The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-10-29

agent of the government. Some account of
them will be found in another column.
On the evening of the goth inst. they visited
the Park Theatre, of which we copy the follow
ing account from the Neo York Statesman:
| 1t was really an interesting sight to observe
the sensations produced in the untutored chill
dren of the wild, by the first sight of one of the
| great amusements of civilization. They stared
about, previous to the rising of the curtain, with
| Ignorant wonder at the crowds in the pit and
| boxes around them The music of the orches-
ira did not seem to affect them but when the
curtain rose to bright scene of distant CITY,
win nearer view of rocks and trees their de.
light could not be restrained and simultaneous
Pow 'eo~ expressed their surprize and gratifica-
I ton In the midst Of this appreciation, Wallack,
as Rolla, entered, and dialogue ensued, to
which they seemed very attentive, the eloquent
gestlculaton OF the actor supplying the place of
comprehension of the words They seemed
Immediately to have discovered that he was an
Indian warrior, and to comprehend that he was
hero. Hilson's humorous performance of Di-
ego, was very effective upon them. and their
loud laughter testified that the nature Of his
part was not mistaken
In the scene where Alonzo and Cora first
meet, the embracing of the two lovers, so de-
lighted the Indians, that they burst into loud
shouts OF laughter, which seemed infectious. as
the whole audience joined them. In one of the
spirited speeches of RoIla, they Joined the APP
pause of the house with polo ar0ic-and IN
deed, throughout the piece, they seemed pecu-
liarly interested in the manly bearing and no
BILE character of the Peruvianhero who was rep
resented in mastery manner by Mr.. Wallack
The singing, so different from that of their
war songs-seemed more to surprise and perplex
them. than to give them pleasure. The old head
man OF the tribe appeared during the perform
ance deeply interested, leaning his chin upon the
front of the box and gazing intently upon the
performers. We should not forget that the
earthquake scene seemed to affect them very
forcbiy. With thunder and lightning they
were doubtless sufficiently comversant-but the
stencil of sulphur which ensued, gave them evil
dent annoyance, causing them 10 utter many
EXCAVATIONS of dissatisfaction and to cover
their faces with their blankets
The following account of one of their even
ing dances is abridged from the Commercial
.4drerttSer
They were dancing for their own amusement
entirely, as no spectators were anticipated -
They were all merry and sportive in their de- |
meanor, more so than any group of Indians we !
recollect to have seen, though we have had
many opportunities of visiting the Indians of
this state, and have witnessed the various dan |
ces of the Oneidas, &c, several times. At the |
Winnebago dance, the leading music was upon
an Indian drum, resembling in shape and size
an eight gallon key, with leather heads. Upon
this one of the Indians beat in regular success
sion of blows with single knob or ball. A reg
ular, low, cultural sound accompanied each
stroke upon the drum. One or two had little
tinkling bells upon some of their glrdles, and
there was almost continued utterance of shrill /
cries or shrleks from all of them but |
nothing like continuous songs of the deeds of
their ancestors, or themselves, or any body else,
as the books tell US. The music was wild and
savage-and if there was any harmony in it, it !
&c was harmony not understood" We saw three
dances. They danced either nine or twelve at
atime, we believe the latter, standing in column
of three deep, all facing one way, and STOPPING
a little forward. Sometimes some would
break off in front, wheel round and dance round
the whole group; and then another from the
other side; but the step and the beating of the
drum, and the "ugh,'' "ugh," "ugh," were
perfectly regular, though mingled with wild
and piercing screams-which would make one IS
blood creep coldy through the veins to hear, !
when alone in the woods They were gaily !
decorated for them-painted as grotesquely and
hdeousy as possibe-with varegated plumes
of black and red Some had black turtles, and
red snakes, and clay colored ones, and other
figures and devices upon their broad faces
Their blankets were thrown off; and ther
brawny arms and bodies were naked to the hips, |
save the covering of the numerous belts of
wampum, and other ornaments suspended about
them: Some held their pipes in their hands,
with long wooden stems gally ornamented with
feathers of various hues, and the sharp beaks
of birds One of them had war club, with
tonahawk hook or Ratchet upon one side, and
another played and Aourshed bright Ratchet
in his hands. The room was Just light enough |
to render the spectacle as wild and imposing as
1t could well be; and the scene was altogether
one which would task the powers of the great
wizard romancer of Scotland. OF tie three
dances which we saw, there was, in our eye, hut
little variety. The interval between each was
short and they all danced with hearty good will
Still it was a wild. and. under other circum-
stances, in their native forests, would have been
a spectacle more terrific than picturesque or
pleasing.