Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1902-03-22
INDIAN VARIANCE IS WORK.
Hxhausting Character Of the shins
digs In Vogue Among the
Onondaga Braves.

OF all the Indians of the Onondaga
reservation Jairus Pierce Is prob
ably the best versed in the ancient
history and customs not only Of his
own tribe but also Of the other
tribes Of the Iroquois confederacy.
Mr.. Pierce has made the war dances
of the Indians an especial study, and
ON q recent evening, with five OF his
companions, gave an exposition in
this city, supplemented with short
descriptive talks.
The dances as executed were typi-
cal of the old life of the Indians. The
ghost dance is held annually at the
council house and commentaries the
dead heroes of the tribe. 1t is
monotonous Dance, executed in
strokes upon a small drum and with
mournful, weird notes sung in a high
key by the participants. The dancers
continuously shuffled around in cir
Gle.
In the exposition Of the war dance
the braves had o fine chance to let
themselves out, and they did it with
o will. The screenings and yells
that the three big "bucks" drew out
of themselves were enough to drown
the noise of a couple of locomotives
and the contortions with which they
embellished the exhibition would put
the gymnast of any modern circus to
shame.
The Indians evidently enjoyed the
work of dancing-for it was nothing
less than work. 1t Is not dancing as
It is taught to-day, But rather a con-
tinuous jumping around on one foot
and keeping time with the other to
the music of the drum and the
dancers own voice. At the same
time q continual din is kept up by
each person by means of a rattle,
stick or club. From the faces OF the
performers, at times, it might be in
ferred that they were working them
selves up to pitch where thew
would lose control Of themselves, but
the Indians were enjoying it and
came out of the dance with smiling
faces.
The dances were executed to music
that varied very little. The voices OF
the performers seemed to frame but
few notes, but these were worked
overtime. As near as the words could
be understood, they sounded like this:
"Hua-lau-hualua, hia-i-hia, baua. O.
haua," and were accompanied by an
incessant jumping up and down and
shutting of the feet that must have
produced a tired feeling, since the per-
formers wore thin moccasins and the
dances were executed on hardwood
floors.
Among the legends narrated by Mr..
Pierce was one regarding the teach
ings of Handsome Lake. 1t was said
that Handsome Lake. after vision In
which he met the Great Spirit, taught
that only Indians were to be admitted
to the happy hunting grounds. George
Washington, because Of his kindness
to the Indians, was to be allowed to re-
main just outside the entrance.
The burning of the white dog was
Interestingly described. 1t was stated
that at the close of each year the feast
was held, the popular impression being
that the sins Of the people were con-
sumed with the body of the dog on
which they were cast.
The closing dance was that of the
medicine man, says the Syracuse Post
Standard, who had makeup that was
calculated to strike terror to timid
hearts. With wild songs and yells the
hideous figure of the performer, who
wore q death mask covered with long
hair, jumped and danced over the stage
until exhaustion compelled a cessation
Of hostilities.