The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-01-09
80
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the dance and bite the flesh from the forearms
OF these spectators. II has long been consid-
cred a great honor among the Kwakiutl 20 be
bitten by hamatsa. The wounded spectator
is always we'll paid for his suffering
Since these Indians do not bury their dead.
but place them in burial houses OF cedar or I'd
In trees supply of mummies can usually be
obtained. The translation OF the Kwakiutl
word for mummy is sweet food" Head hunt
ing was not murder with these tribes. II was
a sport-a custom OF che region among certain
clans.
AS illustrated by their wonderfully carved
totem poles these Indians hold various ant
mails and hsh in the highest yeneration. Some
indeed, have never been killed for religious
purposes. The wolf, for example. was sacred
But the father OF a man-child destined 10 be a
warrior might STAY wolf in order that the in
FAINT might eat four bits OF the heart OF the
wolf.
The killer whale was never hunted Even the
hnback whale. which was hunted on the high
seas by the Indians in their frail canoes was
held In the highest veneration.
The curious dances OF the animals they be-
lieve were their remote ancestors are shown
In Mr.. Curtiss photographs There is the
dance OF the grizzly bear. the thunder bird. the
tsonokwa, the wolf. the dog. the mythic wasp.
The loon, the saw-b duck and OF many other
animals and monsters.
An entrance to wedding or a mummy feast
mouth OF the raven. Although Motana a big
chief. and his clan warred against the head
hunters II cannot be said that they frowned on
the practices Of the hamatsa or mummy wor
clippers. The Winter dances OF the priests
eere part OF the customs OF practically all the
tribes from where Tacoma now Is 10 the mid
Alaskan coast. II must be remembered that
these Indians are seafarers. There r. word
In their language for horse. Even today many
OF them have never seen a Eorse.
They fashioned great sea-going canoes. &C
cOmmodating as many as eighty people from
the solid trunks OF cedars. Working with tools
OF stone and soft plaoermined copper. they
overlaid these canoes with intricate carvi1F
The carvings for their canoes are only par OF
the really marvellous handiCraft OF these In
dams. Their carpentry. In general for they
live In huge wooden houses. aud their totem
pole carvings are a. astounding as the art OF
The ancient Egyptians. Indeed, there is no evil
dence 70 the contrary that the civilization Of
Egyptians.
Cannibalism and head hunting Hourished
but these Indians for centuries before the
coming or the white man had attained a de-
gree or culture greater. perhaps than thai o.
any other American aborigines. except Inc
ancient clih dwellers N Arizona. In this con
nection 70 Is curious 60 note that ON this con
unent Indians who danced the most may be
SAID 70 have had the highest civilization. Wit
ness. for example, the culture Of the Hopitu OF
Arizona Just as De won bis way into the fuII
confidence Of the Kwakiut so did Mr. Curtis
become brother With the Hopfti. lie was the
hrst white man TO enter the Kiya. or sacred
house Of snakes. and to take actual pars with
i've rmtlers ia his hands in the entire nine.
day ceremony a the Hopitl snake dance for
rain "
OF an the Rvakiutl dances that OF The Are q.
the most astounding. These Ere dancers practice
self-hypnosis. They will attack a huge pile ~
burning logs and literally waIlow In The Games
stamping and crushing The live Goals " i'm tbef-
bare hands and feet. That the Gre ,Brns tbo1,
is Witnessed hy tho deep scars which cover
the bodies ~ fhis cult n FIRE dancers put A.
great ie their power % selfbypnos.q thsf tbese
Indians DO not feel the burns dgrlnr tho
dancing
IRE dancer must Boz man OF great wealth.
because In scattering the FRO be- freguor.i,
burns spectators. and. Just az those ubo srs
olueh by a hamatsa must b. paid FOR their
pain, sO must those burned ly the aro d.nc.,
be handsomely redrcssed