RELIGION WD CEREMONIES. 117 



arc 4 not to be taken as absolutely correct, they indicate 

 that this dance is a modern innovation. Recently, 

 the Black foot have carried the dance to the Flathead 

 and Kootenai tribes to the west. 



The meetings are held at night in large circular 

 wooden buildings erected for that purpose. Some of 

 the dancers wear large feather bustles, called crow belts, 

 and peculiar roached headdresses of hair: A feast 

 of dog's flesh is served at which many members for- 

 mally give away property to the poor. They even go so 

 far now and then, as to formally put away a wife as 

 the greatest act of self-denial. 



In the same class may be mentioned the kissing or 

 hugging dance, sometimes called the Cree dance. This 

 seems to have come from the north and resembles a 

 form of dance once common among the half-breed 

 Canadians. In the Plains, however, it has Indian 

 songs and other undoubtedly native features. To 

 this list may be added the tea dances, the horseback 

 dances, etc. 



Among these Indians each distinct ceremony or 

 dance has its own peculiar set of songs to which addi- 

 tions are made from time to time. 



War and Scalp Dances. The scalp or some other 

 part of the foe was often carried home and given to the 

 women of the family who made a feast and danced in 

 public with songs and cheers for the victors. A party 

 about to go to war would gather in the evening, sing, 

 dance, and observe certain religious rites to ensure 

 success. In all of these there seems to have been little 

 that was distinctive or peculiar to the Plains. 



