The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-05-16
INDIAN WAR DANCE.

INDIAN WAR DANCE.
3 Inc following Is copied from an article in tic
last published number of the North Americat.
review. The author of the article 4 sa;d -
DC Governor Cass, of the Michigan Territory
There are but two serious OCCUPATIONS
connected 60 with the ordinary business &c
me- 70 which an Indian willingly deyotes
himself. These are arar and bunfipo. -,
Labor ID performed exclusively hv the
women, and this distribution of duties - q
marked characteristic of all barbarousL ma
ions. The passion for war il fostered and
encouraged by institutions, which are ed.
mirably adapted to make the warrior brav,
and enterprising. Nothing in the svsfcu,s
OF the ancient republics was better devise6
70 stimulate the ardour of their citizens
and when assembled Greece proclaimed
the victor at the Olympic games. and
crowned him with the olive wreath. she
furnished no more powerful motive for OK
ertlon and distinction, than is provided IN
ene institutions of our absriginies. 1t Is
the same love of distinction, which irnpels
writing and reeking victim, the bloodr
trophy Of savage victory, and at the next
war dance in his distant village, to strike
| the post, and to recount the atrocities.
which, by the aid Of the Sag-a-nosh, TEsl-
glishman,] he has been enabled to commit
upon the Tshe-mo- ke-maun, [Lsgknife.
American.l
An Indian war dance is an importaa.
incident In the passing events of village.
Inc whole population is assembled, and q
feast provided for al. The warriors arc
painted and prepared as for battle. A.
post IS firmly planted in the ground, AMI
the singers, the drummers, and the other
instrumental musicians, are seated within
the circle, formed by the dancers and the
/ spectators. The music and the dance be
gin. The warriors exert themselves with
great energy. Every muscle is in action.
and there Is the. most perfect concord be.
tween the music and their movements
They brandlsh their weapons, and wifi
such apparent fury that fatal ecc:lents
seem unavoidable. Presently warrior
leaves the circle, and with his tonnahawlz
strikes the post. The music and dancinr.
cease, and profound silence ensnes. lie
/ then recounts, with a loud voice, his mill
tary achievements. He describes the bat
/ ties he has fought, the prisoners he has
captured, the scalps he has taken Ttr
points to his wounds, and produces IL
trophies. He accompanies lis ..syrat;vn
with the actual representation Of his .cr-
Iploits, and the mimic engagement. the as-
vance and the fetreesatt are exhibited to bis
nation as they really occurred. There &
no exaggeration, and no misrepresentation
| it would be infamous for warrior to
boast OF deeds he never Performed.
Shouts OF applause accompany the mira
" 10 the interest 1t excltes. Ills station
in the circle is then resumed by the actor,
] and the dance proceeds till it is interrupt,
ed in similar manner.
| In thu poem of Ontwa, a scene like this
!. is so well described, that we cannot resist
the temptat to transfer it to our pages,
/ Of all who have attempted to eInlody III
song the living manners" Of the Indians
the anonymous author of that poem has
+ been lncst successful.
"a hundred warriors now advance.
All dressed and painted for the dance,
i And sounding club and hollow skin,
| A slow ard measur'd time begin
With rigid limb and sliding foot
/ And murmurs low the time to ssit,
Forever varying with the sound
Ihe clrclng band moves round and feund:
Now slowly rise the swelling notes.
When every crest more lively floats,
Now toss on high with gesture proud,
Then slowly mid the circle how'd;
q While changing arms grow louder still
And every voice becomes more shriN,
Till fierce and strong the Glamour grows.
i Aud the wild war whoop bids its close.
Then starts Shunktonga forth, whose bune
Came far from Hurons storm beat strans
! And thus recounts his battle floats,
Wilde his dark club the measure beats"