Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1898-11-25
SPORTS OF SAVAGES.
QUEER GAMES WITH WHICH THEY
AMusE THEMSELVES.
The "Coroboree," = weird ana Fan.
tastic Entertainment IndulEed In
b. the Australian Bushmen-Ram
Buckin9 I'm Khiya.

4A@taE r.esE "a
It has been said that the natives Of nm
civilized or semicivilized countries had no
sense Of humor. A knowledge OF their
habits upsets this theory altogether. The
Australian aborigines indulge in a form
Of entertainment known as the ''ooro-
boree," which is probably u~nequaled in
tbs world for weird and fantastic effect.
It Is given on various occasions for public
rejoicing, such as q victory over q hostile
tribe, the killing Of a large number Of
snakes, etc. It generally begins at dusk
and does not end till dawn. This Is the
way 1t is done:
A large bonfire is lighted on an open
space, around which the whole tribe col
lects-of course at q respectable distance.
The dancers, who are always men, now
retire to q neighboring bush to dress up,
or rather to put on their war paint. This
10 done literally, chalk, charcoal and ocher
being freely used for the purpose. Then
they EN- erge from tho bush and strike up
an attitude in front Of the fire, as a sort Of
tableau vivant, to the great astonish-
ment of the crowd. Then they retire
again for q few minutes and come out in
q new rig out.
This is only q preliminary. In the 60
tual performance the men emerge In twos
and. threes-dancing the while to the 90
compartment Of q couple of boomerangs
ratified together by q player in front-and
enter the ring in full view of the speota-
tors. There they sing and dance, at first
in q slow, melancholy, dreamy chant, then
in a fierce, wild roar of triumph, to por
tray their various passions in love and
war. Sometimes each gives his W YER
sion of affairs independently, and m
times all dance together to illustrate some
event of a national character.
When the interest of the spectators be-
gins to flag, all the dancers vanish stimuli
taneously into the bush for awhile. Sud-
denly one creeps out mysteriously and be-
gins to mimic the actions, tone OF voice,
etc., of some public parsonage In the tribe
who happens to be among the spectators.
Then the others come out and follow suit,
surrounding their unfortunate victim and
Irritating him by every means In their
power, to the huge delight Of the crowd,
for this is q privileged occasion and In
the absence Of newspaper critics In the
land q public opportunity for paying of
old scores against their leading politicians.
The more the culprit objects and loses
his temper the more they torment him
and make him miserable-till suddenly
they transfer their attention to some other
person whom they also consider fair game.
Thus do the savages Of Australia, who are
the savagest of all savages. enjoy them
selves at the expense of their brethren.
Itinerant performers are common In the
east. An Egyptian bear dancer goes about
from house to house with a large and
healthy looking bruin. Through the
beasts nose Is q ring to which is tied 8
rope, and he is compelled to go through 8
series of dances and awkward perform
anoes. His claws are clipped.
The ''bunder wallah, Of monkey dancer
of India, is always a favorite with thu
public. His stock in trade consists Of two
monkeys "a male and a female), a he goa
and a bundle containing oolored rags
bells, heads and other odds and ends. Til.
!. two monkeys arc first made to dance, skip
vault, turn somersaults, etc. then as q re
ward for their skill they are solemnly mar
ried to each other. The female Is dresses
up in gorgeous rags, with bells, beads ant
other ornaments, and the marriage cere
mony performed over the pair by tn
trainer. The rite varies according to loca
custom, but ends In every case In q trl
! umphal ride for the bridegroom on tn
. goat, leaving the bride disconsolate on tn
y ground. Sometimes the goat is made t
give an independent exhibition, which ger
/. orally ends in his having to stand on fou
8 pieces of wood, one on top Of another, an
/. each no more than two inches in diameter
: This serves to bring down the house. an
: often the goat with it.
= In India are the snake charmers an
. tugglers famous the world over. In Japa
expert street tumblers are common.
: In Khiva an exhilarating sport Is I'll
ram fight. The two rams are taken 30
: 30 feet apart and then let go. They seel
= to recognize in each other their natur,
4 antagonist. So with bent head they rus
f~uriously on and meet in the middle wit
q terrific crash. One would imagine tn,