The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-09
PALEFACES WATCH INDIANS IN OLD
 4OFFERING" DANCE
Believed First Time Whites Ever Witnessed Ancient Ritual of Arapahoe
 Redskins
By AssocLnted rress

Geary, Okla. October s.-The "of- fering dance" of the Arapahoe In- dians of Oklahoma, which closed here late In August, was witnessed and chronlcled by the pale face for what Is believed to be the first time. The offering dance is the final ceremo- nisl to be borne by candidates for the highest degre in the strongest religious fraternity of the tribe.
 The ritual was witnessed by par ty of Aklahoma physicians and nurses who visited the encampment of Ara- pahoes, who were being visited by the Comanches, Cheyennes and Kio- was. during a study of skin diseases of the Indians being prepared for the United States health service.
 A member of the tribe and a lec- turer on Indian folk lore for a ma tional museum was present and e1- plained much of the ritual to Dr. Everett S. Lain and to pr. Claude B, Norris. leaders of the party.
 Six Whites IA Dance
 Six white persons in all witnessed the ceremony.
 More than 2,ooo Indians, in all, were present.
 In preparation for the offering dance also called the Willows Dance a huge lodge was constructed about 75 feet in diameter.
 It took several days to complete the lodge, according to members of the tribe. as each pole going into it's construction was blessed separately by tribal priests.
 Guard lines were thrown out by the Indians so that no uninvited eye could witness their ceremony.
 Clever Warden, the lecturer, said the foundation of the order ex tends so far back that, according to tribal interpreters, the moons which have elapsed since that time have gene from the memory even of trad!- tion, and the tradition and legend ex- tend back hundreds of seasons"
 Must He Brave
 Candidates for initiation may make application to join. after they have committed some extraordinary brave act have been fearless in leadership, renowned in politics of the tribe, or in some way distin- guished themselves greatly, tho in- terpreters told the physicians.
 Two of the candidates were vete- rans of the World war. One had been seriously wounded. Directly east of the center pole an altar fire. or sa- cred fire, as 1t was called, was kindled.
 Half a dozen warriors lasted for two days and then made offerings to the Great Spirit, which were brought in by them and within the sacri flee grounds and stooping thrust buffalo tooth into the ground. The warrior who followed had to locate the tooth, and rethrust 1t into the ground. Then the feast of the year was brought in. The candidates, however. did not participate
 Roast Feet on Goals
 Standing. they extended their feet so that the soles touched live coals Without making any outcry the can didates in this position submitted to the painting of their bodies by the priests.
 They were allowed to choose the color with which they were painted. according to the tribes interpreter. If they chose white. 1t was taken to mean they would continue the ceremony as long as they were able without complete physical exhaustion If, however, they chose yellow, it was explained, the warrior had pledged to continue the ceremony to the end. though he should endanger his life by so doing.
 It was explained by the interpre- ter that through the enGro cere- mony the wives of all married can didates had been enduring their lasts and tests, behind a flap in the rear of the lodge. They were kept from the initiated, however. until the con clusion of the ceremony.
 The beating of tho tom-tom rose and became . roar and the dance was begun.
 For 4s hours they danced. Those who endured won the degree, Those who did not have the privilege of trying again the following year, 1t was explained.
 This dance often is confused with the sun dance, which has been pro hibited by the federal government, but Is not akin to the sun dance.
 Soon after the final dance. the tepees were dismantled. and the car avans of Indians departed over the Oklahoma plains