The life and practice of the wild and modern Indian; the early days of Oklahoma, some thrilling experiences (1922) (14597305119)

Identifier: lifepracticeofwi00news (find matches)
Title: The life and practice of the wild and modern Indian; the early days of Oklahoma, some thrilling experiences
Year: 1922 (1920s)
Authors: Newsome, J. A., 1874- (from old catalog)
Subjects: Frontier and pioneer life Indians of North America Seminole Indians
Publisher: (Oklahoma City
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation



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they died, and then remove their scalps to be ex-hibited as tokens of his wonderful prowess and braveryin the future. Hence scalps taken from the crowns ofpersons killed in past generations by the forefatherswere used in all the war dances. The symbolism of the war dance was kept a secretthat was sacredly guarded by the Indians, in memoryof their departed ancestors whom they thought werebasking in the glory of the Happy Hunting Ground,and which was believed in by all Indians. But poor, deluded souls! I am sure that their dis-appointment is great for the reason that animals of for-est and field never go to that awful place. Gods am--mal creation is not endowed with immortality. Theyhave no promise of an eternal future, but being guidedsolely by instinct they perish at death in their own dust.But the savage races of men are human beings—Godsimmortal creatures and that which was intended to bethe greatest blessing that can come to men, viz; salva- 48 The Life and Practice of the Indian
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The scalps were hung on the pole and the braves and squaws wouldreverently salute the fire in honor of its consuming nature. Settling In the Seminole Nation 49 tion from sin has been lost to millions of irresponsibleheathens, hence it has turned out to be their greatestcurse, and I feel impressed with the stupendous impor-tance and the awful responsibility of giving the Gospelof Christ to all the Nations, races and tribes of men thatdwell under the sun. The scalps were hung on the pole and the braves andsquaws would reverently salute the fire in honor of itsconsuming nature. They attended these myglyphicswith high leaps into the air and ear-splitting yells. Itwas enough to make the dead stir in their graves. During the periods of war among the Indians theycould not discern between right and wrong. Theydanced around the fire believing that they could beidentified with its consuming nature, and thus more ef-fectively destroy those upon whom they made war.They believed also that it made