Adventures of the Ojibbeway and Ioway Indians in England, France, and Belgium; Vol. 2 (of 2): being Notes of Eight Years' Travels and Residence in Europe with his North American Indian CollectionCatlin, George
History
Adventures of the Ojibbeway and Ioway Indians in England, France, and Belgium; Vol. 2 (of 2): being Notes of Eight Years' Travels and Residence in Europe with his North American Indian Collection
Catlin, George
England -- Description and travel; France -- Description and travel; Indians of North America
[7] The frightful war-whoop is sounded at the instant when Indians
are rushing into battle, as the signal of attack. It is a
shrill sounded note, on a high key, given out with a gradual
swell, and shaken by a rapid vibration of the four fingers of
the right hand over the mouth. This note is not allowed to be
given in the Indian countries unless in battle, or in the war
or other dances, where they are privileged to give it.
The _Approaching-dance_[8] was now given, in which the Doctor took the
lead in great glee, and of course with great effect. He tilted off with
a light and elastic step, as he was "following the track of his enemy,"
and when he raised his brawny arm to beckon on his warriors to the
attack, he took great pains to display the glistening trinket which he
had accepted with such heartfelt satisfaction.
[8] The Approaching Dance is a spirited part of the _War Dance_, in
which the dancers are by their gestures exhibiting the mode of
advancing upon an enemy, by hunting out and following up the
track, discovering the enemy, and preparing for the attack,
&c., and the song for this dance runs thus:--
O-ta-pa!
I am creeping on your track,
Keep on your guard, O-ta-pa!
Or I will hop on your back,
I will hop on you, I will hop on you.
Stand back, my friends, I see them;
The enemies are here, I see them!
They are in a good place,
Don't move, I see them!
&c. &c. &c.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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