Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1865-09-09
SIOUX NATION.

, uance, after the return OF successful! war
party, it is often up for days and even
weeks, and does not differ materially from
often described TO need much attention at
this day.
The Horse dance is performed before
going oat to steal horses, after the return
OF a successful Understanding expedition,
and often when two bands meet for a feast,
In performing the Horse-iancc, each
brave who takes part 10 the dance
has around his body as many Iariats as he
has stolen horses AMI performing any
aud all dances, each Indian wears AS many
feathers in his hcal-gear as be counts COOS.
The counting of COOS is regulated among
the Sioux as follows: We will suppose a
case in illustrati0n-tiye men 90 out to
fight or steal horses and one of them shoots
an enemy, but the other four get to the
fallen man first and strike him; they
count one CO each, while he who shot
counts none Killing a bear, capturing q
gun or bow ana culver, and also captur-
ing horse each counts one COO. Big
Head, IontonAi Chief, ("no fell on the
ice ana killed himself in the winter of
1851 c,unted more coos than any other
one OF 'n' in'ian haHoA-he foant d sew
emu en- A~d'*'"o h'ar, a2ot1er chief
o. ''c same 0Hhu' no" counts more COOS
Juan any o'he: man OF the nation. la q
"5"s "''A the Gro" Indiana, some eleven
OF Twelve years ago, lie WAS oAot 'hro ugh
'"' may ali Afterwards Killed jh" cue
VINO aAV' h''n, ana also another who was
VIII" h."'. Ills wound was very severe,
ami has neV"r h@AIeI up.
lie most t'nu~rttut dATca IS probably
me "a" D">cr, and description Of it
VIII no 1Juot D. o; "tercst TO the general
reader lhj> dance - also sJmotim2s
eaIL'' ID" '9.Eo"S-1e"Ft dance, ana IS & n
e'a''y PERFORM u II Jane
Il large 4o1@" IS eFec'eI ~ Planting
posts III 'AH sro"hi seven Or 'i@ht '@et
apart III q circle CT NhFty to forty !eet III
"'a"e'Sr' 'ca' ING al OPENING On the cast
sac aeon! twenty icet wlHe. a strong
pole Is planted IN the center; refers made
u 1869 poles are then fastened to this
center pole, ana eXtond"d 0u:wArIs: over
'hl5 Is then sp:cad several lodge skins
maze OF tanned buffalo h!1cs sewed to-
ee'her WIN sInc". GA the south side
q Tue !oiee tAe SINGERS are arranged Cor
'a'hor m'sh' say the orthestro,} with
large uFo'h' upon which seven Indians
oea' win c'Dos. Il oea OF leaves Is pre-
pa'eo oo 'he Hof'h s'de OF me iodge, with
TWO posts soo"t eight 'eet high sit at one
emu OF '"e oed' and TWO a' TIC other. All
'"eSe preparations oclna maze the dance
oe2'nS al SNn-''se'
witnessed one oil these dances among
Tue iahhlohS' ana there were e'ght who
participated IN the dance, -5ometines
tNere are more, ana som"t'mes less. 1t
seems 70 DC an Inlt'atIon INTO the Strong
heart lana. he dancers stand IN SIN
&c line i"e'"T the sun, and looking d.
rec''y at 1t wish Wild earnest stare, at
the same time Aeop:oS up steady jump
ing up anu dawn: this Is Kept up for sew
eraI hours. lhcT also have short bone
Whistle IN Their mouths, and blow short
quick blast ut every breath; they are pam
ted, and dressed IN gay style, and hold
ia Their hands manages OF horses aud vari-
Gus other things, W"'ch they intend as
offerings to the sun, to be made at some
future tune. AT the end Of perhaps three
hours the music ceases aud the dancers
retire to the back 0. the Great 10! ge, and
seat themselves on pile of green her
bage, and rest a few moments, then they
again engage in the dance as before
Thus the dance is carried on till sundown,
when they again rest for short time
They then face about to the east, (tor as