New-York tribune., 1905-04-09
PAUS and PINKSTER.
The Dutch Eastertime FestiraIs IN
the MOha7ck Yalley.

Next to New-Year's Day, Paus and Pinkster
were the more popular and generally observed
HOLIDAYS Of the old Dutch In the Mohawk Val
ley Paus was Easter and Pinkster was Whit
Sunday Pinkster particularly a gala day.
when young and old gave themselves up to 5ol-
Hty and bois;evous fun. The joys Of the day
began in the raorning with sports, outdoor games
and contests. ard ended late at night with In
door games and dancing There was egg but
ting" a custom that is observed to-day at the
White House in Washington, only it is called
egg rolling" and riding at the ring" The
latter sport was probably rural adaptation Of
the tournaments OF the days OF chfvaIry. The
necessary arrangements were cord tied across
the road just above the heads OF men on horse
back. From this cord was suspended by a short
string finger ring. Each horseman was pro-
vided with a short. sharp pointed stick about
the size of meat skewer. which was held be-
tween the first finger and thumb. The COM
petitors were obliged to ride at full gaIop un-
der the cord and attempt to thrust their
'lances through the ring and carry it off three
times When one of the contestants had ac-
conpIished this he was chased by all the other
contestants. If he succeeded in reaching the
goal without being caught he the winner.
The prize was the payment by the other con-
testants Of the bill for himself ard his hest girl
at the dance and supper 10 be given in the even
ing. IF, however. he was caught, he was obliged
to foot the bin for hts captor and his best girl
For a week before Pnkster the inhabitants.
black and white. began to make ready for the
festival by erecting booths of bOughs from the
thickly leaved trees and shrubs on a place In or
near the village. chosen because Of It's conven-
fence and beauty In these booths the tables
were set with good things To eat and drink
Besides the egg butting" and riding at the
ring" there were impromptu horse races wrest-
ling matches and occasional scraps" The
music for dancing was provided by the fiddle
and jewsharp. Pinl1ster was a great occasion
for the slaves. On this day they had unusual
liberty to enjoy themselves according to their
own ideas. One way of doing so was a dance
which doubt relic of one OF the many
religious dances brought from Africa by the
captured slaves. The music was obtained from
a huge drunlike instrument. four or five feet
long and foot In diameter. covered at either
end by tightly stretched sheepskin. This was
held between the legs Of the largest and oldest
slave in the community. This drum he would
beat with palm aud fingers. and all the time he
sang a WOrdleSS song which, as the excitement
increased. would become wild and weird. and
was accompanied by muscular cOntOrtiOns.
waggng and twisting OF the head and rolling
OF the eyes. One after another Of the slaves
would join in the dance, as the spirit moved
him her TO do so, till the musician was sur
rounded by ring Of black and yellow twisting,
wriggling, hysteriCal negroes. who for the time
were thousands of miles away in the heart OF
superstltiOus Africa one by they would
fall to the ground exhausted. when their places
would be taken by others. who We're Just be-
ginning 10 feel the moving OF the spirit. 1t was
not unusual for this wild dance to continue
through two days.