The Cairo Bulletin

"THE OMAHA DANCE." Striking Scene at the Grand Indian Council—A Glimpse out of a Circus, [From a Black Hills Letter to the N. Y. Herald.] There was some commotion in Red Cloud's village this morning. It is situated beyond a hill north of the agency, on a bend of the White River. Preparations were making for the grand Omaha dance, which was to be given in honor of the Commissioners. Yesterday was the appointed time for the ceremony; but a slight dash of rain dampened the ardor of the bucks, so that they deferred their dance until to-day. The great drum, heard afar off, gave early warning of their approach, and when they appeared on the brow of the hill, with the big medicine man and the head warrior of the society of Omahas at their head, with the banner of feathers held aloft and lances with human scalps attached pricking the air, the sight was imposing. The Omahas were on foot; but a great throng of braves, squaws and boys, all mounted, followed them, sometimes joining in the guttural music, keeping time to the heavy stroke of the huge drum and sometimes shouting with all the strength of their lungs. The costumes of the dedicated braves have already been often described: but as there is sometimes a variation in their performances I may mention again some portion of it. The body of brilliantly decorated warriors halted in front of the stockade and the gates were thrown open. They marched slowly in, with rhythm of step and solemn intonation. The first impression on the mind is that the ceremonial is of diabolical significance. Many of the figures look like devils just loosened from their infernal cages; others are purely grotesque. One of them apparently has the duties of a clown to perform. He does so with success. A circle was formed in the center of the stockade, with a wide opening toward the house occupied by the Commissioners, near which sat the medicine man upon his horse. He wore a huge war bonnet, decorated with long eagle feathers, and bore in his hand the banner of the Omahas, along "medicine stick," fringed also with feathers. His body was nearly naked and painted a dull yellow. On the opposite of the circle was a small inner ring, formed by the musicians sitting around the drum. Outside the circle at this point sat three or four young squaws, who sung treble in some of the refrains. On the left was stationed the head warrior, sitting solidly upon a parti-colored pony. He wore a war bonnet similar to that of the medicine man, and carried in his hand a bright and gleaming sword. Moe-pealutah (Red Cloud) sat on the left of the circle of musicians. During all the ceremony, except when he joined in a part of the dance, he sat with his head on his hand, his long heavy hair drooping over his cheeks and his face peculiarly sad. He wore none of the decorations of the order. Two little boys, brightly dressed, sat next to Red Cloud. They danced with the dancers. THE CEREMONY. It would be but a repetition of terms to attempt a full description of the ceremony. At first the exertions of the braves were very moderate and they seemed very slowly to imbibe the necessary enthusiasm and frenzy, but gradually their movements became livelier. An assistant of the medicine man, who was apparently master of ceremonies, walked around the circle, uttering incantations or reciting deeds in a loud metallic voice. Then one by one the braves rose from the circle and began a slow dance to the stroke of the big drum and the chanting of a chorus by all those seated. Parts were rendered quite beautiful by the sudden accession of the female voices. The deep, guttural bass also produced melody, impressive as it was dissimilar from that of the cultured order. The corners of the open space in the stockade were crowded with Indian spectators, mounted and on foot. During the pauses in the dance some of the toothless old women, crouching in groups in the shadow of the building, would set up a quivering refrain too piercing and unearthly to be agreeable. A MOTHER DEDICATES HER BOY. A tall Indian mother, of shapely form and regular features, appeared at the opening of the ring, bearing in her arms her infant. She had wrapped about her and covering her head a long crimson shawl, and on her feet were blue moccasins, small and of pretty workmanship. The master of ceremonies conversed with her a few minutes in an undertone, and then, leading her into the circle, made a short speech. The drum was loudly beat, and a melody was chanted of more cheerful import than those preceding it. Then the braves arose and danced again. The squaws withdrew, and a horse was brought forward to be dedicated to the use of the infant Oglala who had just been adopted from its mother's arms into the society of the Omahas. The medicine man touched the steed with a wand and he was led away. More dancing and intoning ensued. The chief warrior was led into the arena by the master of ceremonies, and recited a long list of his achievements, in which he had shown his bravery and cruelty to his enemies. Dancing followed and continued until the spectacle began to grow monotonous. The most hideous looking of the painted braves was the clown. His body was a dark yellow and the lower half of his face was red. Behind he wore a tail of which were spread out in fan shape, some of them decorated with ribbons. This portion of his vestment looked as if it should properly appertain to the American bird of freedom. His nude legs were grotesquely covered with figures of new moons, eagles' beaks and talons. He exaggerated the gestures of the dancers with a degree of humor unlooked for in an Indian. He was a living caricature.