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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (June 14, 1890)
WEST SHORE. ... tl hooting of an owl, came pealing through the chain- had made no sound Tim . i i i bor, and a couple of muBicians who were Rationed an V , . , Mri passed on near the altar began beating a huge dm i h J , ' u " tw in u, i b ' a 0,,,eranJvantorwattwiiameiH'rformanM Thin sound like ro ling hunder as a proccsnion of dark time the candidal were mJt gun. came down the la der and filed slowly up the riors ranged in lino can Jfo ward tttr and long room, chanting m Bolemn chorus as they came, put out their torch,, in the mouth, of 1 e g These were delegates belonging to the common clans of neophytes the Zuni soldiery-the rank and file," composed of It was a long lino, for the Zanl order of war con- young men who had passed their im and were quala- sists of twelve degrees, or grade, of rank, and each fieri warriors bat who had not yet atta.ned to a degree grade was represented by a number of delegates ; but of rank which would entitle them to participate in the never once did either of the youths allow a ilgn of preying ceremonies. pain or m U) ,n hU Urf They circled around the youthful candidates, and tic meaning of thin uncomfortable ceremony was L pairing off into couples as the rolling of the drum plained in the chant, and they undent.! it to signify grew louder and yet louder till it filled the chamber that they were thus " firc-testod ' ami could henceforth with a deafening roar, they marched back down the bo relied upon to withstand the influence of demons room and each took up a torch of cedar splints from who are ever striving to put fear Into tbo heart of a pile before the hearth, which he lighted at the fire, warriors and make them Ioho their honor. Also, their The elder warriors and the medicine men, or pricBts of mouths wero fortified Rgainst the wickedness of falso- the martial order, struck up the chant and joined the hood, which, according to the Zuni code, is almost as procession, two by two, and supplied themselves with vile as cowardice. torches like the rest, all save two, grave, stalwart men When this rite was finished and the Inst extln- -and one was Attawano's father who came behind guished torch was laid upon the altar, the wild chant the boys, and drawing their arms back, stood and held was silenced, the drums ceased their Watlng, the mem. them as though they wero expected to resist or en- bers of the council returned to their former places, deavor to escape. . while tho younger warriors remained In the middle of " You need not hold me, uncle," said Inhadi, very tho room, and tho two chiefs who bad brn holding proudly. " I promise you I will not flinch nor movo. tho arms of Attawano and Inhadi now remaned them. I am not afraid." Attawano sUx! silent, awaiting what might next occur; He looked at Attawano and was glad toscothat but Inhadi straightened up with a defiant air, and his cousin stood unmoved, having evidently braced smiling at his uncle, demanded, though ho could himself to bear what might bo coming. He also said scarcely sjoak he could stand to his ordeal without being compelled, " Is that all ? " but as no attention was paid to their protests tho can- " No, my son," said tho old warrior, calmly; " there didates accepted this as a customary part of the pro- is moro to como." ceedings and silently submitted. They stood with He led the Ixiys behind the altar and gave a signal beating hearts but steady bearing while tho young to the young warriors who stood waiting. Immediately warriors marched back toward them, two abreaHt, they dashed at the lire, and partly with le mid waving the flaming torches in circles around their partly with their naked hands dragged out tint glow heads. Some of them were but little older than the ing emlst and strewed a track of hot aches and live youthful candidates, well-known companions of their coals across tho entire length of the stone -paved coun daily sports, and Inhadi said to himself, as Attawano oil chamber, from the fireplace to tho altar, had said to him, that he would sooner dio than jtermit Then they ranged themselves in two long rows, them to behold a sign of terror in his countenance. forming a lino on either side of this fiery pathway, As the foremost couple drew near, one of them and tho warVhlcf, Attawano's father, took one of tho whirled his torch as if to dash it into Inhadi's face, charred torches and gave it to his son, while tho medi- while tho other menaced Attawano in tho same man- cine chief handed one to Inhadi. m-r. For one instant Attawano seemed to shrink; but " (Jo light these torches sgaln," he said, and give glance of warning from his cousin's eye quickly them to tho braves who stand tho first in lino-your recalled his wavering self control. t" the right, Inhadi, and yours, Attawano, to tho left. The next moment Inhadi forced himself to repress Then return to tho altar and take each another torch, cry that rose to his own lips, as tho burning brand and so come and go till tho brave are supplied with was swept into his face and extinguished by a thrust torches is before, (iol " into his mouth! Ho was half choked and half blinded He motioned with hi hand toward that smoking -hut silent. Attawano, equally taken by surprise, track, which the young Initiate must traverse with