hooting and hallooing, are beyond all belief. There are few dances of
the Indians more full of wild gestures and unrestrained turbulence
than the pipe dance.

_Basil._ I hope you have a good many more dances to tell us of.

_Hunter._ The green corn dance of the Minatarees must be described to
you. Among Indian tribes, green corn is a great luxury, and the time
when it ripens is a time of rejoicing. Dances and songs of
thanksgiving are abundant; and the people give way not only to
feasting, but also to gluttony; so that often, by abusing the
abundance in their possession, they bring upon themselves the miseries
of want. The Indians have very little fore-thought. To enjoy the
present, and to trust the future to the Great Spirit, is their
constant practice.

_Austin._ How long does the green corn dance last?

_Hunter._ For eight or ten days, during which time there is the most
unbounded prodigality. Among many of the tribes, the black drink, a
very powerful medicine, is taken two or three days before the feast,
that the green corn may be eaten with a sharp appetite and an empty
stomach.

_Brian._ In what way does the green corn dance begin?

_Hunter._ As soon as the corn is in a proper state--and this is
decided by the mystery men--runners are despatched through the
village, that all may assemble on the following day to the dance and
the feast. Sufficient corn for the required purpose is gathered by the
women, who have the fields under their care, and a fire is made, over
which a kettle, with green corn in it, is kept boiling; while medicine
men, whose bodies are strangely painted, or bedaubed with clay of a
white colour, dance round it in very uncouth attitudes, with
corn-stalks in their hands.

_Austin._ I dare say, while the pot is boiling, they are all longing
to begin the feast.

_Hunter._ The first kettle-full is not for themselves, it is an
offering to the Great Spirit. There are many customs among the Indians
which cannot but bring the Jews to our remembrance; and this offering
of the first green corn does so very forcibly. The medicine men round
the fire shake their rattles, hold up their corn-stalks, and sing
loudly a song of thanksgiving, till the corn is sufficiently boiled;
it is then put upon the fire and consumed to a cinder. Before this
offering is made, none of the Indians would dare to taste of the
luxurious fare; but, afterwards, their appetite is unrestrained.

_Austin._ Then they begin to