The Elbert County tribune., 1919-10-24

along the Hackensack river Having satisfied
their appettes the turned in" for the night
Scout Coyte on awakening opposite his face
a small, thick bundle. coil. Very quickly he
realized that 1t was venOmous snake of the
copperhead variety, and instinctvely he thrust
his arm upward to protect his head and neck. He
had not done too quickly, however, for the
reptile had sprung forward. burying its fangs
deep into the protecting arm. Withdrawing
quickly and wriggng off into the shrubbery along
the river bank.
Young Coyte awakened his companion and they
Improvised tournquet from his handkerchief and
n small stick. Realizing that the wound not
flowing freely enough he cut into and around the
bite until 1t bled profusely. Emptyng the contents
of Il cartridge into the break in his fesh he ap-
piled flame TO the powder and withsrood the tenn
porary pain. 1t was later determined that he had
successfully Offset the possibility of fatal result
through his commendable presence of mind. He
had burnt all trace of poison completely from his
and in few days again back at his job,
the worse for his experience
1t is principle of the boy scout movement to
avoid secret ceremonies and limitations. High
tensioned limitations dangerous to boys in the
adoescent stage. The virtues of the ceremony
carried out, however by the scout council for
Delaware and Montgomery counties, Pennsylvania,
obvious. its thrills real and yet reason
able, that it readily be used.
Their camp site occupied many years
ago by the Unami tribe of Indians. This tribe
had initiation ceremony for its young men
which has been preserved up to the present day.
Scouts who have taken camp honors by doing a
specified amount of work in scoutcraft are given
this initiation under the direction of r. Harring-
ton and Aonson Skinner of the Institute of Amer
lean Indians of New York. The ceremonies are
performed by Amos Overload, Sioux Indian con-
nected with the institute They are described as
follows:
Ceremonies of Initiation.
The ceremonies should begin before dusk and,
with the fasting, etc. should last about 26 hours.
The first thing before beginning the ceremony is
to make an Indian 'sweat house" for publication
then to build large fire distance east of its
entrance and to heat II stones varying from the
size of coconut to that of mans skull. Two
forked green sticks should be provided to roll the
hot stones into the sweat house; also two large
earthen jars of water should be placed at the
back of the sweat house opposite the door, to-
gether with about peck of cedar twgs about
six inches long. When all is ready the chief,
wearing only breechcloth stands at the door of
the sweat house and addresses the candidates,
lined up stark naked before him. He makes
speech to them, something like this
My sons about to take you a little way
along the Unami trail to show you the ways of
the I.enape grandfathers. But first
purify ourselves outwardy by the sweat bath,
inwardy by the black drink (made of herbs), for
such is the custom that has been handed down to
us. When has been purified In these ways the
powers OF nature will look upon him with favor,
and the winds will whisper sweet words in his
ears-all Will help him to endure the trials that
must be his tomorrow"
He then goes into the sweat house and seats
himself in The back. opposite the door; the candi
dates follow and seat themselves around the
sides The Oshkosh roll the IL hot stones Into