Morning journal and courier., 1882-04-08
The Omaha Dance.
From the United ssrrioe.I

The performances of the day open with
the first part of the Omaha Dance parti-
cipated in by men and women, the former
furnishing the orchestra, the latter the corps
de ballet. Upon the grass are seated cross
legged dozen young men, surrounding a
large drum, upon which they beat with sticks,
while a. few yards of fifty or more squaEs,
formed in arsingle file, are dancing In cir
Gle around tent, keeping time with the nu-
sic; and chanting in weird, dismal mono
tone. In turn, each of the young men
springs to his feet, and rushing TO camp
fire, over which are suspended large pots,
pIunpes in his naked arm, and draws forth
piece of meat from the seething. bubbling.
boiling water. These performances are re-
peated at intervals until noon, when an hour
is taken for dinner, consisting, for the parti-
chants in the dance, of dog meat, this repul-
sive food being regarded by the Indians
the greatest dehcacy afforded by their cuisine
Interest is increased when, at O'Clock, the
multitude reassembles, and the grand con-
clusion of the Omaha dance Is begun In
rapid succession more than q hundred braves
bound through the crowd into the open
Each wears breech- clout ard head-dress
of Candy eolors, and their sinewy, Essome
bodies otherwise naked, are painted, some
with allegorical pictures, suggesting battle
and murder, others with legs encircled by
stripes, and rough drawings of snakes. liz
and red covering their arms, backs and
breasts, while the untamed, wild-beast ex-
preston of their eyes tenfold ferocity is add
cd by the bright yermillion with which their
faces are streaked. Every warrior has either
gun, bow or var-elub, and many wear shining
breastplates and armlets or ankBets of brass,
with iinRling bells attached The braves are
formed in circle, aboJit fifty feet in diane
ter, in the center of which are drum and
drummers, and at the signal all commence
dancing some with the lightness and grace
of ballroom SWELL others twisting their
bodies into grotesque shapes. keeping time
the while to the pounding of the drum, and
uniting their strident voices in frightful
medley of sound, like, more than anything
else, the yelping chorus of thousand ours.
Outside, four gorgeously dressed braves,
mounted on ponies painted and richly com
parison d, forms guard of honor around
the dancers.
Meanwhile, towards the drum and back,
again and again, the latter 60. their motions
each moment growing more rapid and furious
and the chorus louder and harsher, till. worn
out with the violent exertion, they drop out
of the ring one by one and seat themselves
cross legged in their respective places. The
beating of the drum has now ceased, and
those warriors who have won renown in bat
tie successfully rise to their feet, and, In few
and dignifed words, Boast of their cunning
In council and expl otis IN war. When these
interesting and modest biographies have been
concluded, and the breasts OF the young
braves fired with noble desire TO initiate the
dseds of men so heroic, the dance is egain
begun; and when at its height an Indian boy
of fourteen, riding beautiful pony, pushes
rudely into the circle. and is at once sur
rounded by the excited and noisy dancers
They dance and yell around the horse and
rider, grasping the former as he rears and
plunges by the name and tail and bride, un-
til the boy, seemingly anxious to leave the
surging crowd, makes a preteRse of escaping.
When near the outer edge of the dancers
visiting Indian shoots al arrow into his thigh.
Whereupon the youth, turning in apparent
fury, strikes the assailant with a stick. and
then dismounting, turns the pony loose, 70
be caught by the squaws and handed over to
the visitor, whose property he now Is The
boy is then given in charge of the sqnavs.
who after dressing his wound, tEiDe chap
let of leaves around his brow, and dance and
sing about him till nightfGll.