Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-17
A Patagonian Rum Dance.

Some OF the older men gathered round the
cask, which was speedily tapped. and then with
taste the liquor, In order to see whether 1T had
been over-watered. Several decided grunts Of
satisfaction, however. showed that these aged
general and doubtless equitable distribution of
the spirit took place, and before long the whole
camp, men, women and children, had ample
opportunities for judging OF its merits for them
Presently dance was organized. The men
who took part in it were all specially painted
for the occasion and wore long feathers on their
heads. The dance itself was monotonous Jig,
executed TO the excruciating music OF various
drums or tom-toms. The women, strange to
say, do not dance; at least, they did not as long
AS the evening wore on, after vast quantities
OF meat had been consumed and innumerable
dances had been performed, special attention
began to be paid to the aguadlente, and the fun
consequently soon began to get very fast and
very furious.
Long before midnight every one was more or
less drunk, and the ball, which had commenced
with becoming order and sOlemnity, had now
degenerated into wild orgy. The flames from
the different fires, strangely blended with the
pale moonlight, cast lurld glare on the cuSky
mad with excitement and drink, were dancing,
singing and whoOping In deafening concert. A
more gruesome scene it were hard to Imagine
bratlng their unearthly rites in this desert spot
and half expected at any moment to see the
WnOlc crew vanish, Win udSQ ana q Dang, In
the bowels OF the earth, leaving the orthodox
smell Of sulphur behind them.
Nothing OF the sort occurred, however, though
presently received shock almost as startling
as any supernatural e3ent could have been. An
old sQuaW, who was painfully OF this world and
the vanitieS thereof, and who had previously
been addressing me for some time In the most
eloquent Of gutterals finding that nothing could
denly eT as last resource sud
neck and Rugged me In greasy embrace.
With great difficulty managed to free my
self, whereupOn ran away toward some other
part Of the camp to escape further annoyance
Had this old beldame been acquainted .Wtths
woman's privileges on such occasions, she would
have known that under the circumstances the
correct thing TO have done was to have tainted
been further from the thoughts OF the unen-
lghtened savage-the impulse of her unframed
mind being to run after me as hard as her legs
could carry her. And the rest of the Indians,
with one OF those sudden whims drunken peO-
pie liable to- took 1t into their heads to Join in
the chase, and l soon had the whole crowd
shrieking and bowling at my heels. What their
intentions were don't know, nor did feel in
clined to discover: fortunately l reached my
horse, which l had left ready saddled before
| they came up to me, and, gallOping swiftly
| away, soon left them behind me.
| called at the camp the next day to pay my
| viSite De digestion and made point OF going to
| the tent where the old SquaW, who was so near
| becoming teterr1ma cauSa bellt, abode. She had
| q bad headache and looked very demure and
penttent. / rallied her with smiles, and at
| up for my discourteous behavior OF the previous
| evening". But she took no notice OF me and re-
ceived all my Overtures with the utmost indif-
| ference.-[ From "WGnderings in Patagonia"