The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-09-09

/ tlnlc w lOOk hOuuu. hicChs III,
darky door keeper, hasn't raised th.
blockade yet, but people are crawling
through the holes, aud the circle il
filing up. Opposite the entrance, and
so near us that we can see the express
sions Of their features are the perform
ers, sixty Indians, young and old
Their buffalo robes are put aside, and
they are painted in all colors; naked
only TO their waist, around which is
fastened a shawl or something for ths
occasion, which very much resembles O
kite, only 1t is longer, reaching to their
feet. These are the sun dancers.
Some are painting and finishing their
toilets with the aid OF friend aud q
mirror. Others sit alone, and some
sit in groups talking and laughing.
Two tom-toms or bass drums, around
each of which are about ten middle
aged Indians with sticks, and near
them are a crowd oil squaws, who are
to accompany the drums with their
voices.
Soon Aleck separates the crowd which
has gathered at the entrance, and amids,
the noise of drums, singing, and a sort
of "whoop lo;" party of Indians on
horses ride in on trot. They are in
their war bonnets. a head dress OF
feathers, which trails behind, and each
one carries a repeating rifle in his right
band. Their horses are mostly paint
ed with curious devices.
Another commotion at the door, and
band of Indians on foot, some not
dressed at all but painted hideously,
enter on trot, VERY much like n cir
Gus performers trot). In each OF these
bands are ten or dozen young men,
and they march double quick and com.
mon time around the circle until there
are probably two hundred in the circle.
Those on foot are formed by them
selves, and they go through the grass
treading dance, which is rather a pret-
ty performance. There are about six
bands of them, each band in line and
behind each other. A chief. with a rod
in his hand, stands in their front: and
at a motion from his rod the music be-
gins playing, and these Indians begin
very graceful, uniform, movement
forward. The dancing is more in the
motion OF their bodies, but they keep
perfect time with their feet. aud adj
vance or recede treading the grass pre-
pairing 1t for the sun dancers. The
chief. with his rod, seems to command
their every movement by the slightest
motion Of hIs "sc9pter.
In another part OF the circle, a chief
would step up TO the horsemen, who
were drawn in double line, and lead
one forth. The rider dismounts, gives
a stick to the chief who speaks to the
assembled multitude, and filings the
stick high in the air; il is soon brought
in by some one. Maybe modest girl
steps reluctantly before the eyes OF the
crowd. or young brave comes boldly
forth aud leads the horse, only "A short
distance, for his groomess is directed
where 10 take the animal; maybe AN
old man or woman have caught the
gilt stick. and boldly approach the
chief chattorIng to attract attention
from the crowd. Often a joke will be
spoken, and the people will laugh aud
shout. The Indians are very suscepti.
BILE to humor.
We see the sun dancers march into
the ring and placed in line, each band
by itself, facing the sun. The drums
and singing begin again. The right
arm of each is extended TO the sun,
each one holds bone whistle about four
inches long in his mouth, and in per-
feet harmony, they all dance and toot-
toot their whistles. The dancing is a
sight motion up and down, the body
inclined forward, the face and right
hand raised to the Sun, and the left
arm to the side. There are occasional
rests, and sometimes these dancers go
TO their seats, on the ground, and
others take their places, but this dance
is continued until the last man has
danced the sun dance.
Between the four stakes in the
ground we see an Indian, Little
Picket Pin," held, prostrated on his
back, by four Indians; the medicine
men approach with their slim bladed
knives, one OF them carefully takes
hold of the skin on the breast, of the
PROSTATE Indian, with his thumb aud
foreiinger aud pulls the skin from the
body, the knife Is stuck through. pull
ed out, and a short piece OF wood stuck
through the hole. Two OF these pieces
of wood are inserted in the breast and
two in the back Of Picket Pin, Che
bowls little). then he is raised 10 his
feet and the four ropes are fastened to
the pins in his flesh. The ropes are
fixed taut, aud Picket Pin commences
jumping mp and down and blowing his
whistle, suddenly he springs back
wards once, one string pulls loose; back
again The flesh holds Once more
he dashes back, aud he is free in front.
He stops: The music ceases; murmur-
ers Of applause, and grunts Of approval
from the crowd in his vicinity. He
pants like wounded deer. His com
pnnions in the ring awaiting their turn
gaze at him, but their faces show no
signs OF fear. Presents are laid at his
feet, But he is only half done. He
must pull loose from the thongs fas-
tened TO his back. Tom-tom, tom
tom. from the drums; whee-hee, vince
hee from the whistles; the dancing is
renewed; onr friend Picket Piu com
mences with the others, easily at first, +,
but pulling gradually forward until his
body leaus 80 that his weight seems
pulling on the thongs. He tugs and
pulls away, dancing all the while, but
in vain. Suddenly he gathers himself
back and fairly leaps forward; the
flesh holding one thong tears, but the
other holds, and he is thrown back,
falling prostrate; but he starts 10 his
feet again like mad bull, goaded TO
fury with torture, and with leap for
ward, he pulls himself loose from the
last thong. He is done. He has sue
ceeded in proving himself brave, and
worthy to take a place amongst the
warriors os his tribe. He has also ex-
patiated any sins he may have commit.
ted against the Great Spirit
While Picket Pin has engaged our
attention, other victims have been led
forward. and several are now dancing
around the pole. Two of the long
thongs are fastened in the breast OF
each Indian, and they must dance un.
al those aro pulled out. First, the In.
dian is led in TO the center (sacred) pole
by chief. The Indian embraces the
pole aud sobs; sometimes they cry like
children. and no matter how brave ol
strong hearted the buck may be, hi'
naked body can he seen to heaye will
emotion. After the sobbing process hat
gone on long enough TO suit the head
men, two OF them come up and forci
bly, throw the sobber on his back: he il
then cut, the thongs fastened In hi
flesh, and is then stood on his feet anC
pulled backwards until the thong con
Meeting him to the pole is taut. He ex
tends his right hand toward heaven
places the bone whistle in his mouil
and begins TO dance up and down
keeping time in motion and "too.-ioo
III. IL. r.lIIai.t