Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-07-01
spotted Tails Great san.Da.ce Tho
Barbarsus Custom Encouraged
by ~ IaAian Agent.

0 O. ~1sNAy 1PyA sAS.A o"u PSA-
'so... for the PURPOSE 4 plsa.iag the Great.
.sSpiFits who, in turn, according = thsiE suds,
ideas. will give them health. prosperity, and
success in battle. The Indians believe
fully in the doctrine of reciprocity, and give
or DO nothing without expecting something
in Erssarn, Is u eqdi1alent. And ,as thsir
Great Spirit is supposed BY them 10 be en-
dowed with ideas and desires similar to-
thsise own, only more intensified, be being
u faet only a:very BIZ Indian, with, extra
ordinary powers, it istsssy4ss arrive atone Of
the fundamental principles which underlies
this barbarous institution, that sill survives
Notwithstanding the efforts of humanity and
christiauitysto effect its overthrow.
, The enn- -dahcea atosAhet with al the pre-.
rparatory movements in connection there.
swith. is attended with much ceremony Of
IAN impressive character, the ultimate lof
(which msst be to keep alive the spirit Of
war snd hloodshed, and check civilization.
The Indians having encamped ON the
ground selected for the dance, large
arena is left in the center of the village.
Here the medicine pole, Z a thrifty young
tree, which hast Been cut and trimmed Of
its branches, is firmly planted upright in
the earth. The cutting of the pole is
effected amid mystic rites, to describe which
would consume too much space. But prior
totthisy there il a scouting psty created,
doubtlessly to operate as . pleasant remind
er ofthe times when such things we're neces-
ssry. They 60 through with all the MIN.
ickry of the duties implied by their name,
and conclude the enjoyable affair by slay.
ing an enemy, arranged for the occasion.
After this make-believe, which serves as a
kind Of appetizer, follows the harsh, mat
tterof.fact part of the proceedings. The
tpsrtieipants- there are four innunbsr. at .
atime-whe Arc divested Of all clothing ex-
.cept hreech cloths, are now brought forward,
snest- the pole, around which the dancing il
ito be done. Several strong cords, or thongs
tof rawhide, say twenty feet in length, each,
have been psetiopsly arranged . that one
cord is securely tied high up the pole, while
the other bangles to the ground. Two or
more lon8itadual incissions, TWO or three
inches apart and twice that in length, are
msds over The breast of seacl vsicti4 With
butcher knife These ssashs ,aie I ssade
deep enough to 60 fairly through the skin,
and even beyond. The blood eushes out of
the wounds, bssmearing these infatuated
devotees. and running to the ground in
pools The free end Of one Of these cords
10 now passed underneath the; akin, ,sthfsnsh
the wounds made for that purpose, and
firmly tied. each being thus securely fasten-
ed to the end of = separate cord. Generally
portions of the flesh are also included with
the integqmspt, in being thus tied. The
performance snox "opens ii. dead earnest.
The dancer looks 6redly at the sun, which
he must continue to do to the conclu.
sisn, and dances away with wild phrenzy,
ever and anon surging upon this thong, by
which he is securely fastened to the "medi-
cine POLE" This he continues to do with.
: out intermission, until the inteeumsnt and
npsc,l.r 6brestrs tsssthr sas.pndsf, sid he is
'libsrstea.s Tsa'of twelve hours ofphysical
torture are sometimes thus endured before
freedom is attained, and many are known
'to have tainted before they could extricate
themselves.
This is brief outline Of sun. dance
To Say that it is bsrbarous is scarcelyrex-
presslve. The term seems almost too mild
for such = damnable custom. tits ia. .d.v
one of the great hindrances to civilization
and christianity, and its early abrogation
should be devoutly wished for by every one
who desires the elevation of the human
race. "a ~ ssse ,fzge .s9s
Having said iii much s,hi. letter would
be incomplete without giving few facts in
connection with the present sun.d.uce.
y which is to be held on Black Pipe creek, a
snan tributary of the White river, some.
tn'ng like twenty miles distant from, the
Rosebud agency. Spotted Tail, with II,
Indians. numbering between {, 900 and : ooo
persons, have all gone there. To thi. vast
body there are large accessious from o,hs.
eeg.ndss, probably mot les thsnf 1000
making in all the grand sum total of 1s. ooo
or more, congresated on the great Sioux
reservation; 70 maintain tits great relic d
barbarity. Red Cloud agency, with nearly
s;t,OO indiana. cortributss not lees than
= o:o0 Iowa Bssla. 1000, Yssktou. 800,
~ mess' I'D .peopsstissats numbers. 3,
~. = ?. . ssssy skssoa, from ssa.ee, Che,.
a"e' 'sad''s Rsct ed si.s.sa .s,.cis.,