Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-11-27

an important ad- |
dition to the short list OF domesticat-
ed fowls.
The turkey was introduced into
Spain In 1870. and into England in
1924, and soon was reared as a barn
yard fowl In both countries. Not for
nearly half a century was IT taken to
France. So far as can be learned.
the first turkey ever seen In that
country was shipped in 1870 from Bos-
ton. then a little settlement In the al
most unknown American wilderness.
for the delectation OF the guests at
the wedding feast Of King Charles TX
and Elizabeth OF Austria.
Civilized man prizes the turkey
solely as a table delicacy: but strange
" enough, the American Indians es-
teemed It moro for the sake OF it's
feathers than for it's flesh. When the
bow and arrow constituted the most
important weapon OF war and OF the
chase. feathers were OF the greatest
utility to the tribespeople. being at
tached to the shafts OF their arrows
to give them buoysncy, and to cause
them 10 carry straight. For this pur-
pose. most Of the tribes employed the
feathers OF eagles. some those OF tur-
KEYS. and some those OF both birds.
! The Cheyennes. whose hunting
grounds comprised most Of the pres
ent state OF wyoming. are said to
have used turkey feathers exclusively
/ for their arrows, and were known TO
the neighboring tribes by name that
signifed striped arrows" in refer
ence to this preference. The Apaches,
also. used turkey feathers for arrow
making. as did the Navajos. Sioux
Arapahoes and many other tribes. al
though no others employed them sc
exclusively as did the Cheyennes and
Apaches.
Beyond doubt the most striking anc
attractive headdress ever worn b,
any aboriginal people was the wal
bonnet OF the western Indians. IL wai
composed OF the tail feathers of tur
: keys or eagles depending upon thu
practice OF the tribe). II was fash
ioned to encircle the crown OF tn
wearer's head and extend down hi
> back to the ground. The war bonnie
was worn only by chiefs. and ever
| leather WIS SuploSSO ~ ACPA NoN-N
:. separate deed OF valor.
In the ceremonial dances, strang
/, and grotesQue masks are worn by tn
l participants, some Of whom personal
the nature gods, while others take III
role Of the clan ancients. Many I
: these masks are deliberately decorate
with feathers OF turkeys. eagles. owl
1. hawks and other birds. In the dec
ration OF the affairs erected on Ger
k, moniai occasions for the worship
the nature-gods, feathers are conspi
L. nous But perhaps the most CONNIE
use OF feathers Is in the making
PRAYER sticks. which are planted
~ springs. by the banks Of runnil
streams. near the shrines OF the goo
. in the fields where crops are CROWN
n, or where seed has been planted, a
az in hooks and crannies among {
he rocks. The prayer sticks are made
the priests and given to the Peep
ate Analogous to the use OF feathers
he the making of prayer sticks and al
+ decorations. IS their employment
oh the making of fetishes. used by I
kes various secret orders, or fraterniti
10eSe lcllSucS, vi COui 90 POSo
"a magical virtues. understood only
t1s the initiated. Among the Zuni is
fraternity known as the 'Hlewekw
or sword swallowers. The Sword
cir a long, wooden implement. which
ets the course OF the ceremonial dance
Use the order Is thrust far down into
ay, throat of the performer and t
rer withdrawn. To the upper end Of
in Sword" IS attached large bunch
the tail feathers of the turkey,
which, OF course, the ceremony O
out much OF it's supposed magical pow
one This dance of the sword swallow
las' Is important for the reason that
Z i'e supposed to bring the SHOWS of '
lne ter. which melt and sink into
tue ground. thus preparing the soil
the reception OF the seeds at plan
DR. time In the spring.
nty. Feathers of many birds, and par
larly of the turkey. are used In
- sports and games OF the Indians.
7 game of "Pokiianni," a favorite an
the Zuni. is played with shuttlec
~ made of corn husks and turkey Z,
ers. Fetishes are made by the pr
for foot racers. consisting mainl
feathers from the legs of turl
which are supposed to give feet
OF foot to the runners.