Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-03-28
WEIRD ANTICS.

Of Fasting, Ending fn Grand Pow
Wow.
A member Of the Hayden expedi-
ton contributes the following to the
Christian Union:
While at the Unoompabge Agency
Tor the Ute Indians during the summer
OF 1876, obtained notes of q Ute fes-
tival, which is interesting from the fact
that 1t Is about the only one they have
that ls known to possess anything like
religious character. The religious
element, 1t is true, is small. TIE cere-
mony consists Of dance in which
there is occasionally q recognition of
some higher power. The festival lasts
several days or 8 week, and during its
continuance the Indians eat but one
meal q day, ending it with big feast
of venison, berries, etc. It is said TO
be one of their most ancient customs,
and takes place annually in the latter
part of February. Approaching the
scene Of the dance In the evening, a
noise like that Of q steam propeller
mingled with q low nonotonous chant
greeted the ear. Reaching the top of
q hill an oval cleared space of 70 by
40 feet was seen beneath the boughs of
8 pine grove On one side of this
space for half It's length was open.
while the remainder was surrounded
by q barrier Of interviewer boughs and
trees. Inside the Enclosure were seven
Or eight large fires, about which were
gathered 200 Utes-the mel on one
side and the women on the other. All
were dressed in their best, their bright
blankets and beaded ornaments with
the glare of the bright fires giving the
scene most picturesque appearance.
The utmost propriety and good be-
havior prevailed, and those not
dancing kept up social chatting.
The music was wild and barbaric In
character, with q regular rhythm, and
reminding one little Of the music of
'IAfricane." 1t vas made by several
men kneeling around tin pan turned
upside-down. Each man had two
sticks, one notched and the other blunt.
Resting one on the pan, he rubbed the
other across the notches, moving hand
and head in unison, chanting a mono
tonous measure. When the excite
ment increased an occasional shout
would be heard. One man acted as
chief musician.
When the music began, the women
holding each other by the hands
advanced by twos and threes towards
the men, to whom they beckoned as If
inviting them to dance, or If their backs
were turned they would pull them by
the shoulders. The men responded
willingly, and soon there weretwo lines,
one of men and the other Of women,
advancing and retiring with springing
steps in unison with the rhythm of the
music. Two men with switches in their
hands acted as no anagers, keeping those
who were sluggish up to the dance, and
bringing out those who did not respond
when invited. =
IF any one fell the dance ended, and
the fallen person remained on the
ground until the chief musician, who
seemed for the occasion to possess
priestly functions, performed the fol-
lowing ceremony. Going to the fallen
man with his two musical sticks, he
applied them successfully to his legs,
arms, back and head, rubbing the
notched stick against the blunt one.
He then turned his face toward the
sky, and expelled his breath strongly,
and muttered something, evidently an
address to some spirit. After this the
subject of the ceremony Or pow-wow
rose to his feet, and the dance went on
until another one fell, when the pow
WOW was repeated.
Sometimes one side would try to out
dance the other, and as usual the
women held out the longest. One time
two little girls called out an old man.
This seemed to create considerable
amusement.
None of the medicine men or chiefs
of the tribe took part in the dance, nor
did the chief musician, although his
assistants were called out several times
and responded. Snow WAS the only
refreshment and was used by the hand
full.
Beside the fact of fasting the only
thing of q religious character in this
festival is the ceremony performed
whenever one Of the dancers fall.
They seem to think that some evil
spirit possesses the person who trips
and the object Of the ceremony is to
exercise it. The Utes believe in two
spirits, a good one, and the other evil.
They have g. similar pow-wow over
sick persons, which also ends with an
appeal to the Great or Good Spirit.
Look tlut for Hat Innings.