390 THE YOKUTS. 
which consisted of two leaps on each foot alternately, causing the body to 
rock to and fro; and either hand was thrust out with the swaying, as if the 
offering it held were about to be consigned to the flames, while the breath 
was forced out with violence between the teeth, in regular cadence, with a 
harsh and grinding sound of heh! The blaze of the sacred fire flamed redly 
out between the bedies of the dancers, swaying in accord, while the dis- 
heveled locks of the leaping hags wildly snapping in the night wind, the 
blood-curdling rasp of their breath in concert, and the frightful ululations 
and writhings of the mourners, conspired to produce a terrible effect. At 
the sight of this weird, awful, and lurid spectacle, which was swung into 
motion so suddenly, I felt all the blood creep and tingle in my veins, and 
my eyes moisten with the tears of a nameless awe and terror. We were 
beholding now, at last, the great dance for the dead. 
All the long remainder of that frenzied night, from one o'clock to two, 
to three, to four, to five, those women leaped in the maddening dance, 
through smoke, and choking dust, and darkness, and glaring light, and cold, 
and heat, amid the unceasing wail of the multitude, not knowing or heed- 
ing aught else on earth. Once in five or ten minutes, when the choir com- 
pleted a chorus, there was a pause of a few seconds; but no one moved 
from her place for a moment. What wonder that only the strongest young 
maidens were chosen for the duty! What wonder that the men avoided 
this terrible ordeal! 
About four o’clock, wearied, dinned, and benumbed with the cold of 
the mountains, I crept away toa friendly blanket and sought to sleep. But 
it was in vain, for still through the night-air were borne up to my ears the 
far-off crooning, the ululations, and that slow-pulsing, horrid heh! of the 
leaping witches, with all the distant voices, each-more distinct than when 
heard nearer, of the mourning camp. The morning star drew itself far up 
into the blue reaches of heaven, blinking in the cold, dry California air, 
and still all the mournful riot of that Walpurgis-night went on. 
Then slowly there was drawn over everything a soft curtain of oblivion; 
the distant voices blended into one undistinguishable murmur, then died away 
and were still; the mourning was ended; the dancers ceased because they 
were weary. 
