Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-08-14
THE GREAT SHCsRONE "SUN
DANCE,
Late Observance Of this Ancient Rite.
GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION BY WASHINGTON BOY.

1
GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION By A WASHINGTON BOY.
o hast Nah Cls'ss King. clerk in the Indian
obtained tIaI-ies . the shoshons Agency in wyo-
hIen Re IN CLERK nasr Indian
Sun Dance" re communicates 10 his friend andformer
bright STAR and in the Interior department
Sr Known as oneaf tine snartest clerks in the once
he is now making hs way successfully in frontier life
| FORT wASHAKIE WYOMING.
| August LIST, 1883.
The 'Sun or Buffalo Dance is one OF the aborigi-
nal customs that is still kept up among the Indian
| tribes. This performance is not. as the name
| might imply, festive. occasion. 1t Is religious
ceremony, partakine ofthe nature OF both thanks
giving and penance; return OF thanks for bless
Ings conferred by Tho Great Spirit and the tnfic-
ton o. torture as a. penalty for sins committed.
1t is custom as Old AS the tribes themselves and
proceeds from deep religious conviction. 1t is
| sincerely believed among the Indians that Attic
| tlon; ana even death, may be averted by pledge
another abiding conviction is that a season OF
prosperity, or any particular good, should b. fol-
Almighty that His rea chden aae 70 the
guests to witness one Of these dances recently
trated upon a bed OF sickness that threatened to
be fatal, promised the Great Spirit that II health
way Of thanks and recognition OF divine blessing.
The dance propose to descr1b. was given In puF-
cred.
HUNTING The BUFFALO HEAD.
The first essential OF the ceremony is the buffalo
head, and 1t must be that OF bull Some twenty
or thirty bucks were sent out upon the hunt,
and, mounted upon their tough ponies. they
struck across the Owl creek range of
the Rocky mountains and descended into the
famous hunting ground of the soux-Big Horn
valley. The party was eminently successful
securing, In very few days. not only the desired
Du ,na nead out meat sufficient TO feed the in
upon the departure OF the hunting party the In
dams remaining at home began to perform their
coming event. They sent runners to neghbortng
trl6es.the Sioux, Crows, Cheyennes, Bannocks
Dance and inviting their presence By the time
the hunters returned with the buffalo head and
m IT, av5ed guests were beginning to arrive from
pened TO De within reaching distance We're not
overlooked In the invitation, and not few OF
Them, ike myself, responded.
PICKING BRAVES FOR THE DANCE.
1t was now time to pick their men for this great
national dance and feast, for eating is no unim-
portant part OF the ceremonies The tribe was
called In council, and Immediately eighteen braves
stepped forward and volunteered to dance during
the coming festivities This is no ordinary under
TO dance for three days and three nights without
either food or drink, it Is required that the ac-
snail ABSTAIN from rest and food.
poor Flesh" to show the Great Spirit that he was
In earnest about this dance, began on June 23d to
last, with the Intention OF continuing it two
ger overcame his piety before the expiration of
that period: The dance was now a foregone con-
clusion, and on June 2sth the order was given to
200 nneiy-mounted young bucks to procure neces-
sary poles for the construction OF the large tepee
necessary for the occasion.
PROCURING POLES TO BUILD THE MEDICINE LODGE
Immediately the 200 bucks with one OF their un-
| fhQ fpoh VIC
with each other as to which should be the first to
place pole on the ground at the place OF con-
struct.on. AS they swept across the plain. all OF
them graceful and skillfull rIders the sight was
grand and impressive. Two hun ired painted be-
daubed wild Indians dressed in the gayest OF cos
tunes, mounted on their best ponies sweeping
yelling as only Indians can, they presented pic
ture animated and interesting.
BUILDING THE TENT.
The same afternoon three hundred tepees were
moved up TO the scene OF the festival and so placed
as TO form circular barrier around the spot Sc
lected for the dance. That evening the braves re-
turned from the mountains trailing from their DO
MES the poles for the construction of their man.
moth tent They entered camp with the same
sort OF unearthly yelling that slgnalled their
parture. The post holes were then dug, and into
each pole having been cut with fork at the end
which stood at least thirty feet in the air. These
poles were SO Placed that they formed circle Of
measured to the center OF the Enclosure and dug
another post hole. into which they thrust another
ten feet taller than the outside circle Then from
the forks OF the posts, forming the circle to the
81 e po they placed long straight
the sguaws had been cutting brush. which Dor
defed the adjacent river and had filled the space
between the poles forming the circle thereby max
ing an immense tent. over the rafters or root
poles they placed pieces Of canvas to exclude the
sun, but not enough to keep out the light. The
tent was now completed and TIE mediclne-making
began.
fne Buffalo head was first taken, and after 90
Ing through course OF medicine, was fastened to
the center pole, just under the roof, and fixed so
that faced the back portion OF the tent that be-
ing the portlon TO be occupied by the dancers.
FANCY PAINTING
The eighteen braves who were to dance were on
mana early on Saturday morning, and, after being
stripped, the work OF fancy painting began
Their bodies were first cOlored yellow and their
breasts and fOreheads were spotted with black.
their faces being striped with red from their eyes
down under their chins. They now looked h,deous
In the extreme. The paint so hid them that only
few could be distinguished and they by the
peculiar formation of their features. This paint
two days did any OF them look alike.
OPENING OF THE DANCE
About p M, all being ready, a large bass drum
was brought in, ana the post of honor that of
playing and singing at the same time, was given
to the Shoshones An old CHIEF was placed in
ranged themselves around the drum, each having
stick, awaiting the moment when he ceremonies
should begin. The squaWS moved up and formed
In circles around the drummers to help sing, tney
forming the chorus The visitors now arrive and
are met at the door by White Horse, an ArrapahOe
ehief master OF ceremonies, who makes speech
The visitors distribute themselves around taking
care not to intrude upon the space reservadsfOr
the dancers. "
AS you look on this picturesque multitude you
can observe the different nations partly by their
features and partly by their dress.
There sits the Crow delegation; all of them are
OF being brave set OF men. They have come
from the Crow agency, Montana, for the special
purpose OF witnessing this dance There are the
Cheyennes, from their military agency in the
northern part OF Dakota They are the finest
looking body of men here. There are a few Ban
nocks from Fort Hall agency, Idaho. They are |
rather afh, lorblddng They are however very pow
are the Utes, from Unitah agency, Utah. These
men are OF small stature, and appear dwarllsh
alongside OF their ne1ghbOrs, the Bannocks and |
G59Ws They mostly dress in the costume the
extent, some OF them speaking it fluently. There