THE EVOLUTION OF DANCING. 741 



of defiance or rage, and they survived in the military dances of 

 the Greeks and Romans. Thirdly, we have religious dances of 

 various kinds. They are arranged usually by " medicine-men " 

 or priests ; they are magical in character, and are connected with 

 some rite or superstition. The savage invariably confounds danc- 

 ing with religion. His most elaborate dances are associated with 

 mystery -plays, setting forth in action the story of some traditional 

 event or some deity. The leaders of the revels are medicine-men 

 or chiefs. 



Now, it is a matter of common report that uncivilized people 

 spend half their time in dancing. Thus, we read that the chief 

 occupation of the Indians of southern California used to be danc- 

 ing when the men were not engaged in procuring food.* The 

 Spaniards have been noted for their saltatory expertness, and yet 

 Cortes and his followers were surprised to find the art so much in 

 favor in Mexico. The Spanish historian Herrera says that in 

 dancing " no part of the world exceeds New Spain." He adds, 

 " though many of those dances were performed in honor of their 

 gods, the first institution of them was for the diversion of the 

 people, and therefore they learned the same from their child- 

 hood and were singularly exact." f 



Aside from the speculation as to " the institution " of dancing, 

 the phrase " singularly exact " is here worthy of some notice ; for 

 it is a mistake to suppose that the savage dances hap-hazard, 

 without any rule of action. On the contrary, the " medicine- 

 dances" of the Indians are danced in a certain, definite way. 

 Whether it be for rain, for green corn, or for success in the 

 chase, the dancer follows the steps and paces fixed and regulated 

 by tradition or custom. 



Let me observe that mystic dance is a serious business. It 

 behooves the dancer to be " singularly exact " when a faux pas 

 would result in his death. This point is very strongly put by Dr. 

 Franz Boas, who studied the dances of the coast tribes of British 

 Columbia. Among the Kwakiutl Indians, " any mistake made by 

 a singer or dancer is considered opprobrious. At certain occa- 

 sions the dancer who makes a mistake is killed." X The ancient 

 Mexicans did not mind putting an awkward dancer out of the 

 way, and the savage practice has been found in one or two other 

 parts of the world. 



The punishment does not seem so severe, when we consider the 

 cruel rites and initiations a dancer must pass through, ere he 

 knows the secrets of the order or of his tribe. The savage is great 

 on fierce initiations. He joins this or that secret order, this or 



* United States Geological Survey west of the One Hundredth Meridian, vol. vii, p. 29. 

 f History of America, vol. iii, p. 227. % Journal of American Folk Lore, vol. i, p. 51. 



