SPOOKS AND SNAKES. 143 
a chant. The singing was slow and mournful at first, corresponding to the 
movement of the dance, and the sick woman gave no response to it except 
her continual groaning and cry of ‘‘ahwe! ahwe!” The tone of the chant- 
ing was full of sadness and commiseration, as if the dancers were deeply 
moved with pity for the sufferer, but slowly it quickened, and the dance 
gradually became more lively. Still she seemed not to be aware of their 
presence, and only continued to cry out piteously, ‘ahwe! ahwe!” Faster 
and faster droned the chant, and still more gaily capered the dance, first 
round one way, then the other, while animation began to beam on their 
countenances. At last the woman seemed to be awakening to the conta- 
gious enthusiasm. She could not resist the old familiar frenzy of the dithy- 
rambie dance. Still swifter and swifter circled the dancers. Her eyes 
began to brighten. Strain now followed strain, instead of the first monotony. 
She was plainly catching the infection. That wild and wizard verve of sav- 
age fanatics was taking possession of her senses. Her wailing “ ahwe / 
ahwe !” began to follow the ever-quickening time of the chant. But still 
she was unable to rise. Then the swift circle of dancers swerved suddenly 
in their mad enthusiasm, swooped upon her with shouts, she was caught up 
in strong arms, and half-carried, half-dragged around the ring, while her 
“ahwe! ahwe!” gradually changed into the general voice of the chanting, 
and melted out of hearing, and step by step, feebly at first, but carried 
irresistibly away at last by the rapture of the hour, she joined in the dizzy 
whirl until perspiration had done its perfect work. 
Mr. Carner added that two or three days afterward he saw the woman 
again, and she was perfectly cured. 
The Tatu observe the acorn dance or thanksgiving dance, which is 
common among the Pomo, and under one name or another common in all 
these parts. Both sexes participate in it, the squaws having as their prin- 
cipal ornament plumes of tall feathers in their hair, while the Indians are 
decorated with cowls or garlands of white owl’s down, and mantles of eagles’, 
buzzards’, or hawks’ tail feathers. This white garland of down is a feature 
peculiar to the Yuki and Wailakki, but the mantle is universal in this 
region. ‘The extensive use of feathers made by the Eel and Russian River 
tribes is attributalle to their fetichism, as they believe that various birds, 
