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

force among the aboriginal tribes Of this coun-
try. About a month ago Mr.. Chas. +. Meserve,
the superintendent Of the Indian school at Law
renee, Kan. had an opportunity to witness an
Indian dance and at the request of Gen. Nor
gan, the commissioner of Indian affairs, he
wrote the following account:
AT III o clock on FRIDAY forenoon. Nav q,
approached a camp Of Arapahoe Indians. with
their tepees, to the number Of seyenty-fiye
pitched a short distance from the north bank of
the South Canadian river. some twelve or if
Teen miles from the agency at Darlington, q. T.
L heard their shouting and the noise Of their
drums when was half mile from the camp.
As approached the camp thew were in the
midst OF their dance. They were arranged by
twos. the males by themselves and the females
by themselves. There were probably at this
time engaged in the dance not less than fifty
persons. Black Coyote, one Of the Arapahoe
chiefs. with another Indian of large stature.
were leading the line. The line was at first
straight and reached out for quite a distance.
though later on they formed in a circle In the
center OF the circle a staff from which
foated United States flag. and from another
staff near by a white and blue flag. In the CEN
ter of the circle was a v1thered old woman who
was holding on to the staff with one hand and,
with the other outstretched. looking up to
the sky, at the same time uttering mournful in
carnations. Those that were in line were keep
ing step to the beat of drum. made by stretch
iHS over an ordinary WOODEN tub. All
the dancers were engaged either in CONVERSE
ton or In lamentations, and were nearly all of
them at this time smiling and at times engaged
In loud laughter. Presently their appearance
changed and their attitude was that of reverence
rather than mirth. Soon their dancing stopped
and all, young and old, stood in line and erect.
CONTEST OF STRENGTH.
Black Coyote, the chief, held both his hands
forward, with the palms outstretched and fin
gers apart. Presently from the tepee near by
there emerged a large. powerful Indian. who
advanced to within five or six feet of Black
Coyote and raised his hands in the same posi-
ton as those Of Black Coyote and spread out his
fingers in the same way. He then threw his
hands forward TO Black Coyote as though he
would grasp them. Black Coyote tried to
grasp his, but failed. They kept this up for
few minutes until they had firmly grasped, when
they both let go and each grasped the other
around the waist and engaged in a violent
wrestling contest. This pleased the Indians
very much and whenever it appeared that Black
Coyote was getting the worst of il those who
were behind pushed him on. During this wrest-
ling contest the two behind put their hands
upon the shoulders Of the two forward and as
Black Coyote and the wrestler moved from side to
side the object of all the Others was to keep
directly behind those in front of them. This
continued for ten or fifteen minutes Black
Coyote holding his ground and his contestant
unable to gain any advantage over him Finally
Black Coyote made one tremendous effort to
throw his assailant, and nearly all of those that
were behind, keeping their hands upon those
In front, were also thrown, and some Of them,
especially number of women. rolled end over
end. After they had gathered themselves up
there was a grea. clapping of hands. loud talk
ing, much hilarity, and all seemed in the hap
piest frame of mind This ended the dance
for the forenoon. There was nothing about il |
that was in any way Objectionable. SO far as L
mr. 90 far
what their various movements signified. There
were two or three tepees that were pitched
near together and were open on the south side |
The ground covered was sufficiently large to
accommodate comfortably forty or fifty people.
APPLAUDING THE VICTOR.
went into this large tent and sat down on
the ground in the only place that seemed vacant
in the circle around which they were seated.
As soon as had taken position on the ground
two or three of the chiefs hurriedly came to
me and motioned me to take a seat elsewhere
1 soon saw the mistake that had made for no
sooner had seated myself on the new piece of
ground where 1 was invited than Black Coyote
at the front and all Of the others behind emil- !
ing and evidently applauding his success,
entered, and Black Coyote took the seat that
had previously been occupying. IL such mis-
take as this had been made among the same
number of white people, 1 presume that
should have been the butt of ridicule and re-
ceived the derisive laughter of all. As it was,
the Indians understood that had made a mis- |
take and had sufficient regard for my feelings
not to allude TO it by any act or sign After
Black Coyote had entered the tepee and his fol- |
lowers all were seated on the ground they be- |
gan to talk with each other. looked around |
TO see II there was any one that 1 knew. |
so that might have an interpreter and ascer- |
tain the significance OF this performance. |
soon spied Jesse Bent who talks very good
English. And when I asked him what they |
were talking about he said they were congratu- |
lating Black Coyote upon his success and that |
Black Coyote was aiming some pleasant raillery |
at the one he threw down. Jesse Bent said they
were doing and acting just the friends Of q
base ball nine would when their favorites had
won the game. Pipes and cigarettes were soon
lighted and after a while the entire company
broke up and went to their various tepees to
take dinner. just before the company broke
up, In the center Of the circle where the dance
had been carried on and between the two flag
stats, several large fried cakes made from
wheat flour were carried out, placed on the
ground, and one of the Indians came out and
held his hands over them and looked up to
heaven. 1 asked Jesse Bent what he was doing.
He said, "White folks when they eat pray. He
is praying over the food"
CHANGES AMONG THE INDIANA.
Before Jesse went to dinner had quite a
long chat with him in regard to the dance and
its effect upon the people. He said that they
have changed their habits very materially in
the last few years and that most of their prac-
tees in the ghost dance are, in reality, in the
line OF true religion. He says they have given
up the practice Of burying their dead in trees
and now dig q grave in the ground and bury
them as white folks do and have some service. |
He stated further that the Arapahoes have
given up the sun dance, the war dance, the |
squaw dance, the buck dance and number Of |
other dances, and it can hardly be expected |
that, after giving up these pracoces that were |
esteemed % highly in the past they can at once /
fall into the white mans ways. He says that |
the Arapahoes believe in religion: that at their /
dances they pray to God that He may teach |
them the white mans ways; that He will show /
them how to work and win make them more |
industrious; that they frequently say that they |
want to do better and be better and 70 find out /
what they can Of tho true God and worship |
Him and learn more Of Christ and the Chris /
tians' Bible. He said it In true the Indians are
lazy and indolent to great degree, but that in |
their habits. their customs and their practices /
there il really nothing Objectionable, and that |
they are, in reality, making progress toward |
the true religion.
had with me Louis Miller, Q returned /
Haskel student, who IL now o soldier in Lieut.. |
wheeler's squad at Fort Reno Itook luncheon /
for Louis and myself. and after my Converse /
ton with Jesse Bent We went over 70 tepee |