Indian Scout Talks Part 8

XX-THE MAIDENS' FEAST: A CEREMONY FOR GIRLS

A beautiful festival, celebrated yearly in the olden time among the Sioux and other Plains Indians, was called the "Maidens' Feast," and was designed to stimulate a proper pride and dedication to duty among the young girls of the tribe. I shall describe for you an adaptation of this ancient ceremony, that may be appropriately used by Camp Fire Girls and others on their summer outings.

This feast is always given at midsummer, in the fullness of bloom and splendor, as befits a gathering of the flower of the village or community. Invitations may be issued by the Guardian of the Camp Fire, or Leader of the band of girls, in the form of thin leaves of birch-bark or small bunches of sweet-gra.s.s. Another way of giving the invitation, if all the girls are in camp, is to engage the services of some man with a bugle or camp-horn to act as herald. He should dress in Indian costume and make the rounds early in the morning, blowing the horn and declaiming in a loud voice somewhat as follows:

"Hear ye, hear ye, all the people! The maidens of the ... Camp Fire are summoned to repair at noon to-day to the Sacred Stone in the middle of the encampment, there to hold the annual feast! Hear ye, hear ye!"

The maidens all come in ceremonial attire, and full Indian costume is indispensable to the proper effect. The hair is arranged in forward-turning plaits, and surmounted by a modest wreath or fillet of wild flowers. They advance silently, in single file, and form a ring about the "Sacred Stone," a rudely heart-shaped or pyramidal boulder, which has been touched lightly with red paint. Beside the Stone, two new arrows are thrust into the earth. The rock symbolizes permanence, or the unchangeable forces of nature; the arrows, nature's punishment for disobedience.

Now the leader of the maidens steps out of the ring, and laying her right hand upon the summit of the Stone, p.r.o.nounces in clear tones the "Maidens' Vow:"

"Upon this Stone I take the maiden's twofold vow; the vow of purity-my duty to myself; the pledge of service-my duty to others!"

She then steps back and seats herself sidewise on the ground in the ring. Each in turn takes the vow in the same manner until the "maidens'

circle" is complete. Then all rise and chant, or recite in unison, the "Maidens' Song:"

"We are the maidens of -- (name of band); Our faces are turned toward the morning; In our hearts is the summer of promise; In our hands" (make cup of both hands) "we hold the new generation!

United we go to meet the future, Armed with truth to ourselves, and with love for all!"

At the close of the song, all take hands and dance four times about the Stone, each time reversing the movement.

Lastly, they seat themselves again in the same order, and the "feast" is served by handing it about the circle, each maiden taking her portion in her own basin, or bowl, and eating it with her own spoon, having brought these with her according to the Indian custom. Appropriate dishes for the feast would be rice with maple sugar (wild rice if obtainable), green corn or succotash, berries and nuts, maize cakes or pop-corn dainties, or any strictly native product. After the food is served, it is permitted for the first time to talk and laugh, all gravity and decorum having been preserved by partic.i.p.ants and spectators during the entire ceremony.

The parents and friends of the young women should be invited, if convenient, to witness the "Maidens' Feast," and a characteristic Indian feature would be added if some of them should desire to signalize the occasion by gifts to some needy person or cause. Such gifts should be announced at the close of the festival.

XXI-THE GESTURE-LANGUAGE OF THE INDIAN

The American Indian is extremely pictorial in his habits of thought and in his modes of expression. Even his every-day speech is full of symbols drawn from the natural world. Yet more poetic and descriptive in character is that form of communication properly called "gesture speech," but commonly known as "Indian sign-language."

This language is most fully developed among the tribes of the Great Plains, many of whom speak entirely different tongues, for use in their frequent meetings, either accidental or for the purpose of concluding a treaty of peace. It is also used by deaf mutes among Indians. It has been learned and elaborately written out by several authorities, chief of whom is Captain W. R. Clark of the United States Army. Being understood by few, it will serve excellently as a secret code, so much desired by young people, and is especially appropriate to the ceremonials of Boy Scouts and Camp Fire Girls.

We Indian boys were taught from babyhood to be silent, to listen to the things that nature is saying all about us. But since it is hard for a healthy boy to keep his discoveries and observations entirely to himself, he must devise some outlet. Our silent communication, our "wireless," was the gesture-language.

It should be remembered that among Indians the whole body speaks, and that all oratory, and even conversation, is accompanied by graceful and significant gestures. The accomplished user will make the signs herein described rapidly and smoothly, investing the whole with genuine charm, as a novel kind of pantomime. For it will be seen that these are no arbitrary signs, but actual air-pictures, and not manual only, since they include a variety of movements and considerable facial expression.

The construction or grammar of the sign-language is simple. Adjectives follow nouns, conjunctions and prepositions are omitted, and verbs are used in the present tense only. The following signs, well-learned, will enable one to carry on a short conversation, and many more may be devised along these lines by an ingenious boy or girl.

_Attention, or Question_. Hold right hand, palm outward, fingers and thumb separated, well out in front of body at height of shoulder. This is used to begin a conversation.

_I understand_. Throw right forearm out in front of body with fingers closed, except index finger, which is curved and drawn back. This indicates that you grasp and draw something toward you, and is used occasionally while another is talking. If you do not understand, use the Question sign.

_I_. Touch breast with index finger of right hand.

_Glad_. (Suns.h.i.+ne in the heart.) Place compressed right hand, fingers slightly curved, over region of heart; bring left hand, palm downward, in sweeping curve to left of body, at the same time turning it palm upward, as if turning up or unfolding something. The expression of the face should correspond.

_Sad_. Place the closed fist against the heart. Appropriate facial expression.

_Surprised_. Cover mouth with palm of right hand, open eyes widely, and move head slightly backward.

_Angry_. (Mind twisted.) Place closed right fist against forehead and twist from right to left.

_Ashamed_. (Blanket over face.) Bring both hands, palms inward, fingers touching, in front of and near the face.

_Good_. (Level with heart.) Hold extended right hand, back up, close to region of heart; move briskly forward and to right.

_Bad_. (Throw away.) Hold one or both hands, closed, in front of body, backs upward; open with a snap, at the same time moving them outward and downward.

_Brave, Strong_. Hold firmly closed left hand in front of body, left arm pointing to right and front; bring closed right hand above and a little in front of left, and strike downwards, imitating the blow of a hammer.

(This gesture, vigorously made, intensifies any previous statement or description.)

_Alone_. Hold up index finger.

_On Horseback_. Place first and second finger of right hand astride left index finger. Motion of galloping may be made, or a Fall from the horse represented.

_Tent, or Wigwam_. Bring both hands together at the finger tips, forming a cone.

_House_. Interlock fingers of both hands, holding them at right angles.

_Camp_. Sign for _Tent_, then form circle with arms and hands in front of body.

_City, or Village_. Sign for _House_, then _Camp_ sign.

_Sleep_. Incline head to right and rest cheek on right palm. For going into camp, or to indicate the length of a journey, make sign for _Sleep_ and hold up as many fingers as nights were spent on the way.

_Time_ is told by indicating the position of the sun; the _Seasons_ as follows:

_Spring_. (Little gra.s.s.) Hold hands, palms upward, well down in front, fingers and thumbs well separated and slightly curved; separate hands slightly. Then hold right hand in front of body, back to right, closing fingers so that only tip of index finger projects. (This last sign for _Little_.)

_Summer_. Sign for _Gra.s.s_, holding hands at height of waist.

_Autumn_. (Falling leaves.) Hold right hand above head, fingers closed, except index finger and thumb, which form nearly a circle; bring hand slowly downward with wavering motion.

_Winter_. Hold closed hands in front of body and several inches apart; give s.h.i.+vering motion to hands.

To indicate _Age_, give sign for _Winter_ and hold up fingers; all counting is done in the same way, in multiples of ten; as, for one hundred, open and close fingers of both hands ten times.

_Color_ is usually indicated by pointing to some object of the color spoken of.

_Brother_. Touch first and second finger to lips.

_Sister_. Sign for _Brother_, and that for _Woman_.

_Woman_. (Long hair.) Bring both palms down sides of head, shoulders, and bosom, with sweeping gesture.