The man, however, lived to be very old." Jackson was not sure whether he believed this story or not.
But his manner of telling it indicated that it was very real to him.
Now and again near Tallac one may see one of the dances of the Washoes.

Though war is past with them they still occasionally indulge in their War Dance and its consequent Scalp Dance.

There are not more than ten or a dozen of the old warriors still living who actually engaged in warfare in the old days, and these are too old and feeble to dance.

But as the young men sing and throw their arms and limbs about in the growing frenzy of the arousing dance, and the tom-tom throbs its stimulating beat through the air, these old men's eyes flash, and their quavering voices become steady and strong in the excitement, and they live in the conflicts of the past.
Another of the dances that is still kept up is the Puberty Dance.
Many white people have seen this, but not having any clew to its significance, it seemed absurd and frivolous.

When a girl enters the door of young womanhood the Washoe idea is to make this an occasion for developing wiriness, strength, and vigor.