Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-02-15
sflisfellaueuns &eadiug.
CORN DANCE OF THE SENECAS.

According 10 the lnQldn lcSelu tlle CDIll
plant spr;,ng 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
Indians had emphatically arrived.
They cultivated the corn plant from the
most remote period to which tradition reach
cs and prepared it for food in a great many
different ways, making it the basis of their
sustenance. In their own language corn
is tiguratively called "our life" or "Our
supporter" and it being their only grain,
was correctly named. The dance, or feast,
lasts usually four days, each days proceed
ings closing with a feast from huge caul-
(lrOn of SuccOtaSh.
1t is held in the council-hOuse, on the
bank of the Allegheny River, near Steam
burg. The council-hOuse is long wooden
building, and at either end huge stone
fire place yawns glOomily at the dusky par
Elephants. 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-shcll rattle.
The songs were series Of measured ver-
ses, which required two minutes each for
the recitation. They were all religioussongs
praising the great spirit, various objects in
nature, and the corn. The rattles were us
ed to mark time, and were struck upon the
seat as often as twice or thrice a second, the
song and step of the dancers keeping time,
notwithstanding the rapidity ofthe 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 rttles. After an in
terval of two minutes the attles quickcncd
their beat, the monoton0us chant began, the
leader of the column conlmeced the step and
the others followed, and though the dance
led them into Il great variety OF positions
thier movements were extremely graceful,
dignitied and imposing, and displayed none
of the passionate cOntOrtiOnS of face or body
seen in the war dance. The step is pecu--
liar one. Each foot in succession is raised
from two to eight inches from the floor,
and the heel is then brought down with
great force as frequently as the beat OF the
rattles. One of their great aims was to
test each others endurance and skill, and
any specially fine exhibition gave the perfor-
mcr the head of the column. The women
also participated, but moved from side to
| side of the column in a quiet and not uu-
graceful manner, merely raising thenlsel-
YES alternately upon each foot from heel to
toe, and then bringing down the heel upon
the floor at each beat of the rattle. Some
were tree-lnlbed, 1.-the, and by no means
bad-lookieg, who for freedom and ease of
movement, for modeSty and beauty ffrrnl,
might put to envy the corseted belle OF
town or city.
This dance was kept up for hours, and we
did not lose interest in it, for one uncon-
sci0usly singles out his favOrite, whom he
hopes to see hold out to the end. At the
close of the dance the people adjourn 10 /,
large green, and there witness a variety
Ofathletic sports, such as running, leaping,
ball plays, etc. After this comes the sump-
tuouS feed of succotash, which is made OF
corn, beans and squashes so cooked that it is
not unpalatable. The huge kettles OF sue
cotash, steaming hot from the fire, were
! brought in, a simple prayer was repeated,
and the dusky wOrshipcrs fell to with great
gustO.
The remaining three days were all cele-
brated similarly to the first with only a
change in the dancing step, and the grand
finale" was the game of the peachstOnes or
beans, which is merely game of chance, in
which the winning side carries off several
dollars in money which have been collected
for the occasion.
Originally the Indian had no Sunday, no
sacred writing to furnish him fountain OF
instruction but his gratitude was awaken
ed by every returning manifestation of di-
vine goodness. When thesecd he had COM
mitted to the bosom of the earth in the
spring brought forth their fruit he recog-
nized in the event the watchfulness of the
great spirit. Selling upon the moment
when the most conspicuous evidences Of the
protecting care of Deity were before him,
he acknowledged both Ills existence and
His bencticence, and manifested at the same
time his gratitude and devotion by those
simple rites which the piety of his heart
suggested.-R (N. " Cor. B,Nah
(UWipr.
BREATHE THROUGH TIE NOSE.--Dr
Ward, Physician to the metropolitan Throat
hospital, in an article on singers throat
troubles, in the Musical critic, treats of the
various kinds of catarrhal troubles expert.
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