Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-10

seemed to me the worst of all. His
mother had fitted him with smoked
buckskin apparel, and he certainly
looked striking.
The meeting with me brought the
struggle to climax and, as If to put an
end to all argument, this boy closed our
interview by casting aside his blanket
and running into the growing circle. He
raised his voice above the rest and pro-
claimed his intention to enter the COM
ing ordeal and prove himself worthy
to join the braves" of the tribe.
~ *
PACK In the misty past Of the tribe,
1.-THE custom had been inaugurated OF
taking some test that constituted an
initiation for candidates for the coveted
place among men of the tribe, one with
all the rights Of man among men.
Until this test was passed, no boy or
man could wear the eagle feather Of a
brave In his tribe. Those having the
desire or ambition meditated long hours
In solitude while gazing into the sun on
bright days, imploring the Wise One
Above to send sign Of some kind that
would clinch the decision. Others acted
as my friends were doing on the day
speak of, on the spur of the moment,
seized with the spirit of the occasion,
showing intense desire as the urge Of
the voice of the Great Spirit ordered
them ahead.
Joined a crowd that was pulling
down tepees and moving on toward the
chosen spot in the West. We Travelled
some 20 miles to the camp.
Circles within circles Of tepees sur
rounded an immense structure in the
center Of the great Indian village. This
had been erected the day previous by
the men of the tribe, for no woman's
hand must touch anything to do with
the sacred ceremony, although they
could look on and cheer their men to
great deeds.
It was a solemn time. No one laugh
ed every one spoke in low voice or
sat in deep meditation. The audience
gathered silently and speedily disposed
themselves In rows around the large
circle. At the west side of the circle
gathered the group of candidates, each
stripped to the waist.
Each boy had selected some old war
rior as his mentor and guide. There
was much close consultation. Darkness
had fallen; the scene became weird in
the dancing light of numerous fires.
Suddenly there came deep, resonant
"bome" from a kettle-drum where a
warrior struck it, then at long intervals
we heard regular bome-bome-bom
bone In a slow measure and the great
ceremony was on. The first drum was
soon Joined by one after another as
each caught step and joined in. until
there were five or six, all sounding in
unison.
one young fellow stepped from the
group of candidates and began to rock
from toe to heel and intone words. He
told of his name. his intention to take
the test that would make man OF him.
and asserted that he would not fail. for
his medicine was now strong. He then
looked at his mentor and received sign
to proceed. With that he strobe over
to a medicine man and stuck out his
chest. and things happened quickly as
the drums kept up ceaseless drone.
The medicine man grasped the skin
of one breast into a bunch, jabbed the
long knife through from side to side and
turned the knife over to make good
hole, then passed wooden Skewer
through the flesh. The skewer was left
in the cut and sinews attached to each
end were brought together and tied into
knot. The same process was used on
the other breast.
The two punches of binding sinew
we're made fast to separate rawhide
ropes and the candidate then walked to
one of the cross bars in the open and
was quickly hauled from his feet as he
tensed his arms to his sides, all the
while looking up to where the sun
would be at midday.
With vigorous tugs, the attendants
pulled their man up until his extended
toes were foot from the earth. and
there they made him fast. Then the
candidate began to shout his story over
and over again, the drums now beating
in loud unison and with a fast regular
beat. to the time of which the candidate
worked his arms so that his body
bounded up and down in little jerks.
He must hang there until he broke
through the skin of his breasts and re-
leased himself Quickly the five other
men we're treated the same way, and
the drums beat louder and louder as
one after another was started on his
way to torture.
MO one retired that night, and the
morning sun arose on every one
there in place, the candidates still at
their efforts to tear themselves loose.
Drummers spelled one another so that
there was continuous drumming. Some
of the warriors started to dance early
in the evening, and passed the night
without respite, for they were also en-