The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-08-20
Indian Medicine Dance,

The Indian dances celebrated in the
Indian Territory, in June, were wit.
messed by fully 5000 Indians. The
numser OF persons who take part Is un-
limited. When the performance begns
tho company having assembled, the per
formers at a given signal rush into the tent
from various points Of the compass with
shouts and yells, and as they reach the in
terror they fire their guns at the etligy
suspended from tic pole--intending thus
TO destroy the evil spirit-and immediately
they set up their dance. This consists in
tho main of light springing up and down
TO the monotonous music furnished by a
peculiar song unva'led IN words and music,
which accompanied the pounding 1t goes
on till the bodies of the musicians weary,
and at signal all stop and take rest.
That done, the dance proceeds again. The
programme Is changed little in some of
its details, 80 as to give variety. Each
dancer has sort of trainer, or attendant,
who sees to preparing him for the exercise.
During the rest Of the dance the perform
ers will arise lay off their shawls or blan-
kcls, take off their other garments, and
barring breech-clout, reduce themselves to
state of complete nudity. This is done
in the presence Of thousands of men, wo.
of 1t. The a:tenoant then paints the
dancer, using weed for brush. The
entire body Is covered with rings, forks
and other curious devices. Sometimes
tho legs from the top of the hips and the
groins are painted to the foot with white
or lght-colorcd pigment, and then rings
and stripes arc run about them at int rvals,
producing a very striking effect. The
back, arms and chest are also covered with
similar representa- ms. AS the body is
partly dry shawl or blanket is thrown
over the shoulders, and the legs are left
bare. Meanwhile the audience keeps up
its chatting, laughing, eating and tanning
Itself TO keep cool, and pays but little at
tcntion to the spectacle of preparation.
The chief medicine man, or the man who
has the lead in making the medicine, goes
around the lodge about midway of the
radius, and deposits at intervals pieces Of
sagcerush; another follows and deposits in
the same spot pieces Of bread aud nuts
What this was for did not learn. The
dancers also place wreaths OF sage brush
Or Of leaves on their heads, and a wreath
around the waist and across the shoulders
Those who DO this last wear no blanket or
shawl, but are nude except as TO the wreath
and hrccch. clout. A person who has never
seen the dance can scarcely realize what
hdcous appearance the leaves and wrcAths
ana paln give to the naked savage. lie
looks like typical cannibal who has lust
roasted fresh missionary aud is about TO
devour him. Everything being in rcadl.
ness, the dancers put into their mouths a
small bark whistle, about five inches loug,
having II shril sound, and ornamcnled
with tuft Of horse hair, which adds to
the grotcsqucness of their makeup. The
signal is given and the dancing begins
again. accompanied by the drum, singing
AMI whi<tllng. During the whole OF the
exercises the participants give not tAc
slightest indication of mirthfulness, but
are as solemn in visagc rs any one could
possibly be. TO them it is evidently seri-
GUS business, and the chief priests IN this
ceremony have no trouble in looking one
another IN the face without laughing. TO
them it is earnest. Some of the dancers
show signs of physical exhaustion from
went OF food, and when they are resting
they lean on their hands as. If they were in
prayer or suffering from u h, adachc. One
strange part Of the medicine dance is the
torture An Indian will cut two parallel
perpendicular Sits in tho skin, on the
breast and just above the nipple, and under
the skin from one slit TO the other he will
run stout stick. TO each end of this
stick he Ties long string. The other side
OF the breast is fixed in the same way, and
the strings have their free ends passed
around the centre pole and tied. The In
dian will then lean back and thus pull on
the Sucks until he tears the skin out and
releases himself. The sight is revolving
one. The blood streams down Lis breast
and legs from the cuts. The skin Is usually
tough and refuses to yield, and frequently
the man has to brace his feet against the
pole and push with all his might. The
thongs still hold and the skin is often pulled
away from the breast bone, and stands out
at an angle Of about fifteen degrees clear
across the breast and from the cuts down
to the lower RIBS. 1t sometimes happens
that the torturer faints before the skin
pulls out; 1t more frequently happens that
he faints as it pulls out and, weak from
want of food and loss of blood, ne requires
careful attention until he RECEIVERS. Others
come through brayely and go on with the
dance One fellow, the other dav, unable
To endure the suffering while both thongs
were pulling on him at once, tried to break
one out at time, and when he succeeded
the crowd dressed him in squaw's clothes
IN contempt. Tho fasting and torture, as
1 nave SAID, is not to test whether tho
torturers are brave warriors, but is intended
TO placate tho Almighty and win. his aid
for the accomplishment of some particular
purpose The torturcr has his own benefit
III view primarily, although he thinks that
1t results also TO the good of bis entire
tribe, since he thinks that 1t is pleasing to
God; and what puts God in good humor
Will necessarily bring the entire tribe in
for their share Of the results