The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1879-11-14
sun DANCE AxoNG THE slorz
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A GRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS of IT.l .

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The following graphic description of the
annual. !. sun dance" Of the Sioux nation,
which took place near the. Poplar yer,
in Montana Territory, !, about ,six. weeks
ago, will prove interesting, The accounts on
taken from letter received at the Interior
Department, from Dr.. T Woodbridgs,
agency physician for the Fort Peck kagencyr
The Doctor says: .ssA.4 tsI4 ygIEa
have, just witnessed the great Inffa an
festival of the "sun dance'",, or worship Of
the sun. Great preparations have been
made for it. and everything was on, the
grandest scale. The city of lodges was
moved, ana the Indians encamped on
beautiful plain inclosing hollow sqnare
large enough for the movements of thous-
ands of horsemen. In the centre the great
pavilion or medicine lodge was erected, $50
feet in diameter, the outside formed of
small posts of green poplar and willow,
thickly interviewer with green branches.
Resting on this and ON rude framework
within, all around for about 90 feet the
space was covered with buffalo skins, form
ing the "dress circle" with places assigned
to the musicians and actors Or dancers. In
the centre was the great medicine pole, so
feet high. The diameter of the central
space, about 100 feet, was open to the broad
sunlight.
Only the men occupied the deep circle,
where they were feasted during the per-
formance of % continuous hours, during
which time about 40 dogs were inundated
and eaten, besides large quantities of buff
falo meat wild-turnip heads, and hot cal
drons of other eatables that are nameless.
The audience was composed of about 5000
Indians, but as only the men occupied the
circle within, the common people, women
and boys, had to be satisfied by viewing the
the performance through the wide entrance
or through the interstiees in the leafy bar
riers. Ali had On their holiday attire. The
dresses of some of the chiefs, and those act
ing as directors or priests, were indeed gor-
geous. ....
When all was prepared, amid the waving
of banners, music, and the loud shouting of
the assembled throug, over 80 braves en-
tered-each an Apollo-painted and naked
to the waist, except a profusion of orna
ments with headdresses of beautiful feath-
ers, their black, glossy hair reaching down
to their lower garments, which were most
beautifully and artistically arranged. Each
carried IN his hand an ornamented whistle,
made from the bone of an eagles wing,
which was blown shrilly during the dancing,
Each also carried bouquet, composed
mostly of the wild sage. Their appearance
and reception were grand and imposing.
The first afternoons performance would
have been C allied wonderful for display of
| heroism and power to endure and suffer.
Many had from so to 200 pieces cut out of
| the living flesh from their arms and back.
| The dance was kept up all night with una
| bated fervOr, every performance having
something new and startling. But in the
1 dancing with two. three and four buffalo
| heads suspended from holes cut IN their
| flesh. One Indian dragged on the ground
eight buffalo heads fastened TO the flesh of
| his back, and in the STOPPING posture he
| was forced to assume they had lacerated or
| torn the cuts in his back to the extent of
| three inches. Others were held by four
| different cords, two in the breast and two
| in the back, fastened to four stakes; and
still others were fastened to the centre pole
| with ropes, which were fastened to the back
and breast. Some, in addition to being
fastened by the flesh of their breasts, had
| buffalo heads suspended from the back and
| they would be seized by the hanging heads
| anc jerked until one would think their life
would be forfeited; others made frantic ef-
forts to break loose, and often noticed the
| integpment to be stretched three or four
| inches from the body Some fell faint and
| exhausted, and with wild shouts, the din of
music, and weird songs, made it perfect
| pandemonlum. d at a.e 81 ssfa
The dancers neither took food. sleep nor
water during the festival. Their dancing
| their invocatlons and their prayers were
| fervent. They laid their faces on the buff
falo heads while praying for success in
hunting, and the priest wept and asked the
| Great Spirit to give them success in the
chase and let them have food for their wives
| and children; also, to give them plenty of
horses, to prosper them and help them TO
| subdue their enemies. The sod was care
| fully removed in spot four feet square.
and within white cross was made. Their
| liberality was unbounded. Over 900 horses
wers given away, besides great quantities
of other articles. sa8lg, IA .sl .4...:aes