New-York tribune., 1921-10-23

inclosure in ths center Of the camp. SUM
shade Of leaves and bows had been built for
the spectators, and the missionary and l re-
clined beneath it. In the center of the circle
the Indians had made huge pile of all the
gifts We distinguished eools, blankets. robes,
pots, pans, everything, in fact, that an Indian
could get from the trading stores.
"The master of ceremonies selected an ar
ticle from the pile. The donor then stepped
into the circle and announced to whom he
proposed 10 give it.
"The exchange of gifts plays an important
role in the social life Of indians. They really
impoverish themselves, much as white folks do
at Christmas time. With the indians, how
ever, it is done much oftener than once a
year, and The government has .ried to break
up the practice. This was the principal rea-
son, suppose, why the chiefs had objected to
the presence Of white men. The government
objections are based on excellent reasons.
The Indians, in the first place spend couple
of weeks journeying to and from these cere-
monials, which really are survivals of the
ancient sun dances. 1t interferes with their
of the lard allotted to them, and in
various ways delays their progress.
'At the sun dances offerings were mede to
the gods. If an Indians wife was sick he
would promise to make some sacrifice If shs
was cured. Often these sacrifices were agree
ments to torture themselves. The Indian sys-
tenn of testing courage was tarbarous. They
would thread sinews or thongs though .heir
chest muscles through the muscles o' .heir
backs and then suspend themselves. Some
times the muscles parted.
"When the pile of gifts was entirely gone
a young Indian girl rode into the circle o.i q
pony that was literally covered with beautiful
bead and feather work. Her costume was
gorgeous and she led a splendid horse. Her
father followed her into the circle.
"She called out the name of an indian.
He entered the circle and she handed him the
halter shank of the led horse. She called an
other name and gave this Indian the pony
she had been riding Another received her
beaded moccasins. Some one else got her
moccasins. Finally she removed her robe
Then, when she was in her bare feet and
clac only in an old cotton wrapper her father
handed her a flour bag. It was tied so that
the bottom bulged to the extent of about a
quart capacity. She united it and called out
the names Of eight or ten old people. There
were men and women, some so feeble they
could not stand. Then when all of them were
IN the circle the girl dipped her brown arm
deep into the sack and TOOK out a handful OF
silver dollars which she emptied into the lap
Of one OF those old Indians.
She distributed the entire contents Of the
sack at least two or three hundred dollars
and how delighted those OLD Indians were. II
vas charitable gesture Of Carnegie propor-
tons
1T was dusk when the camp began to break
up and the Indians started back to their ressr-
vatlons. We had noticed during the dav that
tnere was no fighting and no liquor drinking
among these people. What we had seen n,ade
deep Impression both of US. How old
was TINS custom? Where did the Tndis-, oet
It! Where did the Indian come from? Tbos.
are questions that have never ceased to n,,vz,e
the anthropoogists and archeoloeists wbo
make OF his origin, his habits and his customs
life study"
II marshal Foch should see something a..
TAas sort, his trip would be worth while II
viii be just as WELL though if those Rosebud
visit 'S's