The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1893-06-11
HE RECEIVED A WARM WELCOME
Mr.. Estudillo's Appointment
Celebrated at Banning.
A Feast That Will Last q Whole
Week.
A Gathering That Is Full OF Interest.
The Feather Dance-Old Cabezon =
Holds a Reception-Every-
thing Wide Open.

Banning Herald: The Potrero or In
dian village has very festive appear
ance, and is the scene OF much revelry
by night as well as day. The different
branches of the Mission Indians are as
sembled to do honor to the new agent,
Mr.. Estudillo. Representatives are there
from San Diego, Mesa Grande, Warmers
ranch. Coahuilla valley, San Jacinto,
San Bornardino and vicinity, and the
desert, including Aqua Caliente, Mar
tinez. Torroa and other places.
The feast opened last Friday night
and will continue until next Sunday.
The visiting Indians are entertained
by the Potrero Indians. A dance is held
every night and sometimes in the
daytime as well. Many white people
visit the camp and it is we'll worth going
to see. Up to Monday about 120 In
dams had arrived from other places, and
before the week is past about 500 are
expected to be in attendance. The af-
fair promises to be one of the largest
held for many years at the Potrero.
On visiting the grounds the first OBJ
ject meeting the gaze Is lofty pole, to
which is attached the American flag.
Surrounding this an enclosure about
100 feet square, made of walls OF brush
and poles. The walls are about seven
feet high and are opened at two corners.
Going inaide the enclosure number of
sheds and rooms are seen all along the
walls. Under abe sheds are fruit stands
with soda water and lemonade on the
side. There were also five or six req
taurants along the walls, where meals
could be obtained for % cents. The bill
of fare might not be extensive, but the
quantity was large.
Saturday night and on some other
nights they went through performance
called by some of the whites a Feather
dance" A circular space had been
carefully swept, all rocks being removed
and the soil we'll smoothed and packed.
A fire was made on the edge of the space
and by its light the dancing was done.
The dancers we're all barefoot and some
in full dress, being clothed only in a
gee string or breech clout. Around the
circle were seated number of old men
and women, who kept up monotonous
sort of chant, which with the chant of
the dancers furnished a kind of rythm
or time. With hopping kind of step
the dancers kept time moving back
wards and forwards, and circling around
to the actions of the leader. This was
continued at intervals, each time the
dancing becoming more excited, and the
dancing faster and more violent. Only
men participated, and they were mostly
old ones or of middle-age.
Finally q number of Goals of fire
were thrown among them on which
they danced with bare feet, paying no
attention to possible burning. One old
man, the leader, then went to the fire,
stirred 1t up, walked into it and finally
fell down and rolled in it for short
time. He was burned some, but did
not seem to mind that. The only ap-
parent reason for calling Ii a feather
dance was that some had headdress
of eagle feathers. The man who in
formed the writer that the feathers were
those Of eagles, said, as 1t was against
an Indians principles to kill these
birds, they captured the young and
after raising them until grown would
starve them to DEATH, thus getting the
feathers. siu Hru sl5ssfa
On Sunday the main feature was q
war dance, but as the writer was not
present, no description will be at
tempted. After the war dance was
over, Chief Cabezon held a sort of
reception, and shook hands with most
OF his followers present, the ceremony
seeming to be renewal of their. fealty
to him. Speeches were made by the
more influential members. after which
a procession formed, Cabezon, escorted
by two sub-chief, in the lead, next two
Mexicans, playing violin and guitar,
and then all the other men. They
marched around the square, and then
gathering around the flag pole, more
speeches were made and the exercises
for the day closed.
Several side shows were other attrac-
tions. In one room or booth game of
monte was in progress, while others
played basket-peon and chuck-luck.
One large room was used as a dance
hall, the Mexicans furnishing music.
Waltzes, polkas and other dances were
INDUCED in, the women dancing with
the men as Americans or Mexicans do.
The floor was not the very best for the
purpose, being only the hard ground.
but they seemed to enjoy it just the
same. The younger men and boys
played baseball to pass the time, and q
game may be played with the whites
tomorrow or Saturday.
10c a roll for hanging wall naneY OPT Smith