The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1889-08-03
INDIAN BEAR DANCE.
How the UteS Celebrate Their
Greatest Festival.
Barbaric Costumes, Queer Mu'
sic, GroteSque Movements.

piled with six companies of troops,
whose chief care is to keep watchful
eve on the Ute Indians and regulate
things on the reservation. According
10 an old Ute tradition, the bears at
this season of the year hold high car
nival all by themselves up in some Sc
cluded place in the mountains, where
there is no snow. For many generations
the famous "Bear Dance" has been sa-
credly observed by the ties, following
as nearly as possible what the bears are
supposed to do.
They find good level piece Of
ground, which is prepared by the bucks
a few days before this chief festival of
the year takes place, and unite in clear
ing nearly an acre. They build a high
brush fence around it, forming 4 sort of
pen-only leaving one opening, which
is faithfully guarded by two braves, and
/ takes n good deal of influence for
outsiders to be allowed 70 enter this en-
closure. Then flagstaff is erected, on
which is a white flag with two huge
bears painted black, typical of the
dance.
When the dav comes on which the
dance is to commence, the Indians come
tom al over the reservation-old and
Young, some on ponies, some are the
,roud possesSOr5 of wagons and 4 great
many walk. There are hundreds par
:.C.patinG in the dance, while on the
outside Of this pen are to be seen many
Indians on ponies watching the perform
luce. This dance lasts a week ALWAYS
including one Sunday, which is ded;-
Gated to She-Nob Cod. The squaws
axe many of them arrayed in bucksk;n
!resses, the waists and sleeves being
aost deliberately beaded in different
oIored beads. The bottoms of these
lresses are finished off with buckskin
.ringe. The skirts are long on the sides
nd short in the back, so that their
handsomely beaded auk!cts and mecca
sins are often displayed. With these
suits are worn beaded girdes or wide
leather belts, ornamental with brass
headed lacks, and suspended from the
belts are worn beaded bags or cases, and
at the back, fastened to the skirt, are
silk or cotton bandanna hand kerchiefs
to prevent soi!ing the dress when the
wearer IS seated on the ground. All
squaws are not fortunate in possessing
buckskin suits, 80 they wear the bright
colored calicOes. Their hair is worn
loose and hanging over their shoulders.
The men are gay with bright -colored
calico shirts and some wear buckskin
!eggins. All wear something on their
necks, such as wampum or beaded
necklace, or the chest is covered with
breastplate of wampum. They all
wear feathers of every description in the
hair, and many have their braids wrapped
with pieces of FUR, bright-colored rib
bon, beaded ornaments and all sorts of
things. One old fellow sported on his
head Chinese red feather-duster. The
Indians all paint their faces. One had
dark blue nose and chin, with yellow
cheeks and red stripes. Another had
his face painted black, with one yellow
eye and red one. No two, in fact.
were painted alike.
The second chief of the Utes was
made Master of Ceremonies, but there
were two or three Floor Managers, as it
@ere, whose duty it was to. 90 around
tefore each dance and point with stick
20 the squaws whose turn it was to dance.
The squaws were seated on one side,
forming semi-circlc, and the bucks
were on the ot-cr side. The musicians,
ten or twelve IN number, formed the or
chestra, making a circle around a large
wooden box or an old tin pan turned
upside down. Each one had stick
ABOUT two ard half feet long, with
aotchcs cut in it on one side resembling
saw; one end of these sticks rested on
the box or tin pan; with the right hand
they rubbed these notched sticks with n
round piece of wood forcibly and rapid
ly, producing a very singular noise, and
when Accom- nnniad liz 4ba ..o;0A- e Al