The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-05-04
THE THIRST DANCE.
Disgusting Ceremonies by which the
Indians FrOpIfIafe the Great spirit and
Drive Away Evil Demons.

Disgusting Ceremonies by which the
Indians PrOPIiiAfe the Great spirit and
|. Drive Away Evil Demons.
Prince Albert British Territory Cor chicago Times
Each dancer was provided with a
whistle made from the wing bone of a
goose, ornamented with feathers and coll
ors. As they iumpedabout they sounded
shril notes upon their instruments,
which, blending with the whoops, yells,
and nlonotonous drumming, fell upon the
civilized ear with startling effect. Hour
after hour the dance was kept up, the
only internission being at the viii of the
drummers, whowere relieved at intervals.
At times the surging and noise subsided,
and wise man In see-saw tone reclted
tales of herOism for the edifcation of the
young. The warriors gave many exhibi-
tions 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 q 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 endurilis
savage walked around for a couple Of
IOuI6 M1bnOub u UlLlI1llCL. 4llOAESl1 A4AC
flesh upon his shoulders tore in the di-
raction of the neck yet it did not give
way, and the medicine man, with much
ceremony, unlOosed the hero, who saun-
tered off with O 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 skewers. He
then began to swing around the tent as
far as the lines would allow him, throw
ing his whole weight upon the lines IL
his endeavor to break loose. The dan
GERS danced and the drUmmers drummed
with renewed yigor while this exhibition
was in progress. Afterseveralhours' 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 lfim-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 fiirted 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 50 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 a 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, firearms, fancy lariats, skins,
and other articles were given as offerings
to prOpitiate 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
night until Saturday when the
man made "medicine" for rain,
and in an hour it came perfect down
that the Great Spirit
was pleased with the festival
After the dance came the dog feast. 1t
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 so
cial smoke Suddenly cry was given
and the warriors sprang to their feet and
commenced circling around to the dis
NAL beating of drum. The quivering
carcass of a dog was thrown within the
circle by a 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 bite of the
yet warm liver, and marched off happy.
AS soon as one liver was consumed a fresh
dog was thrown into the circle and tAe
stock of liver replenished.