The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1883-01-13
Sun DANCE OF TIE SIOUX.
Lecture ~ Miss Tietcher-Details aud slsn.ii
cameo of the Sun Dance.

eNeuluB DtlOIe lue society OF NATURAL
History upon the "sun dance of the
Sioux. The danae, she aeil, is one Of
the many religious festivals of the Da-
kota Sioux. Last summer sho wit.
messed this dance among the Ogal.
lalla Sioux. Each family ia obliged to
DO present at the dance. The tents are
arranged in circle, aud at each OF tho
four points OF tho compass a now tent
stands from the line, within the circle.
From the practices among various
tribes Of Indians, it appears that the
dance can be celebrated at any time of
the summer or autumn. The leader 10
changed every yeas In 1881 Miss
Fletcher Witnessed the dance led by
Sorrel Horse. The gathering OF peo-
pie began january 2be1ealdt tap,f attll
| till July =. The dai @ is oDseTsV,l -
pursuance Of vows made during the
year in return for fayors granted by
heaven. Preparation for the DANCE in
wolves much abstinence and ascoticism,
and during the dance itself saoritioa.
Indian priest lenda IN tho ceremony,
and tho men who take part are painted
red. -Four degrees are instituted. of
varying severity. No woman has ever
passed through them all, for the fourth
involves painful torture, but at the
dance which Miss Fletcher witnessed
woman and boy of IL years parsed
through two degrees. Ceremonies of
consecration arc observed at frat in
one OF tho inner tents, and sacred
articles arc passed through fire.
About 1000 Indians were present ut
the dance in question, and tho camp
was three miles in circumi nee A
suitable tree having been selected about
which to observe the dance, tho pipe
/ is smoked in silence by the dancers
l who circle about the tree. Then the
people go TO noighboriug plain to
select young mon and women to cut
/ the tree preparatory TO being set up in
the center Of the circle of fonts. Twelve
were selected in this instance, and
gave away presents. Returning to the
tree, the first man took the sacred ak,
and, rocounting his deeds, struck the
tree on tho south side; the second,
with like formality, struck IL or the
west, and 30 ON round, two young
women completing the task and telling
the tree to the west. From the moment
OF LlG ltlll OIL luG Tree the dancers DeRln
their dancing. A large number of
warriors then charged across the open
space to clear it from maliRn spirits.
This fallen tree was then taken to the
hole dug for il in the centre of the
circle OF tents and laid with the top to
the south. Ceremonies Of painting
and conservation attend the setting up
Of the tree in the hole, after which the
dancers return to their tents. On the
first dcy children wero BROUGHT within
the circle to have their ears pierced
with doubled'edged knife for the in
sertion oil rings. horse must DO
given to the poor for every piercing
made. Many other glits are also laid
IN the circle and arc seized by the
people when the ceremony is over.
After TINS prercing, which Miss
FLETCHER witnessed, the dancers catered
the circle and began the beating OF the
buffalo skin or drum, holding it by the
leg-haps. The dancers then charged
from the west side toward the pole,
then retreated, and so alternately
/, charged aud reiterated TIL the fourth
= charge, when they dashed out OF their
circle, hring their guns. Ihis was the
hnM clearing out OF eva influences
from their circle. These dancers were
naked to the waist, and barefooted'
They wore horned crowns OF artemlsia
and anklets OF the same material. After
4, the men had dashed out 81 the circle
= the women took up the drum and beat
! 1t as the men had done before. They
= generally faced the sun and danced tc
the sound Of music. They. were &C
y companled by priest, and tho dancing
= was very hard, larring movement
u The singers relieved each other, anc
the singing was Kept up the remainder
u OF the day and night. On tho mex
day comes the mellowing OF the earth
4 After this and certain ceremonies o
D conservation the leader and othel
I, dancers were painted. Gifts Increased
II IN layishness, and on this day all IN
y Specifications took place. Little snip
\ OF flesh were cut from tho arms AM
y shoulders and raised on tho point OF
= knife towarn the sun. About noon tn
q climax OF the dance was reached. 4
= rawhide rope, some thirty leet long
~ was tied to pole. MISS Fletcher saw
y the ceremony, man was led out am
y showers thrust through the breasts
~ about an inch above the nipple, Of
~ each side. 10 the skewers the rope wa
"a fastened, and upon 1t, as 1t stretches
!. from the tree to the pierced breasl
~ : were thrown many and hess5 edt
" which the sufferer made. With wins
T. tie made OF eagles leather in his mOutl