Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-01-17
FIREPROOF INDIANS.
How the Hashkawn Dance is Performed
Mt the Navajo Agency.

at the Navajo Agency.
John Is. Sweet, who has recently been
travelling in New Mexico and Arizona,
gave an interesting and graphic sketch to
a Denver Tribune reporter of the Hash
kawn Dance" which he had witnessed at
one of the Navajo agencies. 1t took place
in large corral, or inclosure OF an irregu-
larIy circular form, about forty PAGES in
diameter. Its fence, about eight feet high,
was constructed of fresh juniper and pinon
boughs. In the center was conlcal pie
of dry wood, about twelve feet high, which
was to make the great central fire. Around
this. few feet from the fence, dozen
smaller fires were burning for the comfort
and convenience of the spectators, who
numbered about 500 men, women and chl-
dren. gathered here from the various parts
of the Navajo country. The fire dance
was the most picturesque and startling OF
all. Some time before the dancers entered
| heard strange sounds, mingled with the
blowing of the buffalo horn. The sounds
were much like the call of the sandhill
crane, and may perhaps be properly called
" trumpeting," and they were made by the
dancers constantly during the exercises.
The noises continued to grow louder and
come nearer. until we heard them at the
opening in the east, and in q moment after
men having no more clothing on than
breech-clout entered. Every man bore 4
long, thick bundle Of shredded cedar bark
in each hand except the leader, who car
ried four smaller fagots of the same mate
rial. -Four times they all danced round
the fire, waving their bundles of bark to-
ward the flame; then they halted in the
east: the leader advanced toward the CEN
tral fire, lit one of his little tagots and
trumpeting loudly, threw it over the fence
of the corral in the east. He performed Il
similar act at the south, the west and the
north but before the northern brand was
thrown he lit il with the fagots of his COM
rades. As each brand disappeared over the
fence some of the spectators blew into their
hands. and made motion as if tossing
some substance after the departing flame.
When the fagots were all lit the whole
band began Il wild dance around the fire.
At first they kept close together and spat
upon one another some substance OF sup
posed medicinal virtue. Soon they seat
tered and ran, apparently without concert,
the rapid racing causing the brands to
throw out long brilliant streamers of flame
over the naked hands and arms Of the
dancers. They then proceeded TO apply
the brands to their own nude bodies, and
the bodies of their comrades in front of
them-no man ever once turning around
At times the dancer struck the victim Wig
orous blows with his flaming wand; again
he seized the fame as if it were a sponge,
and, creeping close to one pursued, rubbed
the back of the latter for several moments
as if he were bathing him. In the mean
time, the sufferer would catch up with
some one in front of him and, in turn
battle him in the fame At times when a
dancer found no one in front Of him he pro-
ceeded to sponge" his own back, and
might keep this up while making two or
three circuits around the fire, or until he
overlook some one else. At each applica-
ton of the blaze the loud trumpeting was
heard, and it often seemed rs if 4 flock of a
hundred cranes were win9ing their way
overhead, southwark, through the dark
ness. If a brand became extinguished it
was so far consumed us to be no longer held
conveniently in the hand, the dancer
dropped it and rushed trumpeting out of
the corral Thus one by one they all de
parted, and the spectators stepped INTO the
arena, picked up the fascicles of the fallen
fragments of the bark, lit them and bathed
their hands in the flames as a charm
against the evil effects of fire.
Were they not blistered?' asked the
reporter.
They were not hurt in the least" was
the answer. q believe they were protected
by a coating of earth or clay paint. That,
however, did not make the effect any less
strange. | have beheld many fine scenes
on the stage, many acts Of fre-eating and
fre-handling by civilized .iugglcrs, and
many fre-dances by other Indian tribes,
but nothing quite comparable to this. The
scenic accessories were unique Demons
scourging lost souls with the eternal fire
could scarcely he pictured to look more aw-
ful."-T Denver Tribune.