Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 179, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 July 1920 — ESKIMO DANCE WORTH SEEING [ARTICLE]

ESKIMO DANCE WORTH SEEING

Ceremony Indulged in by Both Women and Men Is Performed With Rhythmic Grace. Eskimos of Alaska perform their dancing feats to the sound of “tomtoms” with round, flat heads and short handles. The heads of. the instruments are of seal hide, which the natives moisten from time to time with a sponge to keep tightened. They beat on the under side of the drumhead with long, slender willow wands, little chips breaking off the sticks all the time and flying about. With a slow, monotonous chant at flrsL they gradually work themselves into a frenzied shout and loud, resonant 1 sating of the drums as the dance goes on. While they dance the men are stripped to the waist, but the women wear their calico “Mother Hubbards,” or denim parkas, with a gleaming halo of wolverine about the face. The dancing ceremony begins with a "muscle dance” by a young boy, in which the men later join, after which comes the “wolf dance,” with more energy loud shouting. The women then join in, one by one, with marvelous rhythmic grace of movement When the dance is over one of the musicians takes up a collection in his "tom-tom.” The non-natlve white guests usually contribute tea and candy, it being wrong for a guest to give money.