The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-10-24

in many tepees, and | learned that one
watcher was left in every tent to keep
other Indians from plundering. We
got out, unhitched our horses from the
wagon and tied them. We took care
that no wraps were left in the wagon,
and we made ready to enter Mr.. P.
went first. He met an Indian at the
door. Mr.. P. said 'how::" the Indian
returned the salute. Mr.. P. said,
zion day netow washstay?" Us your
heart good?) The Indian answered in
the affirmative, so we all went in. The
hall was large log building, with a
shingled roof, but no floor. When we
got in [ found myself in a crowd of In
dians, who were standing around look
ing on. I saw one Indian dressed in
blue uniform, much the same as any
police Office, only he wore a broad,
white hat, with stiff brim. He was an
Indian policeman. The shouts of the
Indians we're now so loud, and with the
sound of the drum, that we we're
scarcely able to hear each others
voices. l can scarcely describe my
feelings at this time. Acie pushed
through the crowd, I following. At
last sight met my eyes that I shall
never forget. I stood like one in a
trance. I think if the demons were
turned loose from below, the sight
would not have been wilder and more
terrible-it could not have been other
wise. There were, I guessed, about
thirty braves and as many sQuaws,
shoulder to shoulder, making almost a
circle around the room. There were
two braves and two squaws, and so on
all around. They kept time to the
beat of the drum, but made wild ges-
lures. They shrieked chant in words,
or rather syllables, like this: ''Ha aha
ha ha, ha aha ha ha."
The wild shrieks, together with the
Outlandish costumes of the dancers,
were things not to be forgotten. Some
Indians wore just breech-clouts, and
had their legs painted in black and red
stripes. On their heads they wore
head dresses made of feathers. One
Indian carried shield made of feath-
ers. Some wore strings of sleigh bells
around their knees and draped around
their bodies in different ways. One
Indian carried a weasel skin on a long
stick, which he looked at seemingly
with pride. while he was dancing.
One had several mink skins. The
squaws wore dresses of all colors i'm
aginable. They had their hair parted
and braided in two braids. Their
faces were covered with red paint and
a stripe of paint covered their heads
where the hair was parted. Wildly
they danced around. Then the drum
stopped and the squaws went to one
side of the room, the braves to the
other, and all sat down on the ground.
That dance was over and had time to
collect my thoughts. During the dance
my mind had gone back and I was in
the time of Capt. John Smith, in Vir-
ginia. Indeed, 1 saw that brave man
in the center of the crowd, while the
Indians we're dancing, and the louder
and wilder they got, I felt that the
more hopeless was his case. Had the
whole tribe turned on me then, could
have done naught but stood still and
stared.
This dance was succeeded by several
others, much the same. There was one
Indian who seemed to be the manager.
He wore only breech-clout and some
thing that looked like a feather boa
thrown over his shoulder, like the sash
of a highland soldier. He went around
and urged all his people to dance. This
he did in no gentle manner. He seized
the squaws, one at time, by the
hands, and almost dragged them till he
got them in position for dancing,
shouting all the while.
Now, there is to be dance for the
braves. No squaws are to take part in
this grand ceremony. But first they
must eat, drink and be merry, to which
they were invited by their chief,
who made a speech for the occasion.
While the chief was making his speech
l ventured d remark to Acie, but Mr..
P. gave me significant look and a
motion to be silent. He afterwards
told me that the Indians would be
deeply offended by any talking during
their chiefs speech. Indians never
interrupt each other while talking.
They cannot understand how white
people often interrupt each other,
which they deem a great breach OF
politeness.
Well, they did eat, drink, and
make merry. Their feast consisted Of