Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1833-03-16

face Eightfulfy indented with white ant
red, and in his hand a long rod or wans
sRaiafted white. He is called by them thu
Evil Spirit; he runs into the lodges ant
out again with the greatest eagerness, ant
is continually frustrated in all his at
tempts Of improperly BY the great medi
cine pipe of the master Of ceremonies, who
continually thrus.s it between him and
J the females who are running and scam
pering for protection. His wand IS wres-
ted from him at length, and the village is
again restored 10 tranquility
/ On the fourth day a scene commences
of nature almost too shocking and APP
palling to be related, and at the recollec-
ton Of which | always shudder, when
recur to it. The Spanish Inquisi.ion in
all its horrors could hardly surpass in
cruelty the scenes which witnessed here,
and in which | was supported only from
the consideration that these were vo'unta-
ry infections on their own bodies. Weak
and exhausted from fasting and thlrsling
tor four days and nights, one of these poor
fellows walks up at a time, near the cen
ire of the lodge, where, resting on his
knees and his head inclined downwards,
he submits to the operation Of those to
whom IT is allotted to perform these acts
OF cruelty. They take up between the
thumb and fingers, an inch and a half Of
skin and flesh, with portion Of the tra-
pezius muscle, on the back side Of each
shoulder-and forces large knife
through 1t. which is made dull at the
point that it may produce as much pain
as possible After the knife Is withdraw.
from these incisions, or perfoiations,
spiInts the size of mans thumb. are for
ced through them, to these splints are at
tached a couple of cords descending from.
the top Of the lodge, [about eight fee, j
and ne IS drawn until his feet are near!>
relieved Of the ground Then in the same
manner the knife is passed and spIints or
arrows put through the integuments Of.
the arms below the shoulder over thu
(Brachialis externa) over the (cNtensor
carpi rapiolis] on the thighs, over the [pe-
ronaens.J Attached to these splints are
his bow and culver, shield, lance and mea-
icine bags, with two, three, and sometimes
as many as four Bull Buffalo's head and
horns
With all these weights attached to him,
he IS gradually raised bv the cords until
tnese appearances are free, and his feet
SIX or seven feet above the ground: in
this condition, with the blood flowing i J.
streams from his hands and feet, he hangs
in the most exquisite agony, utter;ng the
most pltiful groans and cries, which n
found to be, when interpreted his earne i
PRAYERS to the Almigh,, to spare his life
Ito forgive his sins-f!lat he mioht lie
successful IN battle and ALWAYS have buff
falo IN abundance for his subsistence
As soon as one was thus suspended, the
same operation WIS performed on SEE
ond, third, fourth, SC. until the waiIings
and mingled cries Of sony, with the san
appearance Of the lodge, which
was becoming like human slaughter
house, sickened me 10 the heart ano storm
ach. Sometimes eight or ten were hang
ing IN this condition at once, (some by the
back others BY the muscles in the breast
without apparently exciting in the faces
IF their friends, who were about them.
he least expression Of sympathy or com
The length Of time that thev
we're thus suspended, were sometime /
1alf. and at others a whole hour depend [
ng on the constitution and bodily vi-or 4
# the subject; for they were never ie,
Town until they had tainted from exhaus
alton, and every external appearanee If
existing life had entirely vanished
They were then gradually lowered to the
ground, and left to rise by themselves,
without the aid Of any one. When the,
we're able to do this, they advanced to an
'ther part Of the lodge, where they sacri-
iced one, two or three fingers bv lawn.
hem on the scull Of butfaIo's head, when
hey were struck off h, Ratchet. Alter
hese transactions within the lodge are
they are led out In front of the ,
ooge with all their weights dragging af- ,
er them, where, In the circular area, in
he presence Of the whole village, who ,
re here assembled, a scene takes place of
still more appalling nature. and
, the sufferers still m.,re excrutia,inc
han the one just described. Around
heir emblem Of the ark an hundred or ,
lore Young men, naked, holding each 9TH t
r by the hand, their bodies painted in all $
ar,etles Of colors and Curious forms, t
ro:atory movement with the '
reatest velocity possible, Uniting their /
olces in the most piercing wells Of lam !
nations. Outside Of this circle are led ),
'e bleeding penltents, each one with an :
'hletic man on each side Of him, who take y