St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-01-21
STRANGE INDIAN DANCE.
Visitors 10 the AFapalaOe Reservation Tai
Part In the AmuoemenG

\
Visitors 10 the AFapalhoo Esservati,m Taks
Part In tho Amusement.
The nigh: of my arrival at Fort Reno
was bright and clear. The garrison
was strong; the Indians were held well
in check. ! was not troubled with
fears for personal safety. A noiso oi
voices and drums floated through the
still night air from the tepees several
miles away. Mr. Curtis, one of the
fort scouts saddled couple of horses.
and after supper We galloped across
the level prairie in the moonlight to
attend an Arapahoe dance.
On reaching the village we singled
out the tepce whence issued the noise
of drums and voices and crawling
through the door. hole in the canvas
about three feet high. found ourselves
among thirty or forty painted bucks
aud squaws. Tho squaws were hnd.
died on the ground in one corner of
the tepec; in the opposite corner
crouched the painted braves. An old
drum was on the ground in the center
Of the tepee; around it squatted six
men Justify beating the drum and at
the same time bawling at the top Of
their powerful lungs No notice was
taken Of our entrance We quietly
placed ourselves in the braves corner.
Presently = squaw arose and with a
kind Of reeling motion advanced to-
ward US. She glanced a moment at a
row Of bucks. then tapped one on the
head; he arose and stood in silence.
The squaw scanned again the faces
before her. She seemed abou. TO tap
me on the shoulder. but hesitated and
finally bestowed her favor upon Mr..
Curtis. He arose to his feet; the
squaw placed herself between her two
partners. her face looking in the OPP
posite direction from which they
looked; then putting her arm around
the two meas nccks all three began
springing up and down, howling in
concert with the howls of the men
beating the drum.
Other 50 quaws came forward. select
ed partners. and joined in the strange
dance. congratulated myself ON
being wall flower. but my self-con-
gratulations were premature. for
when the row Of braves was pretty
we'll thinncd out q kind-hearted maid
took rity on my loneliness and
tapped me on the head. Her other
partner was q villianious- looking
Indian. who could doubtless havs run
all day without firing. Ger.
tainly the springy motion. which
-W-~-sEoessivssy fasixui~E tv
me. did not seem to pc ase him. Moka
Wolftrack-that was the name of my
squaw partner-was unsparing in the
looks of contempt she bestowed on tho
tender palcfacc from the East.
At the conclusion Of the dance. af-
ter springing up and down until COM
plctcly exhausted. my partner did a
singular thing-she turned and gave
me q kiss square on the mouth. Isub-
mittcd with what seemed to me very
good grace indeed. but Moka never
thelcss gave me another savage look.
abruptly removing her arm from
around my neck and rctreatcd to her
corner. apparently disguised as we'll
as offended. My offensc, as subse-
quently learned. lay in not transmit
ting from my mouth to hers. when shc
kissed me. some bead or other trinket. as
is customary. Mr.. Curtis who was ac-
quainted with the custom, transferred
% his partner by kiss a bright blue
bead. and SO came out of the dance
with as much eclat as though he wero
real Indian instead Of mere Indian
scout. Cosmopolitan