New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-07
4 SUN DANCE AMONG THE SIOUX.

A STRANGE FESTIVAL CELEBRATED on THE PLAINS
FULL OF WILD PAGEANIRY AND sELF-INPOsED
TORTURE.
WAsnINGr0N, July CA letter received at the
Interior Department from Dr. I. Woodbridge,
agency ply stefan for the Fort Peck Agency, gives
the following graphic description of the annual
Sun dance of the Sioux Nation, which took
place near Poplar River in Montana Territory
about two weeks ago:
have just Witnessed the great Indian festival OF the
"sun dance" worship OF the sun. Great prepare
lions had been made for It, and every thing on The
grandet scale The city OF lodges moved, and the
Indians encamped on a beautiful plain uclosing hol
low square. large enough for the movements OF
thousands of horsemen In the centre the great pavilion
medicine lodge was erected $50 feet In dameie
the outside formed OF small posts OF green poplar ana
willow, th.ckly interviewer with green branches Rest
ing this and ON rude framework within. all around
buffalo SKINS forming the dress circle" WIN places
assigned 10 the musicians and actors or dancers IN
the centre was the great medicine pole MY Ieet hsG
The diameter or the central space about 100 tcet was
open to the broad sunlight
Only the occupied the deep circle. where they
We're dgasd during ns Enc o hnni oyS
dogs were inundated and eaten besides iarse
quantities OF buffalo meat, wild-tnrniP hsi Sii
are nameess The audience was composed OF
about 5000 indians, but as only the men oc upied me
circle within, the common people women and boys had
To be satisfied by viewing the performances throagh G
wide entrance or through the iHtersuees IN the iey
of some Of the chiefs and those acting rs directors OF
priests, were gorgeous.
when all was prepared amid the waving Of banners
music and the loud shouting OF the assembled turong
dry braves eptcred-each an Apolo-painted ara
naked TO tho waist, except prOiusion OF ornaments
with headdresSes Of beautiful feathers, their black
glossy hair reaching down To their lower garments
which most beautifully and artistically arranged
Each carried In his aand ornamentcd whistle, nade
from the bone of an eagles wing, winch was blown
shrly during the dancing Each also carried Doulu't
composed mostly OF the Wild sage. Their appearance
aud reception were grand aud imposing.
HFa nff A.. IlflI
called wonderful for display OF ncolSln ana power 20
endure and suffer. MtnY bad from nty 10 TWO hahufeI
pieces cut out OF the living flesh rOm tnell arms any
back. The dance WAS Kept up all night WIN uhaodt'a
feryOr every performance having something new anu
startling But In the morning torture relgned supreme,
dancing with two, three four buaio held- Gus
pended from holes cut IN their hcsh. one INDIAN
dragged on ,he ground eight buffalo heads fastened 10
tnc flesh OF his back and IN the soopng posture ne was
forced TO assume they had acerated or torn the cuts Ia
his back 10 the extent OF three Inches; othets
held bY four different cords, two IN the breast an
two In the baeE-iastened To four stakes ana SUI
Others fastened 10 the centre pole win ropes
which were fastened TO the breast ana DaeS. sohe ~
addition Ia being fastened by the nesh OF lLel pi.'
had buffalo heads suspended frOm the back ahi tuH
would be seized by the hanging heads aud Jeikeu
one would think their nfc would forfeited other
ade frantic Efforts To break loose aud often uotltti
the iutegument 10 DO stretched three OF loul uVub
from the body Some fell faint and exhausted ana ~
Wild shouts, the din ot music ana Mclld so1ss NAV"
| NJ "a perfect pandemouium. ,,,,,,
The dancers neither took food sleep water Iui
the festival Their dancing their inv vacations anu 't
prayers were feryent They laid ther faces on ' n
buffalo heads while praying for success IN huh'uh s
the priest wept aud asked the Great Spirit To ge
the chase aud let them have tood ioi t"o''
wives and children also, u give them plenty OF huis'
pros per them aud help them To subdue thtI
| Tho sod was carefully removed IN spot iouf loSi
square. ana WITHIN white cross was made. lhlS 70 ar
they knew, aud with no teacher but nature Mv 1Ssf
Judge them charitable" Count not lhposslo,o, "a
over 200 horses given away besides great guam"
| tics VI other articles.