Several descriptions to the "scalp dance" have been given. In one of these the warriors, dressed in their best breechcloths  and decorated with "war" paint, formed a circle around the scalp; this had been covered with paint and was held up on the point of a lance by a woman. There were 12 poles representing each of the 12 clans of the Tonkawa. Each of the men was supposed to have some kind of musical instrument. All of these were played in unison, along with a drum consisting of a deer hide which had been tightly stretched over a hoop. The Indians also "chanted," at the same time raising and lowering their bodies in time to the music; this suggests similarities to the scout dance.    

      Elements of other scalp dances have been presented. The Tonkawa scalped a Comanche Indian, cut off his hands, and placed the body on a bonfire of logs. The scalp and hands were tied to a pole which was held aloft during the ceremony. Sometimes two scalps were used; these, however, had first been cut into eight parts. Another "scalp" dance which was celebrated every night for one or more months, but it could be held intermittently during a period of about a month. However, this dance is radically different from those described above, for no mention of a scalp being used. Furthermore, the women danced while the men watched. Water may have been used in this ceremony, for the singers repeated the words: "Come up, woman, carry water for dancing."

Scalp Dancer Regalia

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