Spiritual Old Iowa

Post date: Feb 3, 2010 10:23:14 AM

Native Iowa Pundits

Native Yagya

“The Sacs and Foxes, like all other Indians, were a very religious people, in their way, always maintaining the observance of a good many rites, ceremonies and feasts in their worship of the Kitche Mulito, or Great Spirit.

Some of these ceremonies bore such resemblance to some of those laid down in the books of Moses as to have justified the impression among biblical students that the lost tribes of Israel might have found their way to this continent.

“The writer was a witness, one delightful forenoon in May, 1841, of a ceremony that seemed full of mystery, even to these of the Indians who took no part in celebrating it. A large lodge (yagya shalla) had been set up for the occasion on the level green, near Keokuk’s village, and its sides left so entirely open that vision of the proceedings conducted within was entirely free. Close around was a circle of guards or sentinels, evidently ‘in secret,’ as they were close enough to hear, but at a distance far enough to prevent eavesdropping of the low tones used with in the sacred precincts. Inside of the guards was another and much larger circle of, who restrained all outsiders (of whom the writer had to content himself with being one) from crossing within their line. Keokuk seemed to be the chief personage among the performers, and the performance to be designed for the exclusive benefit of one old fellow of some importance in the tribe, who was mainly distinguished from those about him by being clad in a much scantier pattern of raiment.

… The outside multitude of Indians gazed with marked awe throughout the entire performance, and maintained withal, the deepest silence.”

(Excerpt from Maj. Beach’s History of the Agency (Iowa) & Jefferson County (Iowa) History 1878.