316 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY 



in a piece of punk, when there is great rejoicing in the crowd. With this a fire is 

 kindled, and the kettleful of corn again boiled for the feast, at which the chiefs, doc- 

 tors, and warriors are seated; and after this an unlimited license is given to the whole 

 tribe, who surfeit upon it and indulge in all their favorite amusements and excesses 

 until the fields of corn are exhausted, or its ears have become too hard for their com- 

 fortable mastication. 



Such are the general features of the green corn festivity and dance amongst most 

 of the tribes ; and amongst some there are many additional forms and ceremonies gone 

 through preparatory to the indulgence in the feast. 



Some of the southern tribes concoct a most bitter and nauseating draught, which 

 they call asceola (the black drink), which they drink to excess for several days previ- 

 ous to the feast, ejecting everything from their stomachs and intestines, enabling 

 them, after this excessive and painful purgation, to commence with the green corn 

 upon an empty and keen stomach. — Pages 188, 187, vol. 1, Catlin's Eight Years. 



447. Bear Dance, Sioux, preparing for a bear hunt ; song to the Great Spirit, pray- 



ing for success. Painted in 183*2. 



(Plate No. 102, page 244, vol. 1, Catlin's Eight Years.) 

 The Sioux, like all the others of these western tribes, are fond of bear's meat, and 

 must have good stores of the bear's grease laid in to oil their long and glossy locks, 

 as well as the surface of their bodies. And they all like the fine pleasure of a bear 

 hunt, and also a participation in the bear dance, which is given several days in suc- 

 cession previous to their starting out, and in which they all join in a song to the Bear 

 Spirit, which they think holds somewhere an invisible existence, and must be con- 

 sulted and conciliated before they can enter upon their excursion with any prospect 

 of success. For this grotesque and amusing scene one of the chief medicine-men 

 placed over his body the entire skin of a bear, with a war eagle's quill on his head, 

 taking the lead in the dance, and looking through the skin which formed a mask that 

 hung over his face. Many others in the dance wore masks on their faces, made of the 

 skin from the bear's head, and all, with the motions of their hands, closely imitated 

 the movements of that animal, some representing its motion in running and others 

 the peculiar attitude and hanging of the paws when it is sitting up on its hind feet 

 and looking out for the approach of an enemy. This grotesque and amusing mas- 

 querade oftentimes is continued at intervals for several days previous to the starting 

 of a party on the bear hunt, who would scarcely count upon a tolerable prospect of 

 success without a strict adherence to this most important and indispensable form. — 

 G. C. 



448. Discovery Dauce, Sacs and Foxes, a pantomime; pretending to discover gamo 



or an enemy. A very picturesque and pleasing dance. Painted in 1836. 

 (Plate No. 295, page 214, vol. 2, Catlin's Eight Years.) 

 The Discovery dance has been given here amongst various others, and pleased the 

 bystanders very much. It was exceedingly droll and picturesque, and acted out with 

 a great deal of pantomimic effect, without music or any other noise than the patting 

 of their feet, which all came simultaneously on the ground in perfect time, whilst 

 they were dancing forward two or four at a time, in a skulking posture, overlooking 

 the country, and professing to announce the approach of animals or enemies which 

 they have discovered by giving the siguals back to the leader of the dance. — G. C. 



449. Eagle Dance, Choctaw, holding the eagle's tail in the hand, and bodies painted 



white. Given in honor of that valiant bird. Painted in 1834, in the Choc- 

 taw Nation, Indian Territory. 



(Plate No. 227, page 126, vol. 2, Catlin's Eight Years.) 

 After this exciting day [described in the dances Nos. 427, 428, 429, herein] the con- 

 course was assembled in the vicinity of the agency house, where we had a great va- 



