The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-10-24
THE SIOUX sUSDANCE.
How Young Warriors Test their Fortifuds
in ResisIing Pima Horrible Sccnc.

I.GinN Correspondence OF the 81 Loui' R-pu6Lcdn.
This festive performance, a. rractscd among
the Sioux, is sort Of reli yuus dance In which tie
young braves tes their iorttudc and snicism IN
sisting pain without winciny There was urge
lodge oult In the shape u IN amphithea're. with
polc 10 the centre, The sides and roof were cover.
ed with willows, ioimiuC ocrlhle screen. but not
so dense az 20 obstruct entirely the view IT, per.
ormauces were commenced with chants and incAn.
ttons. Five young men were brought In
and partially stripped, their mothers being
present and assisting IN the coremon'. rhcn
the medicine man began his part hl cutting Sits 10
the flesh of the young rcn and taking M the mus
cles with nncors. The oil squaws o'si-c IN lacor.
atug the flesh OF the oy, win knives. Tie .qliws
woud at the same time Keep ny howlir,, accom-
panied with n movement 10 and irn. When thu
muscles we're lifted out lbs pucrrs on the breast,
one end OF sort VI 1lilt or buffalo thong vas tied
20 the bleeding ncsh while the other end vas tod u
the top OF Tie pole in the ccntrc OF the lodge It's
FIRST young man when tuus prepared. commenced
dancing around the circle in 4 frantic manner, pull.
ing tn al his weight 50 rs 90 stretch Ou tie rove,
aud, 10y his jerking movements, Loosen himself BY
tearing out the flesh, The Noun. mans dance
vas accompanied y Chant by those n u were
standing around, ASSISTED by the thumuins Ut hide
Gus drum, to keen tie tune. The young brave w,d
vas undergoing this sclttorurr finally uc 'ccled 10
tearing himself loose aud the rope relaxed IRON 10
sudden ightness ant fc bacG toward the centre
role with piece Of the flesh TO wiica II ~as tied
Tic victim, who, up TO this point, dill not move
muscle Of his face, fcll down on the ground.
haustcd from the pain, which hum weakness
and bore the young brave away He had undergone
the terrible ordeal and, amid tic cungtItualons ot
The old men, would bee conn liucntcd AZ W rror ol
uudountcd p.nck ana ac%nuwl"d ,cd proves.
Another OF the young men named Charles was
cut in two places under the shou der bllie, the
flesh was raised with p.ucers, ana thon 4 tied
around the flesh and muscles thus rIisrl The
thongs reached down below the knees aud were
tied 10 buffalo skulls. with these he IVY wei hts
dangling At the ends OF the thongs. the Young man
was required to dance around the ciIco to tho
sound OF the drum' AMI chants OF the hy-tan lcrr
until the skulls became detached b. tearing out tho
4 ST. They continued the per ormaace until one oil
the skulls broke loose Tut the other remained THO
mother OF the Young II an then rushed into tbs
ring, leading a pony. and tied one end Of he
llInt which Wa4 around tne ponN's NECK to he
skull, which was PHI fastened to ne young man.
The latter then followed the pony round tie rug
until nearly exhausted, he fell on his face AMI ,lo
thong vas thereby torn ont OF the htsh. Tine M.
icrcrs voice grew husky from joining IN Tho chant;
he gruNcIcd on the ground IN violent cent ruoua
ior q lea minutes, and Was then remoy, 90 tho
outside of the lodge.
third man had the larat Of the pony hichcd 70
te raised muscles Of his back, and Nt- dragged m
TINS way scvera times round the ring or NJ, iu -
not being sufficient 10 tear loose from the .-h tho
pony was backed ~, and slack being '.u+ uksn
On We lailat, the pony was urged sNIt' FORWARD,
and The sudden Jerk tore tho arat on, ol Oh. 4 ~.
Tie d1nce WITH liz bloody orgies lasted tHr.n lAy'.