The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-06-24
4 digger Indian Fanda.s..

4 Digger Indian Fandsage.
"Would you like to attend tho dance
tonight as tho ranoheria Of tho Indi-
ans?' said gentleman to . friend and
mvsalf. a We loitered in ono of tho small
towns in Northern California. Now,
having been informed OF the dance dur
ing tho afternoon by no less parsonage
than the chief of tho rancheria, We had
stopped over night for the purpose OF
witnessing the same; and right happily
wore we to be joined by q gentleman
who was thoroughly familiar with every
point of interest in the neighborhood,
and who was well known to many OF
the Indians themselves.
From the barking of the dogs and the
wailing of a squaw we knew that we
were now in the midst of the rancheria;
and Indian forms fitting about the
"sweat-house" informed US where the
'sfandango" was to be held. This house
had been built of strong poles and
branches ingeniously fastened together,
and was in the shape OF an inverted
bowl, being about forty feet in diameter
at the bottom, and tapering to the size
of a center-pole at the top. The outside
being covered with earth to prevent the
escape of the heat, and there being
neither windows nor doors, the appear
ance of the whole was like that of an old
fashioned bake-oven; and the simile was
not inappropriate, as we afterwards
learned.
Under the escort of Capt. Jack. to
whom we were each required to pay
fifty cents, we crawled rather than
walked through the small aperture on
one side, and, having gained the inte-
rior, We were assigned bench immedl-
ately in front of the fire. 1t was now
about ten O'Clock, but the dancing was
not vet begun. About $50 Indians
the males and females mixed indiscrimi-
nately-were longing around the edge
of the house, and, save the bench upon
which we were seated, not single artl-
Gle of furniture was seen. Upon hooks
projecting from the wall were hung
blankets, beadwork, bows and arrows,
canes, slippers, and other convenient
and fancy articles, while the various cos
TUNES to be used in the dances gave the
whole the appearance of a well-stocked
bazaar. The only light of the place
emanated from the huge wood-fire
which burned on the ground near the
center of the house; and during the en-
tire evening decrepid old Indian, who
had been detailed for the purpose, kept
piling on fuel until the spectators on the
bench, and the Indians themselves, were
well nigh roasted.
THE MUSIC.
It was already late when the dancing
began. The orchestra was composed
of about a dozen braves; and these,
with their instruments of torture, hud-
died together near the pole in the cen
ter. In the book Between the Gates, u
a Chinese orchestra is described as 9
combination of ticks, and chicks, and
iingles, and squeaks, and tinkles OF
bells. and a frog and locust interlude.
and emsciated fiddles, with roar OF
gongs and clash Of cymbals added
while elsewhere the music OF the Digger
Indians is described as a deafening up.
roar like that produced by thousand
cross-cut saws filed by steam power, OF
innumerable pigs caught under a gate,
or a multitude of tom-cats lashed to.
gether and flung over clothes-llne!
But neither of the above descriptions
will do Justice to the music which broke
upon our ears as the signal was given
for soon were distinguished notes and
pauses in accordance with the figures
Each member eff the orchestra con
tributed his share of the noise by strik
ing a split piece of wood against hi.
knee or arm; and this was accompanied
by plaintive wall, now low and sub
dued, again loud and forcible, as the oc
casion demanded.
Simultaneously with the commence
ment of the music the dancing began. 4
dozen or more squaws glided barefootet
intos the center of the ring, and, ate
circling the fire on tiptoe two or thre
times, glided away as unceremonlousl.
as thew came. Probably the second ant
last dances were the best of the evening
and short description of each is here
with appended. Previous to the com
mencement of the second dance, whic
an Indian informed US in broken Englis
was called "the sguaw Dance" the te
squaws changed their apparel and dor
} ned their costumes in full view OF tn
, audience assembled, and then formed i
a line between us and the fire. Tn
, dresses must have been owned by tn
, community in general, for they wer
: exactly alike in every respect, and, whe
the dance was concluded, each was re
3 turned to the hook from which it ha
t been taken.
q THE sQUAw DANCE.
The body of each dress was made
black calico, with red and white scollor
below the waist. and also at the bottom
An abalone belt fitted tightly around tn
. waist, and four long streamers from tt
4 back and breast waved to and fro wit
4 the body. On the head was cap, whic
/ in shape was not unlike huge crab
h and starting from the top of this W:
J. another streamer, which extended eve
> to the ground. Each ofthe squaws bel
horse-tail in the right hand, and TO.
f had peculiar wooden whistles in the
+ mouths. The dancers varied in age fro
D the young girl in her teens to the gran,
g mother of the tribe; aud stoical indi
:. ference to pleasure or applause ",
a manifested on everv face. During Il