SNAKE DANCE as given at the afternoon Pow Wow. (Note: In snake dance, the leader gives the cue all through the dancers imitating his movements and calls).
Walk twice around the square space within which are the drummers-(a half dozen or so of men, each with a drum stick, all beating the same big drum). There is no drumming yet. Then drums begin, when the leader starts his preformance.
Hands on hip--O he ah.
Woo haa; hands up.
O ho ho.
Ah ho ho.
Ah ho ho.
Ah ho ha--hands on hip.
Continue in serpentine line, saying Ah ho ho. (Although the dancers are following the
leader, it sounds as [if] the leader's voice is an echo of the others'.
Whee a hay.
Ah ho ho.
Right hand up and say A hay ho.
Left hand up and say A hay ho, and trot lively; the drum is beating a monotone now;
audience--of whites-and indians, is cheering; a very pretty dance as dancers are brilliantly cos-
tumed.
Ah ho ho.
Ah ho ho.--hands at breast, like in miltary for "double quick", Then a loud yell, all
together, and stop for breath.
Now all join hands. Ah hoo. Ah hoo. Drum is beating.
Bow three times (forward?) and continue serpentine, all holding hands. Ah (stacatto)
hoo.
All in line, facing same way, lifting foot out to the front.
All bow in the direction they are going. The drums during all the present, is beating
the following time:_._._._._._._._._._._._. i.e. a dash and a dot.
Coil.
Jump up and down.
Sing in chorus; then add the clap of hands with singing, and drums beat a slow
monotone.
Wha ho, XXXXXX ku ku, and again the dash and dot drumming.
" " " "
Circle and double back until two lines are parallel; raise extended arms (To Great
Spirit?);wave up and down, with faster music (End of my notes on this dance, but I think they
ended with extended arms--up, and a yell. JHH.) Small boy dancers brought up the rear.
Start with song and tom tom. The singing was in extremly high, somewhat screeching key, and as the song progressed the key descended. Drumming was in dash--dot-dash dot, time.
Five women and older girls rise at first for the dance; more arise and stand still a while, then they begin to dance, the motion being merely a body motion in time with the music. lifting perhaps only the heel--this but a few times, then they work around in semi- circle about the drummers, working their feet, knees and shoulders up and down.
2d part:
Sane motion of body up and down, but women sing in high squealing voice--not the
white woman's soprano, but a strained sound. Song alternates with drumming.
(Fifty women, girls and small girls are taking part in dance)
No kicking of feet. Feet never off the ground, nor out of track.xxxxxxxxxxxx
All together, band and singing, then after a bit, they alternate drums and singing. Some women work only the knees in up and down. One of them, Mrs. ___________ in addition, lifts her shoulders and lets them down with a shock.
Drums and song alternate as if one were in reply to the other; the women in their high key; whine-like or cackle--in the dash and dot, dash-dot time.
There were several pauses in the course of the dance, presumably for rest of a few seconds or moments.
Drummers start, striking drum lightly on rim--on edge, at the same time they (the drummers) are singing--in very high key at first, then gradually come down to low key.
Two dancers start, walking 'way around. On second round other men fall in. Third round most of the men, and nearly all the women are walking in column.
Loud drums, and loud singing, in monotone, i.e.-dash, dash dash. The women up and down, the men turn from side to side. Leslie leads the dance--step, step, step--left-face, right- face, the bells, worn by the men, ring in regular cadence, no jerk.
A pause after about every twenty-five steps.
The older women dance more vigorously than the young lad-ies. (End of my notes) Mr. Harlan of DesMoines, explained that "Buffalo Dance" used to be important--it meant food or starvation, according to the success of the chase.
At Tama Indian settlement, near Tama, Iowa. Aug. 17. 1922.
"SNAKE DANCE" as given at the evening Pow Wow. (No snakes are used, but the Dance in in serpentine fashion).
The Leader starts to walk around rectangle, same as this afternoon. First round, only live men follow Leader, and others fall in behind as they go on. No music; no noise. At end of second round nineteen are in line, all quiet. A couple of small boys who have joined then indulge in a bit of quiet jostling, each wanting to be in line ahead of the other.
A yell. Another yell, and several bows to the front. Ah ho ho
"Hah ja ha ha nay" while bowing to right and to left. Ha ja ho ha nay" in sing-song; hands on hips, and each shasse side-wise and round in circle.
(It should be explained that in the Snake dance, the dancers watch their Leader--at the head, and imitate every move and sound he makes). Stop; right face; and extend hands horizontally and yell.
Serpentine, keeping step, then stop and call HOO Hay, then go on going through the motion of washing clothes on a washboard turning right-face, and then left-face, going hard all the time, ending with a yell.
Then off again in line, doubling back and forth--serpentine. Drums beat low so all can hear the Leader. Call Ho Ho.
All join hands; kick up left foot; right-foot, then all circle and then in line, join hands; forward and back; then in line in circle making the circle smaller and smaller until the dancers are wound up tight; sing; clap hands and sing, keeping time with bodies and feet. Wa ha hoo hoo; bowing and end up with a yell. Pause a few seconds, then Drums beat fast and loud, and all yell more and quit. And the dance is over.