Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 153, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 June 1910 — AN INDIAN COUNTRY FAIR. [ARTICLE]

AN INDIAN COUNTRY FAIR.

A Crow Indian Version of the Familiar Rural Gathering. On the banks of the Little Big Horn River, out in Montana, the harvest season marks the recurrence each year of the annual drow Indian fair. This fair is unique im being the only one wholly Indian in management and participation, and it is an odd mixture of the old life and the new. Out o.ni the grounds the exhibit hall with the big pumpkins, the children’s school display, bread, cakes and pies, vegetables and grain is extremely modern. The school band of Indian boys furnishes music. The Indian police force appears In blue uniforms and big stars. The wagons are new, the buggies are shining and” the harness heavily mounted. The horses are well groomed and swift. The greased pole and the tug of war, the potato race and the foot race have little attraction for the red man, who is content with a feed, a horse race, a dance and plenty of personal toggery. On the grand stand women wrapped' in gay blankets, bright silk handkerchiefs tied over the4r heads, beaded moccasins on their feet, are jabbering Crow. On their backs there may be a pappccse, carried in the old way. There are old men in blankets and skin shirts, brides in elk tooth dresses worth several hundred dollars apiece. The races are-entirely free from betting and show wonderful horsemanship. Almost all ride bareback, the Indian boys sticking to their prancing, rearing horses as if glued to the spot. There may be 12 or 13 entries', but never a grumble or a quarrel over the best position, and a proud Crow would despise any inducement to hold in his speedy little pony or slacken its pace even if he had left his competitors far behind in the dust of the course.

In the relay races, says the Travel Magazine, the riders rush headlong into the stalls, are on the ground and onto another horse in an instant. The old buffalo hunters, half nude, bodies painted in grewsome designs, with bow and arrow and strange medicine charms, are not the least interesting as they dash past the grand stand. In the camp life is,at high tide.„The tepees, crowding the river’s bank, are the homes of somfe three to four thousand redskins and 10,000 dogs, while half as many horses graze on the hills above, guarded by solemn sentinels. In the open sp.xes boys and girls race about, reckless, excited and happy. Children of 4 or 6 years of age clank about with heavy spurs, worn by no means for looks alone, for these children can sit a prancing, bucking pony without saddle or stirrups and just for sport dig their spurs into their horses' flanks to stir up a bucking and pitching contest. Inside the tepees the squaws are preparing the meal over the open fire. Everywhere there is feasting, much chattering ar.d gesticulating,' bright colors and picturesque life. Not a few solemn ceremonies take place, with elaborate rites, which mean much to the prim.tive Indian mind. The evenings are boisterous with the din of the tomtom, th.e powwow and dance sor.gs. At night the camp is a weird, fascinating place of faint lights, \dim shadows and shrill, creepy noises. In the dance tents hundreas join in the owl dance, the war dance and other ancient pastimes. The young bucks are stripped naked exceot for breech clout, their copper colored skins painted In elaborate, fantastic designs. Older men wear the regalia of their rank, gorgeous war bonnets, ermine and skins, dignified and reserved in their exalted positions. The squaws display much paint and bright colored costumes. There are decorations of birds’ bones, feathers, bells and eagle claws. Intermingled with the gayety are many gifts, oratorical speeches and much counting of coos and relating of past deeds of daring.