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According to the ancient legend, when the Indians first came into this country, they were almost overcome by hunger and thirst. The Gods, in order to make them forget their privation, painted one of their number white and decorated him most fantastically, and then caused him to dance and cut up capers before the exhausted people, who, on seeing him broke into laughter and once more took courage. This man they called "Koshare" (i. e. Dancing-Man, or as Bandelier calls him, Delight - Maker) The Koshare of the present day are an Indian secret society and have since pre-historic times been very influential. During certain Indian dances, they paint up as the first Koshare did long ago, to the great delight of the Indians present. |
