I don't think that third (or second) beat is actually THERE.

Just because there's nothing happening during that beat doesn't mean it isn't there; it *is there in time.

I have no objections my own self to calling Native Americans Indians but in this case in particular, with an audience that has a large number of people who are going to assume sub-continental Indians I figured why be ambiguous? Especially when the subject is drum beats. The difference between the stereotypical Native American drum beat and the Indian Indian drum beat could hardly be greater.