Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-08-08
The Round Dance of the sioux.

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time. The Indians, says the writer. who dislike ram
and fear thunder have taken the sub ject OF the
weather into careful consideration being determined
to have different state of things. This morning
one of the Chiefs Walking Thunder, made a speech
to this effect - The high water is unusual. Inc
Great Spirit does not smile. He grows at us Some
thing does not suit him. Our fields, where are
they! Our young men cannot hunt Inc power
in rifles is wet 1t will not burn we XIII no
game nothing Our Great Father gives US little
beef and little corn. since came to the treaty.
But we are poor, very poor. Our ribs may be c0un-
ted like the poles of lodge frame through the skin
Corn will not grow without sunshine and If we have
nothing to eat, must starye Our horses are thin
We thought they could run some; but even shasta
Wasta's Mr.. Tyler's) horse outrun our fastest
buffalo nag. Our dogs are lean, very lean ihey
are too poor to bark They howl little sometimes, !
but very feebly. We glad our Father came up
here with little and little beef. and it may
be few slices of pork for US to eat We were very
hungry and we are yet. The Red Man is always
hungry The White young men are fat. They look
sleek and greasy The is that the Great Spir
it gives them more food. We do not like so much
rain it is than there is any use of. (Ho. ho)
Our tents are soaked with water 1t pains us to have
our women loaded down with wet baggage when we
travel We cannot bear it. 1t may be the steam
boats drove this food up the river when they came
The boats brought up little corn, and little beef
and it may be slice of pork. They are welcome
HO! no
Our lodges are peaked: our GreaC Fatnef lenLS
are not peaked. The Great Spirit rains on 10th
But there is too much thunder, and rain and light
ming We want more beef and less thunder. They
say that the Great Thunder Bird has dashed his
wing upon the head of the Blue Earth river, and
broken open fountain out of which this freshet
comes 1t was whispered to me in dream that we
ought to have round dance this afternoon hO! no.
ho 1t may save much thunder, lightning, and
rain. If our Great Father wants to buy our land,
will talk with him about it at proper time
Car Great Father has several cattle left yet There
is no hurry Beefis good for the Red Man, but
cookoosh (pork) is not very. If our Great Fathers
children think so much of cookoosh, why do they not
eat it instead of beef! Probably, because, like whs
key, they think beef is not wholesome for no!
no no Il We will attend the Round dance this af-
ternoon, and try to alay the storm and appease the
Evil Spirit. The wing of the Thunder Bird must be
broken" [IIo! no! ho!l
Accordingly, in the afternoon: the Round dance
was made ready. The spot selected was nearly half
mile back Of the river, upon the plain between the
first and second bench The Commission, and in
fact the whole camp present. and perhaps 1000
Indians of the several bands. The theatre the
lgious dance, was circular enclosure made of the
limbs Of the aspen stuck in the ground interviewer
with four arched gateways, one toward each point
of the compass, making area OF about the size of
a large circus
A pole was planted in the middle of the area with
an image cut out OF bark designed to represent the
Thunder bird, hanging suspended by string from
the top At each of the four arched gateways stood
another pole aud image of the description, but
smaller than the one in the centre. Near the foot
of the central pole was little arbor of aspen bush
cs in which sat ugly looking Indian, with his
face blackened and wig ofgreen grass on his head
who acted sorcercr, and uttered lamentations and
prophecies with fervent Junction. and beat the drum
and played on the Indian flute, and sung, by turn
to regulate the various evolutons of the dance.
Before this arbor at the foot of the central pole
were various mystical embems-the image of a run
ming buffalo cut out Of bark, with his legs stuck in
the ground: also a pipe and red stone, shaped
something like head, with colored shavings,
moss, other material the Uranium. to represent
hair This red stone is said to represent the Spirit
of Evil to be appeased. At signal given by the
the young Sprang In through the gate
WAYS and commenced circular dance, in procession,
around the sorcerer, who continued to sing and beat
his drum and occasionally changed the order of
dancing. offered the dancers respite. by blowing
up his flute The dancing is the samesort of double
hop, Shaker-step, which in their medicine
and scalp dances After fifteen or twenty minutes
violent exercise, the dancers out Of the ring
turning after a short respite.
In the third set few horsemen. in very gay fan
tastic costume accompanied the procession odancers
within the area by riding around outside of the en-
closure. In the fourth and last set. multitude of
boys and girls Joined the band ofdancers in the
and many more horsemen joined the cavalcade that
rode swift and more swiftly around the area. some
and every horseman, he skiluly and swiftly rode.
subject for the painter, the music quickening and
the excited performers flying like whirlpool of fan
tastic men and horses-an exhibition so rare and
strange that in New York. Welch would make a
fortune out OF it in a month, equestrian show
Suddenly, at the end of the fourth act several rifles
were discharged at the poles upon which the Thun-
der birds were suspended, cutting them all instant
ly down; when the curtain fell and all dispersed -
SO ended the Round Dance-the most imposing ex-
hbtiou, probably, that is among the Sioux
The Noodle Husband.
His pocket-book is empty when his wife calls
, for money. He sits up in bed, at night feeding
Tomas Jefferson Smith with pap spoon, while his
wife takes a comfortable nap and dreams of the new
shawl she means to buy at Warrens the next day
AS good turns deserves another" he is allowed
to hold Tommy again before breakfast, while Mrs
Smith curls her hair. He never makes any com
plants about the soft molasSes gingerbread that is
rubbed into his hair coat and vest during these hap
pv coniugal seasons. He always laceS on his wifes
boots lest the exertion should make her too red in
the face before going out to promenade Washington
street He never calls any woman prcftY" before
Mrs. Smith. He never makes absurd objections tC
her receiving bouquets or the last novel from Cap
tain this, or Lieutenant that He don't set his teeth
and stride down to the store like victim, every time
his wife presents him with another little Smith. He
gives the female Smiths French gater boots para
soils and silk dresses without stint, and the bows
Jackets pop guns velocipedes and crakers, with
out any questions asked. He never breaks the sea
of any of his wifes billet doux, or peeps over hel
shoulder while she is answering the same He ne
holds the drippings of the umbrella over her new
bonnet while his last new hat is innocent of rain
drop. He vever complains when he is late home t