Indian Tribes of the Upper Missouri 53

Indian Tribes of the Upper Missouri 53

SECOND THROW

 

Two red, none on end, nothing by claw 0

Three burnt sides up, 4 each 12

Five blue sides up, 3 each 15

Three eye sides up, 2 each 6

Two concaves, nothing by tacks 0

---

33

 

 

THIRD THROW

 

The big claw on end, 30, all the rest red, 20 50

Five burnt sides, 4 each 20

Five blue sides, 3 each 15

Five eye sides up, 2 each 10

Five concave tacks, 1 each 5

---

100

 

NOTA BENE.—This is the best throw that can be made and takes all the

stakes when the game does not exceed 100.

 

COS-SOO´, OR GAME OF THE BOWL]

 

The step is done by jumping off both feet and striking them forcibly

on the ground, one a moment sooner than the other, always keeping the

exact time. No words are used in the song, and when the round is about

half finished it suddenly ceases, though the drumming and dancing is

continued, accompanied by a low simultaneous grunt by all at each step.

They commence the dance in the form of a ring but do not go round.

Dancing for the space of a minute in the same position, they bend their

bodies forward and press all to the center of the circle, turning and

looking in every direction without any order, and when all are huddled

very close, and that part of the song arrives where the chorus is

discontinued, all except the tune on the drums, they keep it up for the

space of about a minute afterwards, when a sudden and general yell by

all finishes that round, and the form of the ring is resumed.

 

This is the principal occasion taken by those concerned to recount

their former deeds of valor or coups. The whole camp being spectators,

and the bravest of them present, also many in whose company the acts

now about to be published had been performed, makes it indispensable

that the boasts of the warriors should be confined to the limits of

truth. After one round has been danced a warrior (one of the dancers)

steps forth in the middle of the ring and speaks in a loud voice to

this effect, using his gun or lance in gesticulation: “One or two years

since, he, in company with 15 others, went upon the Blackfeet and

succeeded in bringing away 40 of their enemies’ horses” [here the drum

is tapped once]. “On another occasion in a battle with the Crow Indians

six years since he struck an enemy the first” [here follows two taps on

the drum]. “At another time he struck two enemies the second, took a

gun and a tomahawk from the dead enemies” [four taps on the drum].

 

“Also that in battle he took an enemy’s horse” [one tap]. “That he

fired fifteen shots” [one tap]. “Four years since, being near the

Blackfeet camp with six others in quest of horses, they were discovered

and pursued but succeeded in making their escape” [one tap on the

drum]. “Alone and on foot he, three years since [naming the place]

killed and brought to camp a full-grown grizzly bear” [one tap on the

drum]. “Behold where one of the balls of the Blackfeet broke my arm”

[one tap]. “Here an arrow pierced my thigh” [another sound of the

drum], etc., until he has run through the catalogue of his meritorious

acts, when he is honored with a general shout of approbation, the

music strikes up, the song commences, and another round or two being

performed, another warrior recounts his coups in the same manner. In

this way they continue until all who wish have had an opportunity of

renewing the remembrance of their past deeds, and reestablishing their

importance as braves in the eyes of their countrymen. It takes some

hours to prepare for and perform this dance and it is only done twice

or thrice a year. Although the performers are naked, yet there is no

idea of indecency[29] attached to this fact. They are in a manner

obliged to appear in this state so that they may publicly expose and

point out any wound they may have received in battle.

 

[29] This viewing of the nude human figure without a feeling of a sense

of indecency is confirmed by the Swiss artist, Frederick Kurz, in his

Journal, already cited in the preface.

 

Wounds behind are fully as honorable as those before. Running away

where success is impossible is more commended than death or defeat by

remaining. The number of shots a man has fired during the fight, if

over 10, counts a coup, inasmuch as it shows he has stood his ground

long enough to fire that many.

 

Killing an enemy counts nothing unless his person is touched or struck.

The first who strikes the dead foe counts the best coup, although each

succeeding one counts as far as the fourth.

 

Scalping does not count more than striking. Taking an enemy’s gun or

horse or bow by any means counts a coup, likewise killing a grizzly

bear alone and on foot. Scalps are very little valued by him who takes

them. They are mostly cut up in small pieces and sent to the different

camps. The hair seen on the warrior’s leggings is sometimes really the

hair of the enemies slain by him, and at others his own, or horsehair.

In either case it is the symbol of having killed.

 

If he has struck even one enemy he is entitled to wear hair on his

shirt and leggings, but it is not absolutely necessary that it should

be the same hair as that which he took from his enemy’s head. Any human

hair or black horsehair will answer the purpose fully as well if he has

a right to wear it.

 

FOX DANCE (TO-KAH-NAH WAH-CHE).—This is done by those who belong to

the band called Foxes, who are pretty numerous among several nations.

It is got up with the view of publishing their feats as in the

preceding one, and also to display themselves as a body. Their costume

consists of a deer or antelope skin, shirt, and leggings painted a

bright yellow, and their faces painted with yellow stripes, besides

other forms. A dressed fox skin being slit in the middle, the head of

the man is thrust through, the skin spread out on his shoulders, the

head of which lies on his breast, and the tail hangs down his back, the

whole skin being fringed round with colored garnishing of porcupine

quills, bells, and polished buttons placed in the eyeholes of the

animal in the skin.

 

A headdress of foxes’ teeth, bored and strung, is stretched across the

middle of the head from ear to ear, a lock of their hair is tied in

front, which projects out several inches, and the rest, combed straight

down behind, to which at about the middle is attached four war eagle

feathers. Their lances are wrapped with fox skins cut in strips, and

the tails of that animal sewed on the handle every 12 inches or so.

Some also carry their bows and quivers of arrows at their side during

the performance.

 

After having been warned of the meeting, and preparing in the above

manner, they assemble at the sound of several drums and whistles at

the spot appointed, being generally near the center of the camp. Here

they form in line during the drumming and singing, which is kept up by

five or six men and women who are invited for the purpose (this music)

taking their stand to one side, the women as usual behind the drums,

who sing, but take no part in the dance.

 

When ready they all start off at a swift pace and describe the movement

of the coiling of a snake, and when wound up in this form, all commence

jumping up and down, striking one foot immediately after the other on

the ground, keeping exact time, and all singing with the music for the

space of about a minute, when a general flourish on the drums and a

shout or yell from the dancers concludes that round, and their places

in line are resumed.

 

Some one of them now steps forward and counts his coups in the same

manner as pointed out in the Brave Dance, which is succeeded by another

movement in dancing, which is again followed by another speaking, and

so on until all who wished have spoken, the drum denoting by taps the

value and number of coups thus counted by each.

 

The whole concludes by a feast given by one or more of the most

distinguished members of this club, during which their professions of

amity and assistance are renewed, and presents often exchanged; the

musicians also partake of the repast.

 

This club is composed of men from 20 to 25 or 28 years of age.

 

DUCK DANCE (PAKHAN´TAH WAH-CHE).—This is done by the band who bear

that name and are not so numerous as the others. The same principles

govern their proceedings, being to seek this occasion to publish and

perpetuate the memory of their past deeds on the battle fields. The

dancers are all naked except the breechcloth, which hangs down before

and behind one or two yards. Their bodies are painted in various ways,

principally striped, according to the fancy of the individuals. No arms

are carried in the dance, but they hold in their hand a flat striped

painted stick about 2 feet long, with which they keep the time. Women

are excluded from the ring but form a portion of the music. All sing,

both dancers and drummers. The evolutions are: Commencing in a ring,

they mingle together for a few minutes and conclude with a general

shout, after which coups are counted by those who wish, or who are

able, as in the preceding. The time, step, and figure of every dance

differ, but we can not describe them so as to be understood.

 

BULLS’ DANCE (TAH-TUN-GAH WAH-CHE).—The kin called Bulls is perhaps

the most numerous among them, and a good many middle-aged men and

chiefs are found in this dance who do not figure in the others.

Their headdress is the skin of a buffalo bull taken off as low as

the shoulders of that animal, and dressed with the head, horns, hair

and snout complete. Around the holes where the eyes were and in the

nostrils and mouth are sewed pieces of scarlet cloth. The skin is then

sewed up along the back of the neck. The head of the man is thrust in

this, and the rest of his body being naked except the breechcloth and

moccasins, is painted with black and red stripes. They carry guns and

powder horns in the dance, moving without any order, jumping about,

snorting, and shaking their horns at each other, and firing among their

feet with powder. The song is the Bull Song. They usually are attended

by six or eight drummers and singers, all males, who are not dressed in any remarkable manner.