The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-01-07

."""t@a AafNfatty Amoab Nttgfu OF tut
soil. even poor 10 has felt a scarcity
of dimes and nlckels. and the fiesta
has been cut down TO i've days. The
locality Of the fiesta II changed each
year for the convenience OF all the In
diana This xear the fiesta took place
on E-ere26 mesa. close bY-the santa
Rosa and Rlneon mountains. an oval
enclosure was made In the mesa. Of
brush. palm leaves and poles deity
woven together by a party OF young
Indian bucks. The walls Of the en-
closure were seven feet high. and the
ara enclosed vas about an acre. Along
the walls Of the atockade were built
hutn OF palm branches. brush and tall
corn stalks. and here were stalls for
gambling games and the sale OF gew-
gaWs and mild drinks. There were
fat old bucks. gliatening with persplra-
ton and rcd and white paints. with
long black hair that hung over their
pudgy arms and chests. riding aatride
% decreplt horses. Whale squaws
trudged alongside on foot. bearing a
ponderoua load. like Atlas. OF cooking
utenaiie and savage household stores.
There were children on foot and In
crazy old weather beaten wagons.
There were young squaws IN lumber
wagons. fastened together by rope and
wire. and drawn by spawned burros
There were troeps Of detected ponies.
laden with big rolls OF blankets. can
vas and lot Of elanklng. grimy skill.
leta. pots and kettles. There were SUI
kiea. 10 which Eaunt mules were har-
messed with rope. and In which were
squeezed four and ave children. where
sWo white children would be- uncom.
Portable. And then the dogs. There
seemed no end 10 them. Several
squaus balancing huge ball Of family
outat and provisions on their heads.
we're each followed by ave and six
painting ours Of an degrees. Several
squavs had the household goats along.
The most thrilling feature OF the fiesta
vas the Gre dance that took place on
one Of the last nights Of the fiesta. The
dance Il q relic OF the aboriginal days
% the savages when stolelsm was a
caruInal virtue over 100 ranchmen
and Others went miles TO witness Il.
The central idea Of the are dance =
20 extlngulah a bonfire with bare arms.
feet and other parts Of the body, re-
xardleas Of burns. 10 prove indifference
20 pain ard 20 exhibit physlcal
strength. Tho dance took place In the
oval enclosure During the Afternoon
pepper boughs and eucalyptus tran.
cheonn were hauled from the canon and
heaped into the middle % the enelos.
ure. DRY leaves and straw were put
below the wood. Al about O'Clock
the dancers OF the evening began "a
appear. They were the best proper.
toned middle-agcd men. and were al
most nude, Tor there is danger Of fatal
burning n the bodies of the are dan
Gers are dressed In the usual garments
Their painting was more hideous than
ever. Several had their legs a solid
vermlilon, their arms a CHASTITY white
and wide horizontal stripes OF yellow
and red across their faces. breasts and
backs. Others had vertical stripes
from head 10 foot. and their heads all
white. AZ last the Ore among The
heavy wood was cercmonluusly starteI
b. old Chief Oraazo. The flames lcapct
up. and not a word was spoken. even
IN whispers. A tall, very Cat Indian
ran into the enclosure. and. going CLOSE
70 the Ore. stood there In an hts ex'