The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-11-12
THE THIRST DANCE.
disgusting Ceremonies by Whi4A the
Indians PrOpltiaIe the Great Spirit and
Drive away Evil Demons.

THE THIRST DANCE,
RIsgusfIng Ceremonies by WhkA the
Indians PrOpitiaie the Great Spirit and
Drive Away Evil Demons.
lFrnce Albert British Territory Cor. Chicago Tmesl
Each dancer was provided with a
whistle made from the wing bone of
goose, ornamented with feathers and col
ors. As they jumpedabout they sounded
shrill notes upon their insbuAents,
which, blending with the whocps, yells,
and monotonous drumming, fell upon the
civilized ear with startling effect Hour
after hour the dance was kept up, the
only intermission being at the viii of the
drunmers, who were relieved at intervals.
At times the surging and noise subsidized,
and wise man III a see-saw tone recited
tales of heroism for the edifcation of the
young The warriors gave many exhibit
tons of their power of endurance. A
muscular warrior stood unconcerned
while couple of chiefs stuck long skew
ers through the flesh of his shoulders.
The lines of horse were attached to the
skewers, and the warrior was told to lead
the animal around until the flesh gave
way. With blood streaming down his
back and breast and mingling with the
paint upon his dusky body, the enduring
savage walked around for q couple of
hours without murmer. Though the
flesh upon his shoulders tore in the di-
recUion of the neck yet it did not give
way, and the medicine man, with much
ceremony, Embossed the hero, who saun-
tered off with a grunt of satisfaction.
The next act on the programme was
more startling than the last. A young
buck was introduced, and allowed two
skewers to be thrust through the flesh
on his breast without wincing; two lar
iats suspended from the roof pole of the
tent were fastened to the Gkewers. He
then began to swing around the tent as
far as the lines would allow him, throw
ing his whole weight upon the lines in
his endeavor to break loose. The dan
GERS danced and the drummers drummed
with renewed vigor while this exhibition
was In progress. After severalho exer-
else he demonstrated to the satisfaction
of all that he was tough young man,
and was loosed, amid grunts of approval.
Another heroic scalper had three pegs
driven into him-two in his back and
two in the back part of his arms -Four
guns were hung upon the pegs, and he
walked around and f1irted with the girls
as if nothing bothered him. A party of
Assiniboines, painted to the eyes and
armed to the teeth, appeared and gave an
exhibition of how they killed their en-
emies. They threw their knives and
guns about so carelessly, and attacked
each other so fercely, that the few white
spectators began to think that the fight
might spread and felt uneasy for their
scalps. The cock of the walk was young
Assiniboine chief. Over his shoulders
he wore the skin of an American lion,
killed single handed by himself. Pen
dant from the skin were ten lariats,
showing that he had captured or stolen
the horses. He strutted proudly around
with his ten tails dragging behind him,
and received with composure the admir-
alton of his companions Horses, blank
cts, knives, fire arms, fancy lariats, skins,
and other articles were given as offerings
to piopitiate the Great Spirit, many CIV
ing all they possessed that their children
might be brought into the tent and
blessed. The dance was kept up from
Thursday night until Saturday, when the
medicine man made medicine for rain,
and in an hour it came a perfect down
pour-testifying that the Great Spirit
was pleased with the festival.
After the dance came the dog feast. It
is supposed by the innocent roamers of
the plains that the eating of dogs liver,
without regard to the quality of the dog,
makes them strong-hearted. The tenn
pie used in the thirst" dance was taken
down, with the exception of the centre
pole, around which the warriors seated
themselves in circle and enjoyed a So
cial smoke. Suddenly cry was given
and the warriors sprang to their feet and .
commenced circling around to the dis I
NAL beating of drum. The quivering
carcass Of a dog was thrown within the
circle by woman, and the men whooped
in ecstacy. The carcass was cut open,
the liver torn out, and hung by thong
from the pole. The warriors, one by
one, stepped up and took a bite of the
yet warm liver, and marched off happy
AS soon as one liver was consumed fresh
dog was thrown into the circle and the
stock of liver replenished.