Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-02

Indians Ne could be accommodated managed
20 crawl In under the ten. Zap and an IN
terested though part OF the time disguised
spectator Of the proceedings. Black Covote.
Pushing Bear and Bear Feather were the chiefs
present As soon they had all gathered they
began TO make preparations for painting their
faces 1 noticed that Pushing bear seemed to
be the leader in this. though most Of the men
entered into Il with great deal Of relish. Thev
painted first their own faces ana then tho
womens i noticed that the best-looking
women were called for first and the most time
was given 20 setting out their compilations i'm
the highest perfection OF the chiefs decorative
art. They took ont from their box quantity
Of paint: put II in the palm Of the hand. spat ON
IL. and then. with the finger mixed the naint
and spit together and with the finger with which
they had been stirring the mixture they began
their work. IL seemed that a good deal more
time was occupied in this work than was neces-
sary and i was quite sure OF the fact when
at the end Of the performance the implanted
women were called forward. all Of whom were
exceedingly homely. Not much time was spent
upon them. The faces were covered entirely,
even 20 the eyclids. and the parting Of the
hair Was also deeply dyed. While this process
was going on there were two three women
that stood out in the broiling sun In the center
of the circle engaged in lamentations or PRAYER.
One Of them was visiting Caddo woman. who
stood with arms outstretched. with face up
turned TO the sun and eyes wide open. appar-
entity, IN her incantations. in great agony aud
deeply in ear nest. She remained there for some
time. probably fifteen minutes. IL seemed 90
me that she must have lost her eyesight from
gazing directly At the sun rs she did. After
she left an Arapahoe woman took her place ADD
continued for some time in PRAYER. When tho
chiefs and others had gotten through their smok-
ing Black Coyote n chief. came out and stood by
her side: While she stood in the same attitude
as the visiting Caddo woman. I could see that
she had sense enough TO keep her eyelidlsshut.
was quite amused at the shrewdness of Black
Coyote. He evidently had come out 60 en-
gage IN PRAYER and worship. He held up his
hands. looked up into the sky, but the sun
troubled his eyes so he took Of his hat and at
arms length held IL out. still looking upward in
such position Us to shield his ewes. After this
ceremony OF prayer was over they all came out
and began TO engage in the dance in the same
manner as in the forenoon. A. il was now
getting late in the afternoon. and there was a
long drive ahead Of us, left the Indians after
bidding them goodbye and shaking hands with
them, and started for the agency.
WORK INSTEAD OF DANCE.
On the following Monday while I was In
Agent Ashley's Office the Arapahoe chiefs who
were the leaders in the dance of the Friday be-
fore came in and asked him If they could not
have another dance in four weeks. He told
them that they must not dance again until six
weeks had passed away: that their corn was now
growing aud that the weeds were also growing,
and that they must go and cultivate il and at
tend TO their other farm work. They went away
satisfied, saving they would work for six weeks.
presume il is safe 20 saw that the dance
saw Is a vast improvement over the dances OF
years gone by, and while il is something that
you and would look upon silly and childish
yet II Is doubtless a stepin advance. There was
nothing intellectual about 1t TO nv mind. very
little that was spiritual and vet presume that
II Is best that they be INDUCED in H. hopinr