hooxey] AMONG THE WALAPAI 815 



with the expected god, and ou coming down again delivered his mes- 

 sage to tin' people. The dance was held at irregular intervals, accord- 

 ing to the instructions received on the butte by the medicine-men. 



The dance place was a circular piece of ground a hundred feet in 

 diameter, inclosed by a fence of poles and bushes, and surrounded by 

 high mountain walls of granite, which reflected the light from half a 

 dozen fires blazing within the circle. The dancers, to the number of 

 200, clad in white robes witli fancy trimmings, their faces and hair 

 painted white in various decorative designs, moved slowly around in a 

 circle, keeping time with a wild chant, while 200 more stood or crouched 

 around the tires, awaiting their turn to participate. The dancers tared 

 toward the center, each holding the hands of the ones next to him and 

 joining in the chant in unison. The dust issued in clouds from beneath 

 their feet, and with the dust and exertion together the performers were 

 soon exhausted and dropped out, when others took their places. After 

 each circuit they rested a tew minutes and then started round again. 

 At each circuit a different chant was sung, and thus the dance con- 

 tinued until midnight, when, with a loud clapping of hands, it ended, and 

 the people separated and went to their homes. Throughout the per- 

 formance two or three chiefs or medicine-men were constantly going 

 about on the outside of the circle to preserve order andreprimand any 

 merriment, one of them explaining to the visitors that, as this was a 

 religious ceremony, due solemnity must be observed. (F. L. ./., x!.) 



li ETH, pt 2 12 



