The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-06-26

perhaps twenty or thirty Of these tents,
which were decorated on the outside, in
some instances, with streaks Of paint, and
the arms and horse furniture Of their oc-
eupants hung on poles outside. We ap-
preached, and taking good position for
observation, gave our entire attention to
the dance, which was going on with ter
rife fury. In this instance the men acted
as musicians and the squaws were the
performers. The men, twenty or thirty
in number, were drawn up in line with
elbows touching, and four or five Of them
were supplied with drums made by stretch
ing skins over cylinders of wood; Others
had tin pans, upon which they beat, keep
ing time to monotonous chant, in which
both bucks and squaws joined In sing
ing, one person commenced the song, aud
the others all gave voice after few words
had been repeated; the men swaying against
each other from side to side, keeping time
in this way, The squaws at the COM
mencement Of the dance were huddled to-
gether near the edge of circle on the
ground, which had been formed by the
repeated tramping Of their feet, Three
old hags, whose ages might have been any
where from fifty to two hundred and eigh-
ty, had possession Of three scalps, which
were fastened to poles eight or ten feet in
height, and SO soon as the song commenced
these three started out into the beaten
path, the others following in turn. The
dance was a sort of rythmic shuffIing
march, the body being elevated and low
cred at every step, the scalps being waved
in the air, and occasionally being made to
sweep the ground in token of contempt.
This march was Joined in by young and
old, even little children who could hardly
walk being dragged around by their heath
enish mothers. The dance continued for
about FIVE minutes, when an interval of
about the same time was allowed for rest,
and then the performance was resumed
with unabated fury. The song, or rather
howl, was in minor key, somewhat mu-
steal, and seemed to consist Of repetition
of short syllables, every third and fourth
being strongly emphasized; the stanza or
verse ending in prolonged lugubrious
howl From the gestures and apparently
contemptuous grimaces made by the per-
formers, il appears that epithets of disdain
and hatred were being freely hurled at the
scalps.
Time and again the same operations
were repeated until we became wearied
and turned aside to find the chief, and
secure some information from him. Old
Pe-ah was particularly agreeable, and
seemed quite proud of the brilliant exploits
of himself and band, and answered our
questions freely and without reservation
repeating, in substance, all the hideous
details of the murder, as already related
to us by our friend. His explanation of
the song was that it was simply recital
of the warlke deeds Of the Utes, recount
ing how many scalps they had taken, and
how great number Of fights they had
conquered in, besides boasts and taunts to
their enemies to come and engage in
another fight with them. This we con-
sidered, in view Of the circumstances,
rather thin, but took care not to express
our opinion at this time, for the reason
that we expected in short time to visit
these red brethren in their mountain re-
treats during the Summer. Pe-ah very
kindly volunteered to allow us TO examine
the scalps, which we did, and found them
to be Of coarse, long black hair. They
had been removed entire, with great care,
and were horrid objects to gaze upon.
Their responsiveness was augmented by the
fact the inside Of the skin had been smeared
with vermillon, which gave them the ap-
pearance Of being fresh and bloody. The
chief seemed to consider ii singular that
We did not compliment him on his CHASTITY
trophies, and sent them back to the party,
who at once resumed their dance. 1t may
appear rather singular statement, but is
nevertheless true, that these people kept
up this dance for no less than twenty days,
commencing at noon each day and ending
at midnight, and there is no knowing but
1t might have lasted until the present day
had not the attendance Of the populaee
from Denver diminished, thereby lesseuing
the chances Of the children receiving stray
pennies and currency We wandered
through the camp, examining the internal
economy Of several tents, at great risk to
our limbs from the numberless ours eyery-
where abounding; and after cleaning our
pockets Of small change mounted our We
hicles for the return trip to Denver. As
we turned away, the clouds that had been
gathering all the afternoon reached their
eliminating point Of saturation, and sud
denly an awful peal Of thunder warned us
to seek shelter, while the glare Of the
most fearful lightning ever bcheld, seemed
to indicate that heaven itself was about to
hurl down its vengeance upon the impious
wretches beneath. A glance backward
revealed no change in the. existing state
Of the dance. 1t still continued, and over
the heads Of the crowd we still saw the
CORY scalps waving in the electrically
charged air, and the fearful notes Of the
song were still borae to our unwilling ears.
The elements and surroundings al seemed
combined to render this weird scene one
never to be forgotten. never N ha afF.cad