72 



harmon's journal. 



set up, expressly for that purpose, near the cen- 

 ter of the tent. And now the musick began, 

 which consisted of tambourines, and the shaking of 

 bells, accompanied by singing. Soon after, the 

 man who had made the harangue, began the dance, 

 with great majesty ; then another arose, and join- 

 ed him ; and shortly after, another ; and so on, one 

 after another, until there were twelve or fifteen 

 up, who all danced around a small fire, that was 

 in the centre of the tent. While dancing, they 

 made many savage gestures and shrieks, such as 

 they are in the habit of making, when they encoun- 

 ter their enemies. In this course they continued, 

 for nearly an hour, when they took their seats, 

 and another party got up, and went through with 

 the same ceremonies. Their dancing and singing, 

 however, appeared, to be a succession of the same 

 things ; and therefore after having remained with 

 them two or three hours, I returned to my lodg- 

 ings ; and how long they continued their amuse- 

 ment, I cannot say. 



In this excursion, we saw buffaloes in abun- 

 dance ; and when on a small rise of ground, I think 

 I may with truth affirm, that there were in view, 

 grazing on the surrounding plains, at least five 

 thousand of them. Of these animals, we killed 

 what we wanted for our own subsistence, and the 

 support of our dogs $ and this evening, we return- 



