of handiWork of the, tribe. Other mus cu1ar half-breeds pounded the frag- rant sweet corn, which had been dried
 and PuIv,erized it, for the character istfc ftyokeag, which was eaten by
 palefaces from New London and Nor
 wich. The aged squaws of the tribe
 prepared the farfamed Mohegan sue- cotash, savory compound Of fresh
 corn, lima beans, and other ingredi-
 ents.
 There was also a chowder, made in
 time-honored iron Kettle heated over
 a big fire in the open. The Indian
 women have not only learned the se-
 crets of their white nefghbors in the
 matter of cake and doughnuts making,
 but have gone beyond them, and peo-
 pie drove in for miles around to get
 some of the. cakes which were sold in
 the leaf-walled tent.
 Ancient bead and basket work was
 displayed on the tables of the wig
 waTn,'' as was the regulation supply
 of fine. needlework. aprons, doi1ies, centerpieces, bureau scarfs and lunch cloths, all of superior workmanship, for these Indian women are skilled in domestic arts. There was also a showing of wooden Sspoonss axe ham tions have been carved by members of one family. Henry Matthews who died a few years ago, was a master hand at wood carving, and some of spoons were still offered by his son, Charles Matthews. The mother of eight always makes an effort to be on hand for the festival, although she is so feeble as to be obliged to ride to the church grounds, where the wig daughters of the family. all the wives of we1l-to-do white men, are leaders nthe festival york;
 The. sum realized by the sale and supper goes toward the support of the church. The Indian women and girls have all the quiet dignity of their ancestors, and received their guests brance that some Of the finest homes in the wealthy city of Norwich are built upon what were once their free holdings. before the Government linn tied the forty. or fifty members of | the tribe to the Mohegan reservation. Most of the men are farmers. carpen- ters or n1asons, and as their land is | good all can make a satisfactory 1iv- | ing. The younger men who are ern- p1oyed in city industries are alert, l intelligent and well to do.
 Just how many years longer the tra- Wigwam will be continued is | a question For half a century it | has been the big event in Indian af- fairs each. fall. but with the passing braves and squaws may not take. the 1 pride in displaying their skill at hand l craft as did their parents. or the sale may become a typical church affair. | held indoors instead of on the summit | of the breezy hill overlooking the Riv- | sr Thames whereon birch canoes | made noiseIess trips long before the | white settlers Of Norwich emigrated rom Old Saybrook. in 1859 Except for | their high cheek bones and intensely | black hair the younger generation bear few of. the characteristics of their red- I skin ancestors.