Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-01-15

yirdis, da9nT MS ioins' anu "'s ny
buffalo skin; he at this time receives !"e 'a's
pipe from the other, who leaves the lodge, s""
Immediately returns again TO the wes'' an" ""e'
not again make hi- approach uni the next ahnu.
al celebration This man. after receiving the
pipe. is considered the greatest medicine man 10
the village. aud is master Of ceremonies uuf'as
the occasion. Intakes charge OF the lodge re-
maiplng in u four DAYS and nights without eating
OF drinking, during the whole OF which time he Is
crying and waiins at most hidenus rate. and
strictly guarding the peni'ents "ho are under his
charge. and not ALLOW ed 10 leave the lodyr, or to
partake of food or drink. During the three first
DAYS there are a great variety ct dance, and Gu
rious songs aud ceremonies. performed in front of
the medicine lodge, b. persons Enthusiastically dres.
sed and painted for the purpose. These dance.
and ceremonies are performed around curb OF
six feet in diameter, and ten feet in height, which
stands in front of the medicine lodge, containing
some uf their most sacred medicines, and preserv-
ed with great venrraiion, as the symbol OF the
Ark, or :. great Canoe as their traditions call
it, On the first day they dance four tines; on
the second Iay. eight times; on the third day
twelve; aud ON the fourth day. sixteen times.-
The principal actors in these scenes are
eight men. naked-bod,es painted black,
with Buffalo skin-wlth horns on, thrown
over them: their bndles IN a horizontal position,
and wreath of willows IN each hand performing
the Buffalo dance-r'xO men, naked-their DO.
dies painted black, with The skin OF asrizly Bear
thrown over them, intended to represent that
animai-two buys, naked, their bodies anu iac's
black and spotted with whie-rep-esenting the
sky or fimamrnt-two boys. naked b"ties and
faces red. with stripes OF white. up and down,
representing ghOsts--twO men. naked, bodies
black, and heads white. representing bald eagles
"a great number Of boys. bodies yellow, head
and feet white. called cd5ri or antelope-f"ur
very aged men with SACK ; III water, on which they
beat with stick m ,in,s with the other music
These sacks (Eet feh KAY are made Of the skin
Of the Bull BatfaIu's neck. in the form OF a large
tortoise, which they admirably represent, each
containing several gallons of water, which has
been kept tightly ems lo,ed in them from time
immemorial, and which. from their generation,
they cannot venture to change. Two men With
q rattle IN each baud. (Eh ma de- or she shee.
quae. raHies, in form of sourde-sheil,) which
are vIOienry shaken as an accompaniment to
their voices, which, together. constitute the mn.
sic for variety of st'argp dances and mtnpu-
vres too numerous to mention in this place. Ii
would require a volume to describe the grpiesque
aud apparently ridiculous performances of tins
stranges groupe, their officers. characters. sym
b0ls. &c. On the third ,lal, and during these
dancing scenes, the Whole village appears 10 be
suddenly thrown int" the greatest CONSERVATION
bv the approach 1T a man who Is running about
on the prairie, apparently in great trouble, a"d
gradually approaching the village. ahrch he at
length enters, running through every part nf IL
as If he were IN grea; distress; his bnds {, en-
treIy naked. and painted b al k-his ia, . fright.
fully indented with white and red, and IN his
hand long rod or wand painted White. lie Is
called by them The Eel Spirit; he runs into the
lnisrs aud out again with the greatest eagerness,
and j. continually frustrated in all his attempts
OF improperly by the great medicine pipe ct the
master of ceremonies. wh" continually thrusts il
between him aud the frnae e., who are running
aud screaming for protection His wand Is
urcsred him t'ou at length, and thu village again
restored TO tranquility.
On the fourth day scene commences OF a ma.
ture almost too Shocking and appalling To be re.
lated. add at the recollection OF which | always
siudder when recur to it. The Spanish In
cushion in all its horrors could hardly suipass
in-crnelty the scenes which witnessed here, and
in which was supported and enabled 10 look up.
on only frnul the consideration that those were
the roiuniary nflicrions upon their own bodies.
Weak AID exhausted from fasting aud thirsting
Tor Tour Gays anu nShts, one VI uese pour iciiows
walks up at TIM, near the centre nf the lodge.
where resting upon his knees and his mead inclined
dowGwards, lie submits to the operation uf those
to whom 1t is allotted to perform these acts OF
cruelty. They take up between 'humb aud flo.
ger. an inch and half Of skin aud flesh. with
portion of the Hapezius muscle, on The back sid"
Of each shoulder-and force large knife through
it, which is made dull al the point that II may pro
duce as much pain as possible After the knit
is withdrawn from these inc,,on- or pertoralIuns.
splints, the size of mans thumb. are force
through them; to these spiints are attached a
couple of cords decendipg from the top Of the
lodge, BY which he is drawn unui hi, feet are
nearly relieved from the ground. Then IN the
same manner the kniIe Is passed, and spllnts or
arrows put through the REGIMENTS on the arms
below theshouIder lover the Brachiaiis eriernus)
below the elbow lover, thu eafensor taPi a.
diai,s) on the thighs, lover tn. rasius ertunes)
and below the knees lover the pe|onaeus At.
tached To these sp,nts are his bow and culver,
his shield, his lance and medicine bag.. with two.
three aud sometimes a. manv as -four Bull Buff
iau's heads and horns
With all these weights attached to him, he is