midnight
Cries arise , each more and more fearful ; the whole multitude are at last shrieking with dizzy heads and wildly beating pulses . The cries become deafening ; an almost superhuman frenzy passes over all ; they seem to be no longer mortal -- the armies of the dead are believed to be about them ; they think that they are reveling in the joys of the heroes ' paradise . One by one they drop down , until the whole assembly is exhausted . At midnight the great fires are kindled , and throw their lights and shadows over the frenzied sleepers . Such was the _ Tamanous _ - dance , and so ended the first night of the feast . On the second night the old chief gave away his private possessions , and on the third the wedding ceremony was performed . The wild and inhuman Death-dance , which the tribe demanded , was expected to end the festival at the going down of the shadowy moon .