Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1911-05-12
INDIAN COURT FINDS
MENACE IN MEXICAN
BEAN IN CEREMONIES
Attempted Introduction of Mes.
cal Berry In Worship Gets
Red Men Into Trouble.

Pine Ridge, May Six of the In
dams Of Pass Creek district, of this
reservation, charged with introducing
the notorious mescal bean among theE
brethren, were recently hailed befort
the celebrated Indian court, by Major
Tohn r. Freeman. superintendent OF
the reservation at this Indian agency
The use of this Intoxicating alkalolo
has been for some time more or less
mixed up with the religious ceremonies
of the Winnebagos and Omahas OF
eastern Nebraska, but this is the first
attempt on the part Of the aristocrats
OF the Indian world, the Sioux, 10
charm themselves into happiness by
the use of the subtle vegetable aka
loid.
Indian Court Confiscates Outfit.
The outfit used in the celebration
of the ''mescal" service was confscated
by the Indian court. Among n para
phernalia was a homemade drum, for
which use was made or q
part OF a discarded paint keg, with a
buckskin stretched over one end. The
drum sticks were decorated with re-
ligious emblems and words burned into
them. There vas a sort OF an altar
cloth with a small circle worked In
the center, in which was placed the
tea" which was breWed from the
Y u Vi ~ 49, 1880
stance the cup" was a highly colered
shaving mug, probably purchased from
some trader.
The ~''peyote" or mescal bean was a
small dried part of a flower which
grows only in the tropics and in this
case had been originally imported from
Mexico. In looks, it has the appear
ance OF a dried mushroom, but 1t has
81 narcotic quality which ts very de-
ceptive in It's action on the human sys
tenn.
Bean a "Holy Comforter"
According to the tales of the Indians
the wonderful bean is regarded by its
devotees. as the Messiah, or Holy
Comforter" promised the world by
Christ at the time Of His ascension,
but strange to say, after the "bowing
down before his majesty, the bean,
they stew up a mess of them, and pro-
coed tc seek comfort by drinking the
tea" This seems to produce q sort or
mid i"ntoxication and feeling or gen.
eral ease, comfort and happiness and
Mr.. indian goes off to sleep after his
service of worship and hymn singing.
His slumber lasts for several hours and
then he repeats the performance, the
whole conference or series of "wor-
ships" lasting two or three days, gen.
orally beginning Saturday afternoon
n continuing until sometime on Mon
day.
Experiment a Success.
The court is composed of the most
advanced and intelligent members of
the Sioux nation, picked by Major
Brennan after very careful considera-
ton; and his judgment relative to the
experiment OF starting these Indians
On the road toward the judicial branch
Of elf-government has been amply
justified by their decisions.
After carefully considering the mat
ter from all points of view, they fin
ally concluded that the attempt on the
part of the accused to introduce, un-
der the guise of a new religion, the use
of the notorious "mescal," would very
likely result in much harm to the
people, and sentenced the offenders to
q term in Jail, as well as co~nfiscating
The balance OF the beans and the
outfit.