Tour of the American Lakes, and Among the Indians of the North-West Territory, in 1830 (Volume 1); Disclosing the Character and Prospects of the India

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1833. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXIV. FREE MASONRY AMONG THE INDIANS; MEDICINE DANCE; AND WAR DANCES. As I was walking one day in the camp of the Winnebagoes, I observed a group of Indians collected around one of the lodges, deeply absorbed in the performance of some strange and mysterious rites, apparently of a symbolical and religious nature. The women were engaged in them, as well as the men--and all in public. At one moment they would seem to be occupied in a sort of hocus-pocus incantation, with the greatest imaginable solemnity. In spite of my philosophy, I could but sympathise with them. I verily stood waiting, from the degree of faith and expectation which they manifested, to see some strange and miraculous phenomena; spirits perhaps, coming up from the caldron they appeared to be stirring. True, there was no caldron visible to the vulgar--to us--no kettle of any fashion--no material vessel of capacity;--but they were evidently and earnestly stirring up something over a fire. They formed a circle, men and women, with a sort of pudding-stick--alias a witch's or wizard's rod;--and round and round they walked, with a gravity, at sight of which few would not have felt solemn, each one stirring the caldron in turn, as he or she came where it was--or should be;--reciting at the same time some mysterious words. There was manifestly an expectation of some wondrous result. They grew excited--they danced--they raved--and seemed to be the subjects of involuntary and violent muscular spasms. They would stop suddenly, and lift up the head, like the dog that bays the moon; and mutter with a most inconceivable volubility a long prayer--or some other piece of religious exercise, I know not what, apparently of a devotional character. This baying of the heavens, however, appeared to be th...