84 

 Gus-da-wa-sa, or Rattle. 



Turtle-shell Rattle. 



The turtle-shell rattle is used in the dance, hoth as an accompani- 

 ment to the singing, and to mark the time. In all of their dances, except 

 the war dance, the singers are seated in the centre of the room, and 

 the dancers pass around them in an elliptical line. They strike the 

 rattle upon the bench, in beating time, as frequently as thrice in a 

 second, and accompany it with singing. After removing the animal 

 from the shell, a handful of flint corn is placed within it, and the skin 

 sewed up. The neck of the turtle is stretched over a wooden handle. 



Squash-shell Rattle. 



As an accompaniment for singing, the squash-shell rattle is also used. 

 Corn is placed within the hollow shell, and the sound of the rattle 

 varies with its size. In their songs for the dead, it is chiefly used. 

 Frequently twenty of these rattles are heard in one song, each one 

 giving a different note, and the whole together making a very strange 

 substitute for music. 



The Iroquois have about twenty distinct dances, a few of them, as 

 the war dance, are performed by select dancers, who dress in full costume 

 and paint for the occasion. A few, also, are exclusively for the females, 

 but in most of them all participate. The thanksgiving, or religious 

 dance, (O-sto-weh-go-wa) is the most spirited and striking in the list ; 

 but the war dance (Wa-sas-seh) is the greatest favorite. In this dance 

 the drum is chiefly used. 



