FLUTE QUOTES
Iroquoian
Cherokee.
Use.
C. Statistics Denoting the Present State of the Cherokee Nation 1852.
May 1, 1851. Mr. O. L. Woodford (correspondent), Oklahoma Cherokee Agency
"Lessons in instrumental music, on the violin, flute, and clarionet, were given to some fifteen
students by a skilful teacher. At the public examination the performances of his pupils were very
highly commended" (Schoolcraft 1860, v.4:590).
Wyandot.
Meaning.
C.4. Sayadio. A Wyandot Legend.
SAYADIO mourned for his sister, for she had died young and handsome. At length, he resolved
to go to the land of souls and bring her back. His journey was long and full of adventures, but it
would have proved of no advantage, if he had not met an old man just as he was on the point of
giving up in despair. This old man gave him a magic calabash, with which he might dip up the
spirit of his sister, should he succeed in finding her. He also gave him the young damsel's brains,
which he had carefully kept, for it turned out that this old man was the keeper of that part of the
spirit-land to which he was journeying.
Sayadio now went on with a light heart, but was astonished, when he reached the land of spirits,
that they all fled from him. In this perplexing exigency Tarenyawago, the master of ceremonies,
kindly aided him. It so happened that all the souls were at this time gathered for a dance,
according to the custom of the place.
The young man soon recognized his sister floating through the dance, and rushed forward to
embrace her, but she vanished like a dream of the night.
Tarenyawago furnished him with a mystical rattle of great power to bring her back. At the same
time, the deep-sounding Taiwaiegun, or spirit-drum, was beat for a renewal of the choral dance,
and the Indian flute poured forth its softest notes.
The effect of the music was instantaneous, and the throng of spirits became innumerable.
Among the number, he again saw his sister. Quick as thought, Sayadio dipped up the entranced
spirit with his calabash, and securely fastened it, in spite of all the efforts of the captivated soul
to regain its liberty. He then retraced his steps back to earth, and safely reached his lodge with
his precious charge.
His own and his sister's friends were immediately summoned, and the body of the maiden
brought from its burial-place to be reanimated with its spirit. Everything was ready for the
ceremonies of the resurrection, when the thoughtless curiosity of one of the female friends
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frustrated all. She must needs peep into the calabash to see how the disembodied soul looked,
upon which the imprisoned spirit flew out.
Sayadio gazed with both his eyes, but could see nothing. Her flight could not be traced in the air,
and he sat with his head down in his lodge, moaning and lamenting that, through the idle
curiosity of one person, all the trials and perplexities of his journey to the land of spirits had
come to naught (Schoolcraft 1860, v.2:235).
Siouan
Dakota.
Use, Ritual, Social Category.
IV.3. The Dacotahs or Sioux of the Upper Mississippi.
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.
PHILANDER PRESCOTT, U. S. DACOTAH INTERPRETER, FORT SNELLING AGENCY,
MINNESOTA
166.--How are courtships managed? Are there regular visits to the lodge, or are the interviews
casual? Do young persons, of both sexes, adorn themselves, to become more attractive? Do
they use any peculiar paints or ornaments? Do young men play near the lodge, on the
pibbigwuu, or Indian flute? Are these chants appropriate? Do they make presents to the object of
their esteem? Are presents made to the [page 238] parents? How is consent asked? When are
the parents consulted? Are matches ever made without their consent?"
Courtships can be carried on at almost any time, owing to their being huddled together, and all
the time meeting each other about the lodges. Some we may say, make their visits regularly to
the lodge; others do not; and some may not visit the lodge at all, or ever have spoken to the
woman, and the first thing she knows she is bought. Both sexes adorn themselves. Red is the
most used. The young men play on the chotunkah, or flute. If they make presents, it is of little
amount. Finger rings, or ear rings, are about the amount of presents to girls. Consent is asked by
sending the price of the girl. If accepted, the girl is sent; if not, the goods are faithfully returned.
I have known the goods to be returned because there was no powder-horn. There are many
matches made by elopement, much to the chagrin of the parents (Schoolcraft 1860, v.3:237-238).
Dakota.
Meaning.
B. Art of Recording Ideas. -- Pictography.
d. Haökah--A Dacota God. (PLATE 55.)
It is seldom, however, in their deification of geologic and organic monuments, that we behold the
pictographic symbols of these gods of the imagination, such as is presented in the accompanying
figurative device of Haökah. This god is presented under the form of a giant. The following is a
complete key of the separate symbols, as taken from the lips of a Dacota (Schoolcraft 1860,
v.2:225-226). (1)
Fig.
8. The giant.
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9. A frog that he uses for an arrow-point.
10 and 11. Birds that he has kept within his court.
12 and 13. Ornaments that he keeps over his door.
14 and 15. His court-yard, ornamented with red down.
16. A deer living in his court.
17. A bear " " "
18. An elk " " "
19. A buffalo " " "
20 and 21. Incense offerings.
22. A rattle of deers' hoofs, used in singing.
23. A long flute or whistle.
24, 25, 26, and 27, are meteors that he sends out for defence, or to protect him from invasion.
28, 29, 30, and 31. Lightning which surrounds his house, with which he kills all kinds of
animals.
32. A. large fungus that grows on trees.
33. Touchwood.
Nos. 32 and 33, are eaten by animals that enter his court, causing immediate death. [page 226]
34. Lightnings from the giant's cap.
35. The giant's cap.
36. His bow and arrows.
Footnote:
1. By Captain S. Eastman, U.S.A.
Dakota.
Use.
Synopsis of Paper Third.
Manners and Customs. C.
3. Manners, Customs, and Opinions of the Dacotahs.
250. Use two Kinds of Drums, a Flute, and Rattles (Schoolcraft 1860, v.4:45).
Dakota.
Use.
Manners and Customs. C.
3. Manners, Customs, and Opinions of the Dacotahs.
250. Indian music is very simple. It consists of about four notes. The choruses are many and very
regular, and are sung in the highest strains of the voice. The Indian flute is made of two pieces of
cedar, half round, then hollowed out quite thin, with four holes in it, and glued together. They
blow it at the end. The upper hole has a regulator, a small roll of buckskin, a little below the hole.
It is raised or lowered, and the power of the note is affected by so doing. They have two kinds of
drums. One is made like a tambourine, with a skin drawn over a keg. The rattle is a gourd-shell
with beads in it. Sometimes they make them of birch bark. They make rattles of the claws of the
deer. Of these they take two or three hundred, and bore small holes in the narrow end, and tie
them to a short stick, jerking them up and down to make them rattle (Schoolcraft 1860, v.4:71).
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Dakota.
Meaning.
B. Demoniacal and Superstitious Observances of the Tribes in Minnesota, on the Upper
Mississippi. (PLATE 41).
Explanation of a birch bark chart by a Dakota "medicine-man"
Capt. S.Eastman (correspondent)
As spring approaches, the southern god desires warm weather; therefore he sends out his
soldiers, the crow and plover, armed with war-clubs, and assisted by a thunderstorm, to attack
the wolves. The thunder-storm melts the snow and ice, the crow and plover fall upon the wolves
with their war-clubs, and after a severe contest, succeed in beating them to pieces, and drowning
the God of the North in a flood of spray arising from the melting of the snow and ice. Thus these
two gods will battle for warm and cold weather as long as the world shall stand, according to
Indian mythology. When either god goes out to battle, he leaves a young god at home; so that, if
he be defeated, there may be another one left to renew the conflict at the next season. Fig. 8 is
the northern god in reserve, with a flute in one hand, and a rattle in the other. Fig. 5 is his house,
and 6 and 7 are poles ornamented with eagles' feathers. Figs. 9 and 10 are lances, ready for
defence. Figs. 20 and 21 are small hand-rattles, used with the drums, 11 and 12, to sound the
alarm. Fig. 17 is the southern god in his wigwam, and 18 and 19 are ornaments similar to 6 and 7
(Schoolcraft 1860, v.4:496).
Winnebago. Social Category, Meaning.
XI. Present Condition and Future Prospects. B.
Education, Christianity, and the Arts.
Winnebago School.
March 8th, 1848. Rev. D. Lowry (correspondent).
Many have undertaken to enlighten the world on the subject of courtships among the Indians.
The young man seeking a partner, is said to whistle on a wooden flute prepared for the purpose.
His wishes are soon understood by others, and negotiations preparatory to marriage follow. This
fabulous story has often appeared in the newspapers of the country, and recently made a part of a
course of lectures delivered in the United States and in Europe. I say fabulous story, for it is
without foundation in fact. Negotiations preparatory to marriage, among the more wealthy
Indians, are often made by the parents of children, while the parties to be united are in infancy. I
have known as many as ten horses given by the father to purchase a wife for an infant son. The
parties thus engaged by the parents do not marry till they arrive at a suitable age.
I admit that lewd young men sometimes play on the flute around wigwams to attract attention for
base purposes, but never with the honest intention of courtship (Schoolcraft 1860, v.3:480).
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe
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1860
Information Respecting the History, Condition, and Prospects of the Indian
Tribes of the United States. 6 vols. J.B. Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia.
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