Rocky Mountains. 335 



are invited by the warriors, who wish to exhibit their gene- 

 rosity in presenting them with horses, and to detail their 

 own warlike feats, in the ceremony of striking the post. The 

 chiefs, on this occasion, seat themselves in a circle, on the 

 outside of which the warriors are also seated in a ring or 

 circle, concentric, with that of the chiefs. 



These arrangements being completed, the music strikes 

 up, and a warrior advances, who takes a war-club and crow, 

 provided for the purpose, the latter of which he belts around 

 his. waist. He then dances with a slow shuffling motion, 

 around the exterior circle, exhibiting at the same time, a 

 pantomimic representation of his combats with the enemy. 



By and by the music beats a quicker time, and calls for 

 corresponding movements on the part of the dancer, until at 

 length both cease simultaneously. The warrior then advances 

 to the post which he strikes with his club, and proceeds to 

 detail one of his deeds of war. This done, the music recals 

 him to the dance, and after a short time again ceases, that 

 he may continue his chivalric history. 



This alternate dance and recitation continues until the tale 

 of the warrior is told, when he resigns his crow and war- 

 club to another, who continues the amusement in like man- 

 ner. Most of the dancers, present horses to the chiefs, after 

 the performing of their respective parts, and it is generally 

 the case, that each chief invited, is rewarded with one of 

 those animals in return for the honour of his attendance. 



The bear dance, Mot-chu-wat-che. This is a medicine 

 dance, not distinguished by any very remarkable traits. The 

 dancers, however, imitate the motions of the bear; and songs, 

 in which there are many words, are sung. 



The beggar dance. This has been already described, in 

 our account of the visit of the Otoes at our cantonment last 

 autumn. This is probably the dance mentioned by Carver on 

 page 158 of his work, the performance of which, on his land- 

 ing near Lake Pepin, by a party of Chippeways, was the 

 cause of much alarm to his party. 



