THE SASKATCHEWAN NATIVES 



23 



"hall" had a few benches arranged for the occasion along the 

 walls, and was illuminated by half a dozen candles. It was ex- 

 hausting work for the violinist to keep both feet going for any 

 length of time, so that the violin soon changed hands. Before 

 morning nearly every man present, including the groom him- 

 self, had taken his turn. Round dances were not indulged in. 

 The jig was the most popular dance as it gave great opportun- 

 ity for the display of individual skill, in the men at least, who 

 stamped, shuffled and pirouetted about their almost motionless 

 partners. One young fellow, about six feet in height, was of 

 very slender build and his legs seemed to vibrate in unison 

 with the violin strings; his performance would have received 

 applause before any audience, nor was he without honor in his 

 own country. The men wore their hats throughout the even- 

 ing and usually had pipes in their mouths. In forming a set 

 for a reel, they chatted and smoked for awhile, until, as if sud- 

 denly remembering what they were there for, each selected his 

 partner and crooked his finger at her as a signal; whereupon 

 she took her place beside him; if she hesitated she was assisted 

 — forcibly — to the floor. The bride appeared in three different 

 costumes during the evening. The first, of course, was the 

 wedding dress, according to the custom of the country a pres- 

 ent from the groom; in return, the bride had made a pair of 

 fine silk-worked moccasins for him. The ball closed with the 

 kissing dance, a ceremony I did not stay to witness. 



As Antoine's supplies were not quite exhausted the feast and 

 dance were repeated on the following evening. There was very 

 little liquor obtainable, and the dancers were comparatively 

 quiet, except for a few yells by which they gave vent to their 

 exuberant feelings, while in the violent contortions of an eight- 

 hand reel. The young women were accompanied by their 

 mothers and when not engaged in dancing, remained seated 

 upon the floor in a separate group. 



New-year's day is the principal holiday in the calendar for 

 the Indians of the North. The wedding " festin " reduced one 

 or two families to the point of starvation, but at New-year the 

 whole settlement became bankrupt. The Indians have readily 

 adopted the custom, somewhat modified, of the whites, in ob- 

 servance of the day. They make calls in the morning and 

 gorge themselves with food and great quantities of tea; the 



