Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-10-07
OLD OFFERING DANCE
IS W|ERD AND CRUEL
Candidates for Indian Honors
Hold Feet in Beds
of Goals.

Geary. Oklahoma, Oct. 6.-The "Of-
fering Dance" of the Arapaho Indians
cf oklahoma. which closed here late
In August, was witnessed and chro-
nicled by the rale-face for what is
believed to be the first time. The Of
fering dance is the final ceremoniaiss
To be borne by candidates for the
highest degree in the strongest re-
heious fraternity OF the tribe.
The ritual was witnessed by a party
of oklahoma City physicians and
nurses who visited the encampmcnt
OF Arapahoes. who were being visited
hy the Comanches, Cheyennes and
kiowas. during a study OF skin dis
eases of the Indians being prepared
ior the United States Public Health
Service.
A member OF the tribe and a lee
turer ON Indian Folk lore for ma
tionai museum was present and ex-
planned much of the ritual to DIR.
Everett :. Lain and DR.. Claude b.
Norris, leaders OF the party.
Six white persons i'm all witnessed
the ceremony. More than 1000 In-
dams, were present.
In preparation for the Offering dance
also called the Willows Dance a
huge lodge was constructed about 20
feet In diamiter. IL took several days
60 complete the lodge, according to
members of the tribe. as each pole
going into its construction was blessed
separately by tribal priests.
Guard lines were thrown out by
the Indians SO that no unlimited eye
,ould witness their ceremony.
Clever Warden. the lecturer, said
the foundation for the order extends
~ far back that, according to tribal
interpreters. the moons which have
elapsed since that time have gone
from the memory even of tradition,
apd the tradition and legend extend
back hundreds of seasons"
Candidates for initiation may make
application TO join. after they have
committed some extraordinarily brave
act; have been fearless in leadership
renowned in politics of the tribe, OF
ln some way distinguished themselves
prcatly. the interpreters told the ply
slclans.
Two 81 the candidates were veteran:
of the world war. One had been seri
nurly wounded. Directly east of th'
ccntsr pole an altar fire, or sacreS
tire. as u was called. was kindled. Hal
dozen warriors beat rythmically OF
tom-tom during the dance.
The candidates first tasted for tw'
DAYS and then offerings for the Grea
spirit were brought in by the candi
dates. who placed them within th
sacrifice grounds and STOPPING thrus
a buffalo tooth into the ground. Thi
warrior who followed had TO locate thi
tooth, and re-thrust IL into the ground
Then the feast Of the year was brough
in The candidates, however, did no
participate.
standing, they extended their fee
A. that the soles touched live Goals
Without making any outcry the can
aldatcs IN this position submitted Z
the painting OF their bodies by III
PRIESTS.
They were allowed to choose tn
color with which they were painte
according 20 the tribes interpretei
n they chose white 1t was taken I
mean they would continue the cers
niOny AZ iong as they were able with
out complete physical exhaustion.
however, they chose yellow, it was eS
planned. the warrior had pledged
continue the ceremony to the en-
though he should endanger his life /
- dplng.
q was explained by the interpret'
that through the entire ceremony II
wives of all married candidates hs
been enduring their fasts and test
t.Nlua "a fan fp the rear of the lo6y
They were kept hidden from Il
Initiated. however, until the concll
sion Of the ceremony.
The beating of the tom-tom ro
and became n roar and the dance W,