The St. Johns herald., 1891-06-25
The Devils Dance.

slo IhO NOfAi D NSsuON iA"J " without interest.
 The devils dance," notwith- standing the suggestive name, is one purely of peace, and is cele- brated by these Indians in honor of their greatest chief, long since departed. From all that can be gathered It seems that the White MountainApaches have been taught by tradition, through the medicine men" that their great chief disap- peared with the setting of the sun, and that his return can only be se- cured by the adherence of his tribe to the manner of customs prevalent during his powerful reign. Hence, at stated period, certain forms and ceremonies, the devils dance" among the number, are observed in token of their continued faith in his ultimate return.
 There are five principal actors or dancers, four of whom are warriors, supposed to represent the head chiefs of the several tribes located north, south, east and west, emble- matic of his acknowledged suprem- acy in the four quarters of the globe. The fifth dancer is a small boy perfectly naked, except in the "gee string" and head gear; he im- personates the spirit of the depart ed chief, and is supposed to be in visible at all times and to all pco- pie.
 The head gear, which is a mask covering the entire head, Is made of black cloth with almost impercept- ibIe sits for the eyes and mouth, and is drawn down under the chin and tied with 2 string. Surmounting all is the head-dress proper, which proclaims the rank, dignity and special office Of each chief. Their costum ise made up of the most gor- geou8 medley of colors aad materi- al il is possible to imagine.
 In the first place they are stripped to the waist, around which is gath cred blanket of fantastic color and pattern then their bodies are painted m ashy hue, overlaid with grotesque designs in black, one painted curiously like a skeleton {; another with pointed bands of black, running diagonally across his back a third with crescents- each one apparently exercising his ingenuity to produce the most un- canny effect.
 To realize scene so weird as the one here described, imagine yourself in the wilds of Arizona,the night q starlight one in January, with strong breeze blowing that chills you to the bone Q grand liv- ing circle ofhuman beings, number ing in bucks, squaws and children not less than 400, gathered around huge camp fire of blazing logs i; tomtoms beating, accompanied by howling, rhythmical chant that would terrify the devil himself,and in the midst of all this to see eight, ten, or dozen bucks rush madly into the circle with some indescrib- able monster, which proves to be q raw hide, but which at first sight reminds one of "Old Nick" himself, and which, indeed, it is intended to represent. This the bucks fall up on with sticks and clubs, pounding nsit their very lives depended upon the violence and rapiditY of their blows, at the same time joining the chant, which raises and falls in weird cadence to the tom-toms.
 Then comes from the darkness, a piercing sibilant call, followed by woo-hoo-hoo, which can only be likened to the cry of screech owl then the dancers appear trottlng in a single file, brandishing bows and arrows and long wooden swords, 6o,,;or tprniDu to tha rioht and