denig] THE ASSINIBOIN 559 



and composed of men from 20 to 30 years of age, whose organization 

 has already been alluded to in these pages. No one is admitted in 

 the ring but those who belong. The women, say 8 or 10, stand 

 behind as many drummers and join in the chant but take no part 

 in the dance. All sing, both dancers and musicians. The men form 

 in a ring completely naked. 25 Their bodies are painted in various 

 ways. Yellow and red stripes from head to foot is a favorite man- 

 ner of painting, red face and yellow body, or red face and body 

 striped with white. Sometimes the face is dotted with white, yel- 

 low, or red spots, and to their moccasins are attached skunks' or 

 foxes' tails. Guns, spears, bows, and other implements of war are 

 held in their hands and some have rattles with which they keep time 

 to the taps on the drums. 



The step is done by jumping off both feet and striking them 

 forcibly on the ground, one a moment sooner than the other, always 

 keeping the exact time. No words are used in the song, and when 

 the round is about half finished it suddenly ceases, though the drum- 

 ming and dancing is continued, accompanied by a low simultaneous 

 grunt by all at each step. They commence the dance in the form 

 of a ring but do not go round. Dancing for the space of a minute 

 in the same position, they bend their bodies forward and press all to 

 the center of the circle, tinning and looking in every direction with- 

 out any order, and when all are huddled very close, and that part of 

 the song arrives where the chorus is discontinued, all except the tune 

 on the drums, they keep it up for the space of about a minute after- 

 wards, when a sudden and general yell by all finishes that round, 

 and the form of the ring is resumed. 



This is the principal occasion taken by those concerned to recount 

 their former deeds of valor or coups. The whole camp being specta- 

 tors, and the bravest of them present, also many in whose company 

 the acts now about to be published had been performed, makes it 

 indispensable that the boasts of the warriors should be confined to the 

 limits of truth. After one round has been danced a warrior (one 

 of the dancers) steps forth in the middle of the ring and speaks in 

 a loud voice to this effect, using his gun or lance in gesticulation: 

 " One or two years since, he, in company with 15 others, went upon 

 the Blackfeet and succeeded in bringing away 40 of their enemies' 

 horses " [here the drum is tapped once]. " On another occasion in a 

 battle with the Crow Indians six years since he struck an enemy 

 the first" [here follows two taps on the drum]. "At another time 

 he struck two enemies the second, took a gun and a tomahawk from 

 the dead enemies " [four taps on the drum]. 



a The prepuce of the penis is drawn forward and tied with a sinew, to the end of 

 which floats a war eagle feather. Others not sufficiently advanced as to merit that mark 

 of distinction tie the same with some grass. 



