The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1889-02-20
LOVE AMONG THE INDIANS.
An Eastern MANS Experience
With Three Indian Beauties.

for about two weeks, and having
killed all the game we could pack,
returned to the Indian village. To
celebrate our successful hunt a big
dance and feast was held the second
day aud night after our return. All
day day long those Indians gorged
themselves on bear meat and veni-
son. About 4 o'clock in the after
noon the dance commenced. After
the drums had played for about
fifteen minutes big fellow sprang
into the ring, swayed and twisted
himself about as if he had the collie,
began to chant an Indian song, and
away he went hopping and leaping
around the circle. That opened the
ball, and soon twenty-five or thirty
braves were stamping the ground
with great energy and solemnity.
Then the red-faced bellies threw off
their blankets and whirled into the
arena, their shrill voices jarring
against the deep gutteral of the
men, while legs and arms flashed
high and low as the horrid music
rose and fell.
1t is the only time the women are
on an equality with the men, and
they make the most of it and do
their utmost to surpass the bucks
with wonderful and surprising
gymnastic feats. AS the night
grew on an immese log fire lighted
up the fantastic scence, and the
excitement increased; what little
clothing the dancers had on was
thrown aside, and only breech clouts
remained. AS to low-cut dresses, it
was the most fashionable ball 1 ever
attended. The chief informed me
that during these dances their law
also allowed their maidens the priv
ilege of choosing their husbands,
from which choice their was no es-
cape if the one selected was able to
pay the girls parents reasonable
dowry. The chief and 1 were
standing close up to the space oc-
cupied by the dancers, when as
they whirled by an Indian girl
sprang to my side and threw her
arms around my neck. She was the
best looking dansel in the outil,
but before L could stammer out a
word another drskey maid6n leaped
to my side and clasped me around
the neck also 1 was astonfshed.
But, ye gods! the next second an
old widow came waltzing round
and with wild screech threw her
selfupon my bosom and her horney
prongs around my neck. Six bare
red arms around my neckl 1 was
paralyzed. But ] must escape or
the whole female gang, wild with
.excitements might swoop down upon
me. 1 looked at my friend, the
chief, and, sir, he was actually grin
ming. L attempted to pull back, but
my three guileless captors gave a
sudden, gentle jerk the other way,
almost dragging me off my feet, and
before | could recover myself away
we went swinging into the midst of
the reeling, crazy dance. / tore
myeelf loose from my red embra-
GERS. l caught the motion and ex
citement and plunged round the
the ring, and just behind
came my three bold-hearted suitors.
Finally | sprang from the ring and
fell down upon the ground exhaust
ed and close upon my heels came
the three red-skinned amazons
But the chief interposed and com
manded them to return to the dance,
which with reluctant steps they did.
The chief informed me that the girl
who first selected me was his own
daughter and the fairest flower that
bioomed. The second was a sweet
blossom of one of the head men of
the tribe. "Now,' said the chief,
'sIet the great hunter take Che rose
buds for his squaw and the old
squaw to work" 1 told the old fell
low to rest easy until morning and
then we would settle the whole bust
ness and the chief retired in fine
spirits.
1t was 2 o'clock in the morning
and the heathen' dance was dying
out. Iremained lying on the ground
wrapped in my blanket waiting.
Soon heard the last resounding
whack upon the old drum, the last
war-whoop in the ring, and silence
came DER the orgies of the night.
Imagine my surprise and disgust