features and long hair were even more hideous than
usual in bandeaux of bright feathers, scant gar-
ments made from the breasts of water-fowls,
rattling strings of shells, and tattooing on arm and
leg no longer concealed by the decorous Mission
smock. Rezanov had that day sent them presents
of glass beads and ribbons, and in these they took
such extravagant pride that for some time their
dancing was almost automatic.

But soon their blood warmed, and after the first
dance, which was merely a series of measured
springs on the part of the men and a beating of time
by the women, a large straw figure symbolizing an
entire hostile tribe was brought in, and about this
pranced the men with savage cries and gestures, ad-
vancing, attacking, retreating, finally piercing it with
their arrows and marching it off with sharp yells
of triumph that reverberated among the hills; the
women never varying from a loud monotonous
chant.

There was a peaceful interlude, during which the
men, holding bow and arrow aloft, hopped up and
down on one spot, the women hopping beside them
and snapping thumb and forefinger on the body,
still singing in the same high measured voice. But
while they danced a great bonfire was laid and
kindled. The gyrations lasted a few minutes longer,
then the chief seized a live ember and swallowed it.