The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1914-01-22
rGIOUS RITES OF INDIANS
INTERESTING.

ivan hN an
Punctuated by monotonous thrum
r,;no of tom-tomS and intermittent yeIps
II <0uaws and shrill squeals of juveniles,
rhese are familiar sounds to frequenters
n localities where reside any of the
rnrpcrous tribes of blanket Indians, as
ire aborignes celebrate some suspicious
occasion by a production of the time
honored green corn Or sun dances.
These ceremonies are peculiarly part
ot northern Wisconsin. Word is sent
out in a mysterious manner and the
scattered redskins come trooping to the
nrescribed scene of the festivities, raIly-
ing from nearby points as we'll as from
localities often 100 miles distant.
For many days preceding the dance. or
dances. great preparations are in pro-
Cress in the camp. Stores of edibles are
nlaced in care of the squaws of the band
and are guarded with jealous care.
All night preceding the feast day the
campfireS are kept brightly burning. and
al is hustle of anticipation. None
but the braves sleep, and these retire to
tBer tepees early to gain rest and strength
for the ordeal Of the morrow.
At the break of day the camp is astir,
and soon the participants in the testivi
some
have arrived day or two in adv: e.
on foot, on ponies, and whole families
in wagons These have encamped at a
convenient distance. Soon the stragglers
come Looping into view, singly, in pairs,
and in numbers, and presently the pre-
liminary session is in progress.
The day wakes and wanes, and yet
the guests do not evince any impatience
at the tardiness of the festal prepare
lions. They know full we'll that at the
proper time each and every one will re-
ceve his or her share, and besides the
unspoken etiquette of the Indian camp
prevails,
Finally the master of ceremonies
makes his announcement, and all begin
to prepare tor the dance, which will be-
gin with the falling of the shades of
night.
No brilliant costumes mark the open
ing OF the dance---so far as the male |
contingent is concerned, with the ex-
ception, perhaps of the chief official,
whose decoration consists of a wand or |
club about three feet long, from which |
hangSa lumber of bright colored strips
OF cloth. This serves to direct special |
features OF the evolutiOns and punctuate
the remarks OF the major domo should |
the enthusiasm show signs of tagging.
which seldom occurs.
But the Squawsthe bellies of the ball.
as it were---be they from ever so poor a
family, are seldom lacking in decorations
OF some sort Brightly polished copper
or brass bracelets, huge shining ear
rings and decorations of brightly colored
oeadS' and glistening spangles twinkle
IN inc hght OF the tllckering flames of
the camp fire and lend a touch of bar
oarc beauty to the scene. Without the
women the dances would suffer. in
more ways than one, for aside from
their culinary contributions to the oc-
casIon, their highly attuned falsetto
voices lend distinctive KEY to the VOC
al dln which is ever present.
suddenly out upon the night air there
So !,t tne.reSonant notes of the tomtom,
calling the dances. No promoter is
necessary to aid the Indians in forming
me large circle in which the figures Of
lhe dance is performed. Seated in the
I I are TOUR squaWs each with a
uiuln winch resembles wooden chop
ping DoWi with skin tightly stretched
o'tl inc top. 10 the notes, sounding
vera call, ''tum- tum- tum, tum-tum-tI m
,.o;oao 1' "Ae duOeu tue piercing
tolceS OF the squaws, wailing, CIV h
nee, hyah -hyah,' in viii b the braves
! ,,! with slow and at first dignified
Hyah. hyah, hyah,' pitched in Various
HeyS; Which rise louder and loud r as
'e dance progresses.
Boon the tom-toms change their mea
sure toa rapid and rhythmic beat, sstum-
u'''- 'Gnn-t um, and the voices rise high
q ana higher, and the dance is on. /
ne men advance and retreat, in now
I cTouching position, S if inviting at
:1CA' 'hcn ieaping into the air and whirl-
ing about; fierce gestures are exch,nyed
si ne actions of stalking an enemy are
reproduced with grimaces and menacino
5ies'uleS' Faster and faster beat the
u'ufnS' faster and faster whirl the dine
r 49, until one by one they fall out of the
, a In state of almost absolute ex-
IauS'ion, Their places are at once filled
~ ~ waiting jewellers, and the dance goes
,,o va I''e Edge of the circle of dan.ers the
~ III, HE mp and add to tn. grot4saueness
y. VI Tie scene by dance which has no varia-
4o,.. Il CONSISTS OF Il measured up-and-
eU"'l hopping step, the Jingle of their orna
a aoa.o H'it'Sung with their piercing chant and
,ost an effective background to the con-
, ",a OF the male dancers. The Older
attO ntn MAINTAIN respectful distance. their
wb i,,'o'1s oelng conferred upon the big kettle
I u contains the banquet.
,s t t, and louder shrill the maninnIaters
l. ,an no oFunlS; louder and louder wall the
Ib6 aiS and faster and faster thew whirl in
a;rl H'i'outh measures until the onlooker is
,cans OeWliaer7d by the shifting Kaleidoscope
y, ft tbs Dancers succumb to fatigue. fan ont
.artb t.,Ie prone and exhausted upon the
Nor u'' o'i'y to rejoin the mad whirl later IN
until o 1,au more demoniac become the orgies
# Da oie scarce realizes that it is but band
If r rain4 blanket nomads before him instead
se,p palDe 0edaubed redskins working them.
"s the warpath. '1'''AS Oeioie TAX
tired s ssS' the dance comes to close, and the
the gro "'9gVS sink to recumbent positions on
nou sbtoo n with tongues lolng from their
bauston~ ,; wounded animals, but their ex.
h ev ron. 1lms their appetites not whit and
he co oa longing eyes upon the food ket,Ia a.o
lscu oSli's'''S OF which they are presently to
rom huge ron soap kettle was snsDandua