274 ON THE FBONTIER. 



had been divinely given to them, having then been enjoined 

 as an annual sacrifice and acknowledgment. And it was 

 believed by all, that its omission would entail bad succeed- 

 ing crops and other unknown disasters. He added that his 

 people did not like to have strange spectators ; but that I, 

 being his friend, would be welcome, and should find the 

 " harvest full-moon dance," for so he called the performance, 

 a sight well worth my witnessing; but that I must not 

 take any weapon with me, as the presence of one would be 

 certain to "spoil the medicine," that is to say, break the 

 charm. In this prohibition, I afterwards recognised the 

 spice of practical sense usually seen to be mixed up with 

 all Indian superstitions ; since, on beholding the ceremony, 

 I realised the great desirableness of there being no arms 

 among such a set of wild performers going through such 

 extraordinary rites. Irrataba said he should like me to 

 go with him, but that he would have to attend the chief 

 dance at the main settlement, a long way off, while the one 

 near at hand would be just like it, only on a smaller scale ; 

 that the rite would be properly performed there, so I could 

 suit my own convenience. I therefore obtained from him 

 full instructions as to time, place, and route, and determined 

 to attend the dance in the vicinity. 



On the appointed night I started off, at about half-past 

 nine, to find my way to the indicated place. My road was 

 by foot trails, through cultivated patches of ground, timber 

 groves, mesquite thickets, and cane-brakes, for a distance of 

 about four miles ; and having been told that between ten 

 and eleven o'clock the performance would be in full swing, 

 I confidently expected to be there in good time. But I was 



