Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1865-09-30
An INDIAN Danss.

A correspondent OF the Chicago Irtoa"e,
with the Northwest Indian Expedition,
gives the following account.
The most important dance is probably
the sun.dauce, aud description OF 1t will
D doubt be Of interest to the general read
er. This dance is sometimes also called
the trong-hesrt-dauce,a and is generally |
performed in June. A large lodge is
erected by planting posts in the ground
seven or eight feet apart, in circle Of
thirty or forty feet 10 diameter, leaving an
opening on the east side about twenty feet
wide: a strong pole is planted in the center;
rafters made Of lodge poles are thea fastened
to this center pole and extended outward
over this is then spread several lodge skins
made Of tanned buffalo hides sewed together
with sipew. On the side Of the lodge the
singers (or might say, the orchestrs)
are arranged, with large drum, upon
which several Indians beat with clubs. A
bed Of leaves is prepared in the north side
Of the lodge with posts about eight fee,
bigb: two set at one end OF this bed aud
two at the other. All the preparations
being made the dance begins at sunrise.
/ witnessed one Of these dances smong
the Ysuktons, and there were eight wlo
participated 10 the dance. Sometimes
there are more and sometimes less Ii
seems to te on initiation into the Strong
heart band The dancers stand in single
lire, facing the Sun and looking directly at
it with a wild earnest stare, at the same
time keeping up steady jumping up and
down; this is kept up for several hours
They also have o short bone whistle in
their mouths and blow short quick blast
ct every breath; they are painted and
dressed in gay style, and bold in their hands
images of horses aud various other things
which they intend as offerings to the SUP,
to be made at some future time. AT the
end of, perhaps, three hours the music
ceases and the dancers retire 10 the back
of the great lodge and seat themselves on
piles of green herbage and rest few mo
meuts, when they again engage In the
dabce as before. Thus the dance is carried
on till sundown, when they rest for short
iime Then they face about for as the
sun goes around to the west the line wheels
to the right, aud at suudown they are
facing TO the west,) to the east and gszs
st the moon. These dances generally con 4
tinus for two days and for one night, and
often for three days, and that, too. without
food. Near the close Of the dance comes
the grand trial Of courage and endurance
Of pain.
There are two Indians, old warriors,
whe officiate as masters of the ceremony,
and while the dancers are having short
rest, these two men, without a word or ap
parent sigD seize one OF the dancers with
great deter mination, throw him down Oh
bis back upon the bed of leaves before des
cribed. They both seize the skin on one
side of his breast with the thumb and fin
ger, and punch it up till it forms a sharp
ridge. Then o narrow, sharp pointed knife
is run through, making hole about three.
strong string made Of sinew is passed, and
made fast to o short piece of wood about
three inches long, and the other end of the
string is made fast to 9 leather thong.
which is fastened TO the top Of one Of the
poles before described. They then proceed
10 insert another string on the other side
of the breast. The man is again seized
and turned upon his face. and Two thougs
are fastened into holes made on each side
OF the back, and fastened 10 the top of The
two poles standing at the head of the bed
of leaves. The candidate is then lifted
upon bis feet, and the balance having been
formed in line again, the dance begins.-
The one thus tied up begins to dance by
advancing and retiring alternately, until
these strings strain hard on the hold in the
skin. Here the dance is carried on with
the greatest possible vigor. The one lied
sometimes throwing his whole weight upon
them, till the aesb gives way. He is then
conducted to o seat 10 the back OF the
lodge, with the balance OF the dancers In
few minutes the same thing Is gone
through with another candidate, until all
have proved that they have strong hearts.
They sometimes have one or more who
choose to have one or two OF the strings
inserted q second time.
The. dance is then continued as before
for short time, when oil ends with big
feast OF fresh meat, corn, and IL possible
they will have dog meat for their FEAST
Dog meat is often eaten ct feasts made
whea friends meet after long separation,
and is considered the greatest favor that
cea be conferred. The ides OF eating
dogs viii admit Is Disgusting 10 the ex
treme. bat can assure yoa kind reader
that i have onss participate in this grand
feast, and thought It very good meat unti
after the feast was over and / found
had been eating "dog." 'it'A 1A