Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-01-11

would frequently be several days free
ing himself.
As rule each tribe had at least one
purely religious dance each year. II a
tribe was in good circumstances they
sometimes had two or more. OF all the
ceremonial dances the medicine dance
took precedence, and the scalp dance
came next in Importance This always
occurred the day following the return
of successful war party and was only
participated in by the members OF that
party. Before the dance a ceremony
was performed by the warriors who took
the scalps, no one else being permitted
TO be present or to see what was done.
The Indians who took part in this would
sit in a close circle and during the cere-
mony the scalps would be trimmed and
cleared Of all fieshy matter and the skin
cured. Each scalp was then stretched
on wooden hoop and the hair dressed.
After this each warrior attached hts
scalps to small pole. This ceremony
was looked upon with great reverence
and was preparatory TO the scalp dance.
When II had been finished all the war
riors marched in single file back to the
camp and planted their poles with the
dangling scalps in circle in the center
OF the spot chosen for the dance. Those
who had scalps were then Joined by the
others Of the party who had taken part
in tho fight and had won the right to
participate In the dance.
All assembled around the circle facing
the poles A signal was given, all the
warriors Joined hands and commenced
q monotonous song, keeping tiMs with
slow steps while turning about TIE
scalps. As the dance progressed the
warriors loosed their hands, and whoops
and yells we're interspersed in the song.
Wilder and wilder became their actions,
and they leaped and bounded In the air,
brandishing their weapons until they
had worked themselves into an intox-
ication of mad excitement Suddenly
one OF the dancers would spring to the
center OF the circle, and, In the vain
glorious language of his race, recount
his story, and by his actions 60 through
the performance of taking the scalps
over again. When each one who had
taken n scalp had finished his story,
each OF the Others who had been In tho
war party would recount his action and
tell OF the great deeds he had performed
and at the same time tell how the in
fuence of the ''Issd God" had prevented
him from acquiring any sca1ps. Thia
was continued until each dancer had
time TO recount all his wonderful ex-
ploits, and by this time the whole band
was wild with frenzy.
These two were the great ceremonial
. 4 ~ IL shu al
and the Navajoes had dance which was
called the green corn dance" from tho
fact that IL was In honor OF the ripening
Of the ears OF corn. In this both men
and women participated, and 1t was q
test OF chastity as well as religious GER
emony. This dance had a counterpart
among the Seminoles, but their rites
ended in the widest voluptuary orgies.
But II was In the social dance that tho
Indians of all tribes took the greatest
delight. The social side OF the Indian
has been 80 little written about that to
the popular mind he Is only known as 9
taciturn individual who never laughs nor
has any amusement. This Is wonderful
from the fact that the Indian race takes
more enjoyment in pleasure than any
1
the social dance has such attractions
that men and women will ride many
miles to participate in them. II is In
these dances that many courtships are
carried out, and not only do the younger
members of the tribes get their partners
for life, but often the arrangements are
made by which woman transfers her
affections from one husband 10 another
One OF the most noted and most favor
ably received dance Is the kissing dance,
or dance of love. This Is participated in
by both sexes, and many an opportunity
is given To kiss the object of the affeo.
tions while meme may say nay. Tho
husband must stand perfectly unmoved
while he secs his vito lavish endeAr-
ments on some other man, and any show
OF resentment on his part either then on
thereafter brings down on his head the
censure of the whole tribe.
Probably the most curious, and at the
same time most unusual of all dances
was she begging dance. IL required two
tribes who had been at war, and who had
become friendly, in order to consummats
the dance. which was q surprise upon
one of the tribes. All of the warriors of
one tribe rush suddenly into the camp
of the other. yelling and firing
guns, with every semblanee of Q
furious attack. The assaulted Indians
recognize the nature OF the inhiction
and form circle In the center OF the
camp. At signal the attacking party
lays aside Its arms and performs o
series of dances, during the progress of
which the dancers spring from the
circle and each seizes q warrior from
the other tribe, whom no hugs with
every evidence of affection. Each In
dian receiving such an embrace Is ro-
quired by custom TO make a present to
the one who embraces him. and. rs he
is expected to be liberal, a begging
dance Is generally looked upon as being
as grave a calamity as hostile raid.
The dances mentioned were common
to all tribes In addition each tribe
had numerous social dances. and In
good seasons, whom every thing went
well with the Indians, at least five
nights every week we're spent In this
pleasure.-o r. Edwards, in Kansas
City Journal.