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Show 344 INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS been gone so long. They came to the cave, where they saw the Indian, the she bear and a cub, danc-ing joyously at the return of spring. " " As observed now, the bear dance celebration is in part is a religious rite to show thankfulness that another winter has been survived, that summer is again at hand and all is well. It is a custom for friendly tribes to come together to renew friend-ship and cordiality.?* " In the bear dance the squaws form in lines opposite the musicians, two by two holding hands. With a chant, accompanied by the instrumental music, the lines step forward four steps, then the same distance backward, ending each advance and retreat with a kind of springing movement. One of of the squaws from each pair step out and touches a male Indian, who becomes her partner in the dance. Then she goes back and joins the other squaw, repeating the advance and retreat steps as before. The partner next steps forward and per-forms a chase in front of the women. Then he places a hand on the shoulder of either squaw, all the while keeping step with the music. The squaws separate and let the buck into line with them locking'arms, the male with his back towards the music, the forward and backward steps are repeated and kept up until the music stops. It is considered a breach of man-ners for any of the dancers to stop before the music ceases. " The orchestra consists of four Indians, a tin tub, bottom upward, and notched sticks. Each In-dian places one end of a notched stick on the tub, to provide resonance, and see- saw up and down along the notches with another. The dancing is kept up |
