The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1890-02-15
AN INDIAN PARTY.
Asravcs and Squaws Dance Mcrrily to the
Sound Of Weird Music


Asravcs and Squaws Dance Merrily to the
Sound Of Weird Music.
1t wac to be held short distance from
the fort 1.-THE cantonment on the North
Fork of the Canadian river, where we
were stationed with other officers and
their companies of the - Infantry,
and after delightful walk we soon
reached the tepee which had been erect
ed Tor the occasion. Perhaps you do not
know how tepee looks or is constructed.
Long, strong poles are placed in con-
ical shape, about twenty feet in diameter
on the ground, meeting at the top, a few
inches from the upper ends, which spread
apart like bouquet to form an opening
Tor the escape Of smoke. This frame is
covered with tanned skins, often decor
ated with pictures and figures Of gro
tesque shapes and colors, and so ar
ranged as to leave unobstructed the
opening at the top. Near the ground,
on the weather-protected side is an
other openi az, through which the occu-
pants crawl on hands and knees. 1t
is provided with a heavy skin, which
serves as q door, and at night can
be securely fastened on the inside.
This door was wanting this night
and through the opening poured the
bright light, casting weird enchant-
ment over the scene, as the dark outline
Of the structure was clearly defined
against the sky, the swarthy forms Of
the Indians darted back and forth, and
away of in the distance, as far as the
eye could see, stretched the broad, level
prairie, bathed in moonlight and look
ing so tranquil, so at rest, that the dis
tant howl Of the coyote seemed to die
away for want of strength to bear 1t on.
Entering the tepee we found many
there before us, and as we took our
places on tho robes were awed by the
hard, savage faces of the Indians, which
they turned toward us in friendly chances
as they continued their incessant chat
tering. Sitting back of the light were
three young bucks, holding on their
laps queer instruments made of twigs
wound in the form of drum, the tops
covered with thick skins stretched
tightly over them.
The dancers were seated in front of
the visitors, and when the music began
the squaws each went to the Indian
with whom she wished to dance, took
him by the hand and led him into the
center OF the circle. The partners each
held their hands on their hips, their
right arms interlocked, the buck facing
ono way, the squaw the other, and made
sort of stamping motion with their
feet as they turned around and around;
and when they had made two or three
turns, both, like a flash, changed posi-
lions, interlocked the left arms and
turned tho other way. Sometimes two
squaws would choose the same partner,
and in this case one would dance on
either side. How they could feel the
enjoyment evinced by their faces one
could hardly realize, for the sound Of
the instruments resembled that of 9
muffled drum, and. accompanied by the
deep. monotonous voices of the Indians
sounded like funeral dirge.
When the music stopped there wa.
great laughing and talking. which We
did not understand, but easily OWNED
that as the dancers returned to theil
places the old squaws took great de
light in teasing the younger ones, while
the men poked fun at one another, and
all enjoyed themselves like children
Detroit Free Press