The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-07-08

with bones.
The Hand Game
For the mems game, two bones
about three inches long and less than
an inch in diameter, one bone being
wrapped in the middle with cloth
and the. other bone bare and white
were the center of interest. Both
were tossed to some man who pro-
ceeded. to conceal them in his hands,
and as the song progressed and the
drummers drummed, his hands
danced about and after hiding them
moment under a garment or
blanket, the opposing team were
challenged to tell which hand con-
tanned the white bone. Guessing
wrong lost them stick, while guess
ing right won stick. When either
side got all the sticks the game was
decided. Women play the game in
the same way, but they use smaller
bones. They sing and beat time
while the game is in progress, and
laugh over the turns the game takes.
Seven Fat BulIocks
The beeves were slaughtered on
Wednesday evening for Fridays s
feast, and on Thursday it was cut
into slices less than half an inch
thick and hung up to dry so the sur
face would be sufficiently crusted
to keep the juices from losing while
it was being roasted. On Friday
forenoon the roasting and stewing
were done. Green willows were
stuck into the ground about six
inches apart and two rows five or six
feet apart. They were bent over
and the tops plated together form
ing an arch or canopy about three
or three and half feet high. On
these the meat was spread and ex-
posed to the flame of dry willows
for about an hour, being
turned over in the meantime. Then
it was piled in a wagon box strewn
with the foliage of willow tops.
When a wagon was loaded, a brave
threw his lariat about the end of the
wagon tongue, snubbed the rope
around the horn of his saddle and
hauled it thru the grounds to the
banquet tent where it was unloaded
by being put into boxes and large
pans, carried into the tent and
dumped into long rick or pile. A
canvas was first spread out on the
ground and that was covered with
green willows, then the meat was
dumped on the willows, and girls
sat around keeping the flies away by
swinging willow boughs about it.
The cooks attended to the sailing
while it was in process.
Some Fine Apparel
AS the dinner hour approached,
men who had been resting, put on
their beaded vests, fine sfeatherel
hats and other native costume. each
such marks of distinction
rs they possessed and rejoiced in.
One had an eagle-wing fan, another
wore vest with infantry and calvary
stories in pictured worked in vari-
colOred beads. Gay-colored hand
kerchiefs appeared in profusion, and
maidens wore some large blue shawls
Of rare beauty. Rich color abounded
IN many kinds Of garb, and the ma
irons in charge of cooking and serv-
ing, appeared wearing dresses of
black broadcloth decked above the
with hundreds of elk teeth
fastened in rows three or four inches
apart, and representing values run
hing into hundreds of dollars.
Knives and Can Openers
In the commissary tent adjoining
he banquet tent, several men were
busy for long time slicing bread
brought from the bakery in town,
while as many others used can
openers getting the cased goods
'eady for serving. Others sliced
and dished up peanuts
n big pans and buckets ready for
passing. Coffee was set out in rows of
buckets as the time for serving ap-
,roached, and sacks of tin cups and
in places we're made ready for the
pread.
The Banquet Tent
The banquet tent was circular,
With the sides rolled up, and people
,dIHcIou Ill anu SAT Ill rows AROUND
he edges in the shade. A large
lag foated over it and the master of
carried a flag. Four
hundred and forty were in and
bout the tents when the master of
ceremonies, George Metsaw strode |
nto the center of the tent and intro
luced Billy George, who spoke in
lis native tongue to the following
fleet as given the writer in an
lndertone by interpreter Frank |
randall while he spoke:
Billy Georges Speech
ION this Fourth of July we all |
inc together in rejoicing. Tho there |
re some strangers here, yet we are
IL friends assembled to have a |
appy day. To me 1t seems good to |
ee SO many happy faces, and so
nany dressed in our native costumes.
wish to express the hope that when |
mother snow has passed and the |
anne moon and the same day shall |
ONE again, that we may see the
anne faces assembled here again"
Applause expressed by a chorus of |
aye, aye, aye.")