The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-12-21

Inc past week, says tne hanuOipn, ".
Y correspondent of the Buffalo Courier,
has been an important one to the Seneca
Indians, as it has been the occasion of
their annual green corn dance. The
rapidity with which the Indian race is
disappearing from the country as In
dians-there being scarcely any left now
save half .breeds-makes occasions OF
this kind of great interest to the white
people OF the surrounding country, and
each occurrence of the ceremony brings
out the whites of the surrounding coun.
try in large numbers. The ceremony is
as old as the Indian race, and in former
times was the great religious fete of the
year. Like all the customs and matters
pertaining to the Indian race, it has
sadly degenerated, and now is seldom
seen in native purity. The brave of for
mer years improved this opportunity to
thank the Great Spirit for the many
deeds of valor that he had been per-
mitted to perform during the past years;
now he looks forward to it as special
good time to get drunk. The old men of
the tribe used to display their wisdom on
these occasions by the eloquence and in
geniousness of their prayers, and now
they hail the green corn dance with
delight as good time to beg to-
bacco of the visiting white men.
The women of the tribe used to compose
songs recounting their virtues and ac-
complishments, now they have little
virtu, to sing of, and devote the time be-
tween dances to sinful practices. Never
theless, the annual festival this year was
one of almost pristine glory, and the old
men and women who attended declared
that it was nearly counterpart OF the
corn dances of the days of Red Jacket,
Cornplanter and O'Bale.
According to the Indian legend the corn
plant sprang from the bosom of the
mother of the Great Spirit. After her
death and burial, and when the green
corn became fit for use, the season OF
plenty with the Indian had emphatically
arrived. They cultivated the corn plant
from the most remote period to which
tradition reaches, and prepared it for
food in great many different ways,
making it the basis of their sustenance.
In their own language corr is fgura-
lively called "Our Life" or "Our Sup
porter" and it being their only grain,
was correctly named. The dance or
feast, lasts usually four days, each days
proceedings closing with feast from
huge cauldron OF succotash. 1t is held
in the council house on the bank of the
Allegheny river, near Steamburg. The
coun Ill house is long wooden building,
and at either end huge stone fireplace
yawns gloomily at the dusky partici-
pants. Members Of the tribe are seated
or standing around the room, and the
music is furnished by two male singers
seated in the center OF the room. each
provided with turtle-shell rattle.
The songs were Q series of measured
verses, which required about two min
utes each for their recitation. They
we're all religious songs, praising the
great spirit, various objects in nature,
and the corn. The rattles we're used to
mark time, and were struck upon the
seat as often IS twice or thrice second,
the song and step of the dancers keeping
time, Notwithstanding the rapidity Of the
beat. The dancers were In single file,
and danced around the council house.
When the music ceased they walked
slowly, keeping time with the beat OF
the rattles. After an interval of two
minutes the rattles quickened their beat,
the monotonous chant began, the leader
Of the column commenced the step and
the others followed, and though the
dance led them into great variety OF
positions, their movements we're ex-
| tremely graceful, dignifed and i'm.
posing, and displayed none Of the pas
sionate coutortions OF face or body seen
| in the war dance. The step is peculiar
one. Each foot In succession il raised
from two 10 eight inches from the floor
nnd ~ honI Il than brought down with