Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-01-21

as. nS RUE each tribe had at least one
purely religious dance each year. II .
efioe was in good circumstances thev
sometimes had two or more. OF All the
ceremonial dances the medicine dance
oooh precedence, and the scaln dance
came next in Importance. This alwava
occurred the day following the return
=. suceessiul war party and was ONLY
particl pated In by the members Of that
party. Before the dance ceremony
was performed by the warriors who tot
.ne ips' no one else being permitted
" us present or TO see what was done
ne Indians who took part in this would
Si' III close circle and during the cere-
hiohy the scalps would be trimmed and
cleared OF all feshy matter and the .kin
cured. Each scalp was then stretched
On wooden hoop and the hair dressed
Aitef TINS each warrior attached b,s
scalps to small pole. This ceyenonv
was looked upon with great reverence
and was preparatory TO the scaln dance
"hen 1t had been finished all the war
riors marched in single file back to the
camp and planted their poles with tbs
oahgiing scaips In circle in the center
Oh Inc spot chosen for the dance. Tbose
who had scalps we're then Joined by thu
others OF the party who had taken part
In the Tight and had won the right 10
participate In the dance.
All assembled around the circle facing
the poles. A signal was given, all the
warriors joined hands and commenced
monotonous song, keeping tissA witk
SLOW steps while turning about tie
soaps. AS the dance progressed th,
warriors loosed their hands, and whoops
ana yeils were interspersed in the song.
Wilder and wilder became their actions
and they leaped and bounded in the air
brandishing their weapons until they
mad worked themselves into an intox-
lcation 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 mis- actions 20 through
the performance Of taking the scalps
over again. When each one who had
taken scalp had finished his story,
each OF the others who had been in the
war party would recount his action and
, tell Of the great deeds he had performed
and at the same time tell how the in
huence OF the bad Gcd" hid preyerted
him from acquiring any scalps. This
was continued until each dancer had
time to 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 all the wild tribes. The Sioux
and the Nayajoes had dance which was
called the green corn Dance from the
fact that it was in honor of the ripening
of the ears Of corn. In this both men
and women participated, and it was a
test Of chastity as well as a religious Ger.
, emony. This dance had a counterpart
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 grcsses'
. delight. The social side OF the Indian
has been SO little written about that t.
the popular mind he is only known as &
taciturn individual who never laughs mol
: 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, ant
the social dance has such attraction
that men and women will ride man.
= miles to participate in them. 1t is Ii
= these dances that many courtships ar,
: carried out, and not only do the younge
members of the tribes get their partner
/. for life, but often the arrangements ar
\ -. g.. -
y affections from one husband to another
One Of the most noted and most favor
:, ably received dance is the kissing dance
= or dance of love This is participsted i
;, by both sexes, and many an opportunit
:. is given to kiss the object Of the affe:
tions while none may say nay. TIL
husband must stand perfectly unmove
. while he sees his wife lavish endeSl
! ments on some other man, and any sho'
. of resentment on his part either then q
thereafter brings down on his head tn
censure of the whole tribe.
: Probably the most curious, and at tn
0 same time most unusual of all dance
= l, was the begging dance. 1t required tw
III tribes who had been at war, and who ha
become friendly, in order to consummat
81 the dance. which was a surprise upo
+ one OF the tribes. All Of the warriors
lie one tribe rush suddenly into the car
le of the other, yelling and frin
e guns, with every semblance OF
Il, furious attack. The assaulted lndia1
al recognize the nature OF the inaictic
an and form a circle in the center OF II
O. camp. At signal the attacking part
ne laws aside its arms and performs
I'D series Of dances, during the progress
Id which the dancers spring from Il
Oh circle and each seizes a warrior fro
ng the other tribe, whom he hugs wi
IS. every evidence Of affection. Each l
MS dian receiving such an embrace is
of ouired by custom 10 make present
nd the one who embraces him, and. as
es is expected to be liberal, a beggil
to dance is generally looked upon as bell
he as grave a calamity as hostile raid.
le- The dances mentioned were comm'
Oh 10 all tribes. In addition each tri
yes had numerous social dances, and
10 GOOD seasons. when every thing we
ito we'll with the Indians, at least Il
cir nights every week were spent IN II
sh nleasure.-C. E. Edwards, in hans
City Journal