The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-10-01
INDIAN AR.nANCI-


An Indian wardance is an important incident
in the passing events ola village; the whole po-
puutlon Is assembled, aud a feast is provided toi
all The warriors arc p int aud prepared Is
for batte.-A posi- is firmly planted IN The
ground, and the singers. the drummcIs and the
other instrumental musicians are seated within
the circle formed by the dancers aud the
spectators. Tie music and the dance begin
The warriors eNett themselves With great cuer-
gV. Every muscle is IN action, and there is the
most perfect concord between the music and
their mOsements.---ihev brandisb their wca-
ponS aud with su Il appa urv that fatal nc
cidents seem unavoidable. Presently warrior
leaves the circle and with his tomahawk. or cas-
scist6, strikes the posi-. The music and dancing
cease, aud profound silence ensues He Thea re-
counts, With loud voice. his military achieve
mcnts. lie describes the battles he has foug hi,
the prisoners he has captured, ami the scapS he
has taken lie points Il his Wounds, aud produ.
ccs his trophies. lie accompanies his narrative
with the actual representation ofhis exploits and
the mimic engagement, the advance and the re-
treat are exhibited TO his nation as they really
occurred. There Is no eNag geration aud no
misrepresentation. II would lac infamous ior a
warrior to boast oil deeds he never performed If
the attempt were made, some one would ap-
proach, and throw dni III his face, Sayiue - /
do this TO cover your shame for the first time
YOU see an enemy you will tremble. But such
an ndsnlty Is rarely necessary, and as the war
parties generally contain many mdlv duaiS. the
character aud conduct OF ever, warrior are all
well known,--- Shouts of applause accompany
the narration, proportional in duration and in
tenSity 10 the interest il excltes. His station IN
the circle Is then resumed by the actor, and the
dance proceeds until il is interrupted in similar
manner,
In the poem of Ontwa. n scene like this is so
well described, that VIZ cannot resist The tempta-
ton 10 transfer II 10 our pages. OF all who have
attempted 10 embody IN song the living man
ners' of the Indians the anonymous author OF
that poem has been most successful. His char
acters and traditions and descriptions, have the
spirit aud bearing of life and the whole work is
not less true to nature than TO poetry -
"a hundred warriors now advance,
All dressed and painted for the dance,
And sounding club and hollow skin
slow aud measured time begin
With rigid limb aud sliding foot,
And murmurs low the time to suit
Forever varying with the sound,
The circlng band moves round and round
Now slowly rise the swelling notes,
When every crcstmorr lively floats
Now tossd ON high with gesture proud,
Then slowly mid Che circle how'd;
While changing arms louder still,
And every vore becomes more shrill,
Til fierce and strong the Glamour grows,
And the Wild -ahoop bids it close,
Then starts Shuuktonga forth whose band
Came far from iIurons storm-hcat strand
Aud thus roeoants hs battle fruts,
While his dark club die measure heats"
| But this scenic representation must not be
confounded with thesordinary Indian war-sones
which aresung by the warriors whcn leaving