denig] THH ASS1N1BOIN 561 



Fox Daxce (To-kah-xah Wah-chk). — This is done by those 

 who belong to the band called Foxes, who are pretty numerous among 

 several nations. It is got up with the view of publishing their feats 

 as in the preceding one, and also to display themselves as a body. 

 Their costume consists of a deer or antelope skin, shirt, and leg- 

 gings painted a bright yellow, and their faces painted with yellow 

 stripes, besides other forms. A dressed fox skin being slit in the mid- 

 dle, the head of the man is thrust through, the skin spread out on his 

 shoulders, the head of which lies on his breast, and the tail hangs 

 down his back, the whole skin being fringed round with colored 

 garnishing of j^orcupine quills, bells, and polished buttons placed in 

 the eyeholes of the animal in the skin. 



A headdress of foxes' teeth, bored and strung, is stretched across 

 the middle of the head from ear to ear. a lock of their hair is tied 

 in front, which projects out several inches, and the rest, combed 

 straight down behind, to which at about the middle is attached four 

 war eagle feathers. Their lances are wrapped with fox skins cut 

 in strips, and the tails of that animal sewed on the handle every 12 

 inches or so. Some also carry their bows and quivers of arrows at 

 their side during the performance. 



After having been warned of the meeting, and preparing in the 

 above manner, the}' assemble at the sound of several drums and 

 whistles at the spot appointed, being generally near the center of 

 the camp. Here they form in line during the drumming and sing- 

 ing, which is kept up by five or six men and women who are invited 

 for the purpose (this music) taking their stand to one side, the 

 women as usual behind the drums, who sing, but take no part in the 

 dance. 



When read}- they all start off at a swift pace and describe the 

 movement of the coiling of a snake, and when wound up in this 

 form, all commence jumping up and down, striking one foot imme- 

 diately after the other on the ground, keeping exact time, and all 

 singing with the music for the space of about a minute, when a 

 general flourish on the drums and a shout or yell from the dancers 

 concludes that round, and their places in line are resumed. 



Some one of them now- steps forward and counts his coups in the 

 same manner as pointed out in the Brave Dance, which is succeeded 

 by another movement in dancing, which is again followed by another 

 speaking, and so on until all who wished have spoken, the drum de- 

 noting by taps the value and number of coups thus counted by each. 



The whole concludes by a feast "riven by one or more of the most 

 distinguished members of this club, during which their professions 

 of amity and assistance are renewed, and presents often exchanged; 

 the musicians also partake of the repast. 



This club is composed of men from 20 to 25 or 28 years of age. 



