442 THE MOUNTAIN CHANT. 
two extra bundles on his shoulders for the later use of the leader. The 
latter carried four small fagots of the same material in his hands. Four 
times they all danced around the fire, waving their bundles of bark 
towards it.. They halted in the east; the leader advanced towards the 
central fire, lighted one of his fagots, and trumpeting loudly threw it to 
the east over the fence of the corral. He performed a similar act at the 
south, at the west, and at the north ; but before the northern brand was 
thrown he lighted with it the bark bundles of his comrades. As each 
brand disappeared over the fence some of the spectators blew into their 
hands and made a motion as if tossing some substance after the depart- 
ing flame. When the fascicles were all lighted the whole band began a 
wild race around the fire. At first they kept close together and spat 
upon one another some substance of supposed medicinal virtue. Soon 
they scattered and ran apparently without concert, the rapid racing 
causing the brands to throw out long brilliant streamers of flame over 
the hands and arms of the dancers. Then they proceeded to apply the 
brands to their own nude bodies and to the bodies of their comrades in 
front of them, no man ever once turning round; at times the dancer 
struck his victim vigorous blows with bis flaming wand; again he 
seized the flame as if if were a sponge and, keeping close to the one pur- 
sued, rubbed the back of the latter for several moments, as if he were 
bathing him. In the mean time the sufferer would perhaps catch up 
with some one in front of him andinturn bathe him in flame. At times 
when a dancer found no one in front of him he proceeded to sponge his 
own back, and might keep this up while making two or three circuits 
around the fire or until he caught up with some one else. At each ap- 
plication of the blaze the loud trumpeting was heard, and it often 
seemed as if a great flock of cranes was winging its way overbead south- 
ward through the darkness. If a brand became extinguished it was 
lighted again in the central fire; but when it was so far consumed as 
to be no longer held conveniently in the band, the dancer dropped it and 
rushed, trumpeting, out of the corral. Thus, one by one, they all de- 
parted. When they were gone many of the spectators came forward, 
picked up some of the fallen fragments of cedar bark, lighted them, 
and bathed their hands in the flames as a charm agaiust the evil effects 
of fire. 
149. Did these dancers, next day, hide sore and blistered backs under 
their serapes? I think not, for [have seen and conversed with some of 
the performers immediately after the fire show, and they seemed happy 
and had nothing to complain of. Did the medicine they spat on one 
another save them? Certainly not, although the Indians claim it is a 
true prophylactic against burns and eéall it azé-sakazi or cold medicine. 
But it is probable that the cedar bark ignites at a low temperature, 
and more than probable that the coating of white earth with which 
their bodies were covered is an excellent non-conductor. However, 
the thought that their bodies might have been thus ingeniously pro- 
tected lessened little, if any, the effect produced on the spectator. I 
