The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-01-31

would be tied TO the top of the pole
which was bent over for the purpose
This IS the most exasperating form of
the torture, for the pole would give with
his struggles, but at tho same time re-
tain its ghastly hold, and the victim
would frequently be several days free
ing himself
As rule each tribe had at least one
purely religious dance each year. If 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 ccre-
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 his
scalps 70 a small pole. This ceremony
was looked upon with great reverence
and was preparatory 70 the scalp dance.
When II had been finished all the war
riors marched in single hle 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 we're then joined by the
others Of the party who had taken part
in the fight and had won the right 10
participate in the dance.
All assembled around the circle facing
the poles. 4 signal was given, all the
warriors Joined hands and commenced
monOtonous song, keeping time with
slow steps while turning about the
scalps. As the dance progressed the
warriors loosed their hands, and whoops
and yelis were intersPsrsed 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 IN tox-
icauOn OF mad excitement Suddenly
one OF the dancers would spring 20 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
takea a scalp had finished his story,
each Of the others who had been in the
war party would recount his ACTION and
Jcll of the great deeds he had performed
ana at the same time tell how the In
hEence of the bad God" had prevented
him from acquiring any scalps. This
was continued until each dancer had
time 70 recount all his wonderful ex-
plots, and by this time the whole band
was wild with frenzy.
These two were the great ceremonial
dances Of al the wild tribes. The Sioux
and the NavaJoes had a dance which was
called the green corn dance" from tho
fact that it was in honor OF the ripening
OF the ears Of corn. In this both mon
and women participated, and IL was
test Of chastity as well As a religious Ger
emony. This dance had coUuterpart
among the SeminOles, but their rites
ended in the widest voluptuary orgies.
But It was in the social dance that the
Indians Of all tribes took the greatest
delight The social side of the Indian
has been so little written about that TO
the popular mind he is only known as a
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
other portion OF the human family. and
tho social dance has such attractions
that men and wQweQ viii ride many
miles 70 participate in them. Il is I'm
these dances that many cou-tships are
carried out, and not only do the younger
members OF the tribes got their partners
for life, but often the arrangements are
made by which . woman transfers her
affections from ono husband 70 Gug.hCr
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 tQ kiss the object OF the afec-
tions while Eole may say nay. The
husband must stand perfectly unmoyed
while he sees his wife Iayizh euaear-
ments on some other man, and any show
OF rcsen -nent on his part either then or
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 the begging dance. It required two
tribes who had been at war, and who had
become friendly, in order 70 consummate
the dance, which was a surprise upon
one of the tribes All Of the warriors Of
one tribe -ush suddenly into the camp
OF the other, yelling and firing
guns, with every semblance Of a
furious attack. The assaulted Indians
recognize the nature OF the iufliction
and form a circle in the center OF the
camp. At signal the attacking party
lays aside its arms and performs c
series OF dances, during the progress Of
which the dancers spring from the
circle and each seizes a warrior from
tho other tribe, whom he hugs with
every evidence of affection. Each In
dian receiving such an embrace is re-
qUired by custom TO make a present to
the one who embraces him, and. as he
is expected 70 be liberal, a begging
dance is generally looked upon as being
as grave q calamity as a hostile raid.
The dances mentioned were common
TO all tribes IN addition each tribe
had numerous social dances, and in
good seasons, when every thing went
well with the Indians, at least Eve
nights every week were spent in this
pleasure &C. L. Edwards, in Kansas
City Journal.
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