CHAPTER XV

Indian dances--Songs without meaning--Elaborate preparations--The Chief’s invitation--Numbers assembled--Dance step--Reasons for dances--Special dances--Dance staves--Arrangement of dancers--Method of airing a grievance--Plaintiff’s song of complaint--The tribal “black list”--Manioc-gathering dance and song--Muenane Riddle Dance--A discomfited dancer--Indian riddles and mimicry--Dance intoxication--An unusual incident--A favourite dance--The cannibal dance--A mad festival of savagery--The strange fascination of the Amazon 190