Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 May 1885 — Indian Dances in Yucatan. [ARTICLE]

Indian Dances in Yucatan.

From time to time, during such festivals as the Izamal fair, carnival, and the like, an opportunity offers itself for learning something about the old customs of the aborigines. The Indians "still remember some dances of their ancestors, as well as a few ceremonies, whieh they perform on the sly, because formerly the Spaniards punished them for what they called idolatrous and superstitious rites. One of their dances, called Ixtol, is especially interesting, being a vestige of sun-worship. Men and women take part in the dance; provided the number of each is equal, it matters not how many. All have on masks, anciently well made, to-day mere square pieces of deer-skin with three holes cut for eyes and mouth. Often these holes are bo much awry as to produce a most ludicrous appearance, and none can guess what the features beneath may be like. All wear sandals. The women have necklaces, principally of large red beads, and ear-rings, formerly noserings too, but since the conquest these jhave been prohibited. The chief, or fmaster, as they call him, wears a circular cap, stuck all round with peacock’s feathers, making a lofty, waving head- < dress. In front of him, from his waist, hangs a representation of the sun. In its center is an eye, inclosed by a triangle, from which depends a large tongue. All these things are symbols of 'a most ancient freemasonry. One carries 'a white flag with a sun painted on it and a man and woman worshiping it. Another has a sacatan, a kind of drum, used also in Africa; another a flute; another a sistrum, a sacred instrument among the ancient Egyptians. With the sistrum he beats time for the dancers. In the other hand he has a small threetailed whip, calling to mind the Egyptian flagellum of Osiris. This is to chastise the dancers if step badly. A necklace of large sea-shells hangs half-way to his waist.

Each dancer has in the left hand a fan made of turkey feathers, with the bird’s claw for handle. In the right hand each has a sistrum, mot quite like those used by the Egyptians, but exactly like those of Central Africa, as described by Du Chaiilu. Those in Yucatan are made of small calabashes, ornamentally painted, and secured to the handle by pieces of bamboo: they have pebbles inside to rattle. The flag is 'held upright by the bearer or planted in the ground. Beneath it sits the drummer, cross-legged, his drum on the ground before him. Close to the flagstaff stands the master, the conductor, and the flute-player. With the flag for center, the dancers go round three times, bodies bent forward and eyes on the ground, as if groping in the dark; the drum meanwhile beats a peculiar quickstep. Then the flag is unfurled—the sun appears! Ail draw themselves up to their fullest height, and raise eyes and hands with a shout of joy. Then the dance commences round and round the flag with various steps and motions, at the same time energetic and solemn, imitating the course and movements of ,our planet, among other things. Meanwhile the chief sings, and the people answer in chorus, over and over again the same thing, in Mava tongue: Chief —Take care how you step. Dancers—We step well, O master. The melody is both mournful and stirring. The rattling of the sistrum is very effective, now imitating the scattering of grain, now, by a sudden movement of every arm, giving forth one mighty rattle as of a sudden rain-fall and clap of thunder, together with a shout raised by the dancers after each chorus is sung. The fans are kept m motion as symbolical of the wind. There is a pig’s-head festival, now much fallen into disuse. At a certain season of the year the head is cooked, decorated with many colored ribbons and flowers, and with an orange between its jaws, placed upon an alter prepared for the occasion by a man who danoes meanwhile. In this manner it is borne by a procession of people to some chosen individual. Various other presents are also given, such as fowls, cigars, sweet-bread, and so forth. The more numerous the gifts, the worse it is for the recipient, because on the following year he is expected to give just twice the amount received. —Altee D. le Plongeon, in Harper’s Magazine.