Memories of a Bear Hunter 



tent. The spectators were women and children, 

 and were gathered in groups close around the sides, 

 leaving the center open for the dance. The dancers 

 appeared clad only in their breech clouts. Their 

 bodies and faces were horribly painted, mostly in 

 black. 13 The three musicians squatted at the side 

 4 of the tent, each holding in the left hand a drum 

 with only one head, on which each beat with a 

 stick. As we approached the tipi, we plainly heard 

 the shouts and whoops of the dancers, and when 

 we entered found ten or twelve warriors dancing 

 in the middle of the tipi. As they moved about, 

 each jumped up twice on one foot, landing on the 

 heel, and then repeated the jump with the other 

 foot, keeping time as they danced to the music of 

 the drummers. These, as they beat the drums, 

 chanted a mournful song, which in some cases was 

 taken up by the warriors. Frequently these last 

 appeared to be in a high state of excitement and 

 uttered blood-curdling yells and whoops. The 

 women and children lying about close under the 

 lodge coverings did not seem particularly interested 

 in what was going on, nor did they enter into the 

 excitement. After remaining about one hour we 

 withdrew. 



The principal object of my stay at Fort Peck 

 was to take advantage of the opportunity to make 



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