San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-06-05
The Devils Dance

| The Devils Dance
] Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper.
So much has been written recently
of the "ghost dance" and all it's at
tendant horrors, that perhaps a brief
description OF what is known among
the White Mountain Apaches as the
"devil's dance" may not be without
! interest.
The devils dance" notwithstand-
ing the suggestive name, is one pure
| ly of peace, and is celebrated by these
| Indians in honor of their greatest
chief, long since departed. From all
that can be gathered it seems that
the White Mountain Apaches have
been taught by tradition, through the
| medicine men," that their great
chief disappeared with the setting of
| the sun, and that his return can only
be secured by the adherence of his
tribe to the manners and customs
prevalent during his all.powerful
reign. Hence, at stated periods, GER
tain forms and ceremonies. the
"devil's dance' among the number,
are observed In token of thete cOntin-
ued faith in his ultimate return.
There are five principal actors or
dane GERS, four of whom are warriors,
sup posed to represent the head chiefs
of the several tribes located North,
South, East and West. emblematic of
his acknowledged supremacy in the
tour quarters of the globe. The fifth
dancer Is small boy perfectly naked,
except in the ''gee string" and head
gear; he impersonates the spirit of the
departed chief, and is supposed to be
invisible at all times and to all PEG.
pie.
The head.gear, which is mask
covering the entire head, is made Of
black cloth, with almost impercepti-
BILE Sits for the eyes and mouth, and
is drawn down under the chin and
tied with string. Surmounting all
is the head dress proper, which pro-
claims the rank, dignity and special
office of each chief. Their costume is
made up of the most gorgeous medley
of colors and material it is possible to
imagine.
Inthe first place they are stripped
to the waist, around which is gather
ed blanket of fantastic color and
pattern; then their bodies are paint
tesque designs In black, one painted
%
with pointed bands of black run
ming diagonally across his back;
third with crescents-each one ap
parently exercising mis- ingenuity to
produce the most uncanny effect.
To realize scene so weird as the
one here described, imagine yourself
in the wilds of Arizona, the night q
starlit one in January, with strong
breeze blowing that chills you to the
bone; grand living circle of human
beings, numbering in bucks, squaws
and children not less than 400. gath
cred around huge campfire of
blazing logs; tom toms beating, ac-
companied by bowling rhythmical
chant that wo1ld terrify the devil
himself, and in the midst of all this
to see, eight, ten or a dozen
bucks rush madly into the circle
with some indescribable monster.
which proves to be a raw hide, but
which at first sight reminds one of
"Old Nick" himself, and which, in.
deed, it ia intended to represent. This
the buck fall upon with sticks and
clubs, pounding as II their very lives
depended upon the violence and
rapidity of their blows, at the same
time Joining the chant, which rises
and falls in wierd cadence to the TOM
toms. ...
Then comes from the darkness q
piercing, sibilant call, followed by
WOO hoo-hoo, which can only be liken-
ed to screech owl; then the dancers
appear, trotting in single file, bran
bishing bows and arrows and long
wooden swords, bowling, turning to
the right and LETT, jumping and max
ing gestures impossible TO describe;
up they rush to where the devil is
being beaten, back they dance to the
fire, around and around they fly,
leaping and yelling, the spirit of the
great chief THE small boy rivalling
all in feats of agility and endurance,
the whole making night one hideous
dream. Then, and only then, can
one appreciate the novel sight wit
messed on the banks of the ella.
h.