Illinois -- Antiquities; Indians of North America -- Illinois -- Antiquities
They have many ceremonies and rites. Some two hundred spirits are
worshipped. These are represented by masked men, dolls and placs.
The desire for rain has an important part in many ceremonies. This is
true of the famous Hopi Snake Dance. This attracted much attention
last year because attended by Mr. Roosevelt. Some fifty machines,
mostly Fords, made the desert trip. The Hopis believe a great smoke
in the earth controls the rain. A great many rattle and bull snakes
are gathered and cared for in the underground "kivas" or caves. At
sunset on the ninth day of the ceremony the snake men come from the
kivas. They dance with the snake in the mouth until all have been thus
treated. A priest frees them in the rocks and prays that the parent
snake may give the Hopis rain.
Our government maintains a school for children of each mesa and
one more advanced at government headquarters. Those desiring to go
further are sent to Indian schools. Some of these Hopis are known as
unfriendlies--hostile to the government. Until last year soldiers had
to be sent to get their children whom the parents refused to send.
Besides the missionaries who are doing much the government has its
agent, farmer, windmill man, doctors, teachers and matrons.
On my return to the railroad we were delayed because of heavy
rains. What was a small stream in August was in September a river
three-fourths of a mile wide when we first saw it. In the bed of this
stream our wagon was stuck. The chief of the Navajo Tribe helped us
take it to pieces and so get it out of the mud in the wash.
Imagine if you can what it would mean to hear a train whistle after
six weeks' absence from civilization. As we topped the rise on the
afternoon of the fourth day the sight of that brought me to my
feet. How I gazed at it! My Indian driver said "Miss----pashalayi"
("Miss----you are very happy.")
Early the next morning three of us said good bye. My Indian companion
with his hat in hand and my father and I said more in those parting
handshakes than words could ever tell. A few minutes later we were
borne westward by train and he to the north in his wagon.
[Illustration: Section of a Hopi Village, Second Mesa, Shipaulovi.]
(Handwritten notation: Cut Furnished by Herbert Cox)
KATAHOTAN.
Old Town.
(To The Kickapoo Club.)
Behold the trail
Where many moccasinned feet have trod,
And many white mens weary steps
Have led to death untimely, or to long captivity.
Behold the village site,
Where once the Kickapoos
In pole-bark houses lived, and where
Their council-house
Stood from the others, somewhat larger,
And a little way apart.
Here Pemoatam and Masheena met
To choose for war or peace, and choosing war,
Set forth upon that dire ill-fated way
That led to Tippecanoe, and Tecumsehs fall.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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