Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-03

- - NNNINA @NAN - s@s
meal, fried bacon, big chunks Of deli
ciously fried beef and coffee brewed
in a huge tin pot, but fragrant and
appetizing, Tin plates. cups, knives
and forks were used
The meal over with speeches were
in order. Now a speech. to an In
dian, is a formal solemn thing. Ons
by one the chiefs rose and welcomed
the visitors. called them brothers
and hoped they would enjoy the cere-
monies. A chief would speak for a
while, with many gestures. then pause
while the interpreter translated.
After each speech one Of the visitors,
in turn. spoke and the interpreter
translated his remarks to the Indians.
Several hours were necessary for this
mutual exchange Of good wishes.
Another hour was consumed in a
tour Of the camp. Indian rugs and
skins we're piled thick in each tepee
and there were beautiful articles Of
bead-work which a number OF ths
visitors purchased. The little Indian
boys and girls were most interesting,
and the way IN which even the very
young ones among them rode about
bareback" three and four Of them on
a single horse. was truly amazing.
Another chief entertained them at
dinner in his tepee and a short while
later the dancing began. If you have
never seen an Indian dance IL is diff
cult 10 describe IT so that you will get
a true picture Of IT, The Indians,
naked to the waist with their faces
and bodies painted in grotesque, color
full designs and wearing feathers and
ornamental bead work dance round
and round In tune TO a queer sort OF
drum" which the old men, in the
center Of the circle. beat monoto-
nously, chanting all the while In
queer. high pitched. prolonged tones
The dancers stamp, jump and leap up
and down. shake their heads and their
bodies, utter strange cries and keep
time TO the drum beats" with ratties
Each dance is symbolic OF Some
event in the history of the tribe and
though they seem much the same to
the unframed eye, are really diff
ferent.
Generally the men dance alone and
the squaws have their dances. too
But several were held in which the
braves and the squaws and everyone
of the visitors danced at the same
with hands clasped so as to form a
huge circle but more often simply
side by side, each dancer stamping UP
and down,
Every once and while an expert
Indian dancer would dance alone: and
it was plain 10 see that his efforts
were appreciated. one OF them, whose
fame was great. had come over four
hundred miles from Canada to be
present at the festivities.
Late in the afternoon the visitors
left, but not before many Of them had
received little presents from the In
dams and had given some article or
money in return. When an Indian
makes A gift. you know, the recipient
must always give something in return.
II is not selfshness on the part Of the
Indian; quite the contrary. But II IL
a custom and courtesy among them.
For instance one Of the party OF Wis
itors was presented with a nne bead@
work hat band and, having nothing
else with hin. save q pen-knife, he
gave the Indian ten dollar bill
StTaightway the Indian stripped his
brightly colored blanket from his
shoulders and extended IL to the Wis
itor Then he offered his bead -ern-
brcidered rife case--Swhich, of course,
did not contain q rife since Uncle
Sam Will not permit firearms on a
reservation. The Indian. you see, was
determined not to be outdone IN gem
erosityl
All during the day the American
flag was much in evidence and tbs
Indians seemed to have some idea OF
the meaning Of the words Fourth OF
July" though the writer feels quite
certain that they by no means grasped
its fun significance But. in ali, It
was q queer celebration Of the
Fourth" and one the writer will long
remember.