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92 HISTORY OF MARYLAND.
Father White2 gives an account of a ceremony witnessed by some of his
party, probably among the Yaocomicos, "in a temple":
" On an appointed day, men and women of all ages from several districts, gathered around a great fire, the younger ones standing nearest the fire, and the older
behind them. Deer's fat was then thrown on the fire, and raising their hands to
heaven 'they cried in a loud voice, Yaho! Yaho ! A space is then cleared and some
one brings toward a large bag, in which are a pipe and powder which they call Potu.
The pipe is like that which is used among us for smoking tobacco, but much larger.
The bag is then carried around the fire, the boys and girls following it, chanting
alternately, in not unpleasant voices, Yaho! Yaho! When they have made the
circuit, the pipe is taken from the bag and the . powder Potu distributed to the
bystanders, who, each in turn, light the pipe and blow the smoke over the several
members of their body, thus consecrating them."
The custom of smoking tobacco was universal among the tribes at the
time of the first arrival of the whites. It was regarded, however, in a far
different light from the same practice among ourselves. Tobacco was a
sacred herb, a precious gift of the Great Spirit to his children; and the act
of smoking had always something of a ceremonial, or even religious character.
In some tribes the chief, standing at the entrance of his cabin at sunrise,
saluted the first appearance of the solar disk with solemn wafts of smoke
from his pipe. In councils and other ceremonies, the calumet (a French, not
an Indian word, as is sometimes supposed,) played an important part. It was
solemnly lighted by the chief, who gave a few whiffs, sometimes directing
these to the four cardinal points, and then opened the matter for consideration ; the pipe was next handed to the second in rank, who in his turn took
two or three whiffs and then delivered his opinion, and thus the pipe made
the circuit of the assembly. A large and ornamented pipe was kept in each
village for the ceremonious reception of strangers, whose peaceful or hostile
intentions were known by their reception of it. The chief of the village
filled and lighted the peace-pipe in the presence of the visitors, and after
smoking a little, handed it to their principal man. If he refused to smoke,
it meant that their intentions were hostile; but if he received and smoked it,
it was a sign of peace, and it was passed alternately according to rank,
between hosts and guests. These pipes were adorned with feathers and wings
of birds, and whatever other ornaments their fancy could devise; and served
also as credentials to travelling ambassadors, and like the herald's tabard of
feudal times, was a safe-conduct ever among foes. Father Hennepin gives the
following description of one that he saw among the Iroquois:
" This Calumet is the most mysterious thing in the World among the savages of the
Continent of the Northern America: for it is used in all their important Transactions.
It is nothing else but a large Tobacco Pipe, made of red, black or white marble; the
Head is finely polished, and the Stem which is commonly two feet and a half long, is
made of a pretty strong Reed, or Cane, adorned with Feathers of all Colours, interlaced
with Socks of Women's Hair. They tie to it two Wings of the most curious Birds they
1 Relatio Itineris in Marylandiam, p. 40.
| Title | History of Maryland - 1 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000117 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | 92 HISTORY OF MARYLAND. Father White2 gives an account of a ceremony witnessed by some of his party, probably among the Yaocomicos, "in a temple": " On an appointed day, men and women of all ages from several districts, gathered around a great fire, the younger ones standing nearest the fire, and the older behind them. Deer's fat was then thrown on the fire, and raising their hands to heaven 'they cried in a loud voice, Yaho! Yaho ! A space is then cleared and some one brings toward a large bag, in which are a pipe and powder which they call Potu. The pipe is like that which is used among us for smoking tobacco, but much larger. The bag is then carried around the fire, the boys and girls following it, chanting alternately, in not unpleasant voices, Yaho! Yaho! When they have made the circuit, the pipe is taken from the bag and the . powder Potu distributed to the bystanders, who, each in turn, light the pipe and blow the smoke over the several members of their body, thus consecrating them." The custom of smoking tobacco was universal among the tribes at the time of the first arrival of the whites. It was regarded, however, in a far different light from the same practice among ourselves. Tobacco was a sacred herb, a precious gift of the Great Spirit to his children; and the act of smoking had always something of a ceremonial, or even religious character. In some tribes the chief, standing at the entrance of his cabin at sunrise, saluted the first appearance of the solar disk with solemn wafts of smoke from his pipe. In councils and other ceremonies, the calumet (a French, not an Indian word, as is sometimes supposed,) played an important part. It was solemnly lighted by the chief, who gave a few whiffs, sometimes directing these to the four cardinal points, and then opened the matter for consideration ; the pipe was next handed to the second in rank, who in his turn took two or three whiffs and then delivered his opinion, and thus the pipe made the circuit of the assembly. A large and ornamented pipe was kept in each village for the ceremonious reception of strangers, whose peaceful or hostile intentions were known by their reception of it. The chief of the village filled and lighted the peace-pipe in the presence of the visitors, and after smoking a little, handed it to their principal man. If he refused to smoke, it meant that their intentions were hostile; but if he received and smoked it, it was a sign of peace, and it was passed alternately according to rank, between hosts and guests. These pipes were adorned with feathers and wings of birds, and whatever other ornaments their fancy could devise; and served also as credentials to travelling ambassadors, and like the herald's tabard of feudal times, was a safe-conduct ever among foes. Father Hennepin gives the following description of one that he saw among the Iroquois: " This Calumet is the most mysterious thing in the World among the savages of the Continent of the Northern America: for it is used in all their important Transactions. It is nothing else but a large Tobacco Pipe, made of red, black or white marble; the Head is finely polished, and the Stem which is commonly two feet and a half long, is made of a pretty strong Reed, or Cane, adorned with Feathers of all Colours, interlaced with Socks of Women's Hair. They tie to it two Wings of the most curious Birds they 1 Relatio Itineris in Marylandiam, p. 40. |
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