Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-15
INDIAN TRAINING.
How Nez perce Runners Prepared
for Their Contests.

From the Red Man.
The men Of the Nez Perez tribe who
were set apart by their physical quaiifi-
cations to train for runners used to conn
mence their training in the latter part of
October, at which time they began to
take early morning baths In cold noun
tain streams. These baths were kept up
through the whole winter season until
the spring weather made the water cooler.
Next on the schedule to be followed by
those training are the warm baths, taken
in a hole in the ground where the water
is heated by hot stones. mixed with cold
baths described above. II the warm bath
is not taken the sweat bath Is substi-
tuted. and is prepared as follows: First a
skeleton of a small hut is made from will
low boughs, this is covered with twigs
and dirt, a small opening being left in
front for door. over which blankets are
hung. Near this door small round hole
Is dug and filed with red hot stones.
After all the trainers have had plunge
in the cold water they enter this little
sweat house and close the door. Then
one Of the number pours warm water on
the red hot stones. causing the steam to
rise and surround the occupants of the
tightly closed ROOM
take another plunge into the cold water.
This process they keep up until the stones
are cold and useless for the manufacture
Of steam.
After u light dinner. consisting of mere
ly little soup, the same program is re-
peated: and this is done daily for at least
three months of the year, sweat baths
being INDUCED In in the early morning
and late evening-usually after sunset
The way in which young bucks en-
6ur1nca waS tested TaS like this N old
warrior selects tree with limb afford
ing - n opportunity to S n O /.
by ones hands When the night comes
for the testing the old buck calls the
young brave to jump out from his hot
he : 'e TO leap and catch the linb " tn
both hands and to cling to 1t until he is
ordered to "let co. II ne drops urcon-
sciOus before the signal is given It is a
sign that the training has not been sufYi.
cient, and he is ordered to return to his
daily routine until such time as he can
cling to the limb for the desired number
of minutes. After this testing the pro-
gram for those In training Is extended by
the addition OF short runs every morning
and evening for q distance OF five or six
miles. AS the youths begin to show en-
durance this distance is gradually length
ened.
Then comes another testing. small
which they are required to run on jump
ing out Of the hot bath. If the person
tested does not reach the top and back
again he is considered not yet in proper
condition. Sometimes the candidate runs
half way up the hill. then falls and rolls
down the slope unconscious
Such training gives to the Indian in
credible strength. agility and power of
endurance. AS an example. one needs
only to cite Lawyer, who was killed near
Cuf de Sac. idaho. Compared with his
white brothers he appeared TO be about
forty at the time Of his death. but in
reality he was past seventy years of ate.
II is said that at one time, before the
Neg Perce war. he chased q black bear
for over sixty miles over mountains and
across CANYONS. He mif ut have succeedA
in catching brIin. but 1t grew too dark
for the chase, so he calmly trotted back
home again. -t--.