Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-06-22
DEMoNIAC DANCING.
The Well Fed and Clothed Wards Of
the Government Indulge In
q Bloody Terpsico-
roam Orgy.
In Which Spotted Tail, a Lieutenant in
the United States Army, is Mas
ter Of Ceremonies.
Shouting, Singing, Gruntins, Dancing, Fasting and
Feastlng.

49, TO- -
&. Shouting, Singing, Gruntins, Dancing, Fasting. a
'" Feastlng.
7. 49,
History and tradition inform III that n,
ture worship was tho basis of all polythcli
tic religions, and that the chief deities Q
the several mythologies were original
presentations of the sun, OF of particula
influences of the sun. In ancient times tn
worship of the sun was practiccd by man,
unenlightcned countries, and even to thi
day that orb receives the homage of tn
more ignorant and superstitious nations
i Especially among the American Indians i,
the sun regarded as a spirit or deity, and a
certain seasons strange ceremonies are in
dulged. in which the influence of the sun j.
!, invoked to favor their designs.
Within the past week, and within less
than two days ride of Yankton, the Sun
Dance, a noted ceremony among the In
dams, and in which the entire tribe join
either as active participants OF interested
spectators, was celebrated at Spotted Tail
| dRCuCy5 III tAC pACSOuCV VI uOb 1853 Sudu
$500 Indians, including delegations from
the Yankton, Santee and Brule agencies.
The principal feature of this ceremony is
the converting of young men into braves.
If the candidate endures the ordeal to
which he is required to submit, he becomes
a brave and a warrior; but If, through lack
of courage or physical endurance, he fails,
he is forever disgraced, and is consigned to
the status and subjected to the mental duties
of a sQuaw.
r. E. Coy aud Frank ] Wasbabaugh Wis
tied the recent sun dance at Spotted Tail
agency, and from them we gather the fol-
lowing particulars in regard to the cere-
mony:
After the selection Of an eligible site for
the dance, a pole forty feet high is procured
and erected in the center Of the grounds.
The selection and procuring Of this pole is
attended with considerable ceremony, the
of which is known only to the
Iadians. In the first place the tree from
which the pole is TO he procured is selected
BY a number of Indians deputcd for that
purpose. The tree is cut down and the
,ole prepared for removal to the place of
he ceremony by two virgins. Its transpor
alton and erection on the grounds selected
or the dance are attended with great pomp
nd ceremony. A little over half way up
he pole four ropes are attached, which,
when stretched out, reach the ground about
twenty-five feet from the base of the pole.
Before the sun dance commences, the In
lians indulge in numerous wild and curious
ceremonies, which are a preliminary part of
he main performance. These perform
in the main consist of dancing, beat
ng the tom-tom, singing, yelling and gro
esque physical contortions.
On the morning Of the day appointed for
he commencement of the sun dance, the
ceremonies were opened by about twenty
i've Indians bringing into the circle one of
heir children. The child was seated on q
,ony led by the father, and following it
anne the mother. The Indian would then
INFORM the master of ceremonies that he
would give the pony the child was riding,
md his squaw would give the blanket she
to the Indian who would volunteer TO
ut holes in the child's ears. This offer
ras made known to the surrounding Indians
y the master of ceremonies. At once,
ONE one, eager enough to cut anything re- +.
ardles, of pony or blanket, would step for
'ard, and with a sharp knife cut a hole in
ach of the child's ears. After the ears had
cen pierced, or rather slit, a piece of cloth
7ould be twisted into a round cord-like
hape, and thrust through the wound in the
ar to insure an opening for the ear orna-
nents after the wound healed. OF course, s
uring this painful and barbarous perform S
nee the poor pappoose shrieked with pain
nd fright, but its cries were efectually c
rowned by the hooting, yelling and sing r
e of the surrounding braves and squaws. |
his was continued until all the youngsters q
no were presented had undergone the un- c
operation.
Following this came a grand drill and re- t
lew, in which about three hundred or four b
udred warriors, distinguished for c
eeds Of cruelty or bravery took f
art. The participants in this performance e
'ere arrayed in their most elegant and gor- I
eous attire. They were divided into squads
at different points ofthe circle, but D
,stead of marching and going through the
iferent evolutions of military drill, the {
sremony consisting Of singing and dancing :
the monotonous music made by measured /. |.
rokes upon a drum and the beating with ,
icks upon = dry beef hide stretched upon
le ground. AT a given signal, Old Spotted !
all appeared, and with as much dignity as !.
4 inspector general, walked around the /. !,
role and inspected the men. Doing this
he carried in his hand a stick
lree or four feet long, on the end of which,
by a string, vas a scalp which had q