The herald. (Big Stone City, Dak. [S.D.]) 1883-1890, 1884-01-11
ne DakGtas at Big stone in 1899

=.
An expedition to explore the
country between the Red river and
Lake superior, was sent out by the
government in lo22, under the com.
mand Of Major Stephen II. Long,
heachlng Mendoza, Mimi. on July 2,
ana travelling on the south side of
the Minnesota river, the expedition
arrived at Big Stone Lake July -. of
that year. Here. for the first time.
since leaving Fort Smelling. they dis.
covered large parties of Dakota In
olanS, ana by invitation the expedition
visited their lodges at the lower end
OF the lake. The historian of the
expedition then continues as follows:
1he principal interest which we
experienced was from an acquaintance
with " anatan or Wanahtah. the most
distinguished chief Of the Y NanktOman
tribe. He IS one of the greatest men
OF the Dakota Nation. Although
but % years Of age, he has already
acquired great renOWn as a warrior.
lie IS tall man, upward of SIX feet
nlgn, his COuntelianCe would be eS.
lcemed handsome in any country. his
features being regular and we'll
shaped There is an intelligence
that beams through his eye. which is
not the usual comnitlnt of Indian
features. His manners are dignIlird
and reserved. his attitudes are grace
tul and easy, though they appear 10
be somewhat studied. When speak
ing OF the Dakotas, we purposeiy
postponed mentioning the frequent
VOWS which they make and tAe.r
strict adherence to them. because one
Of the best evidences we have cai-
lected Oh this point connects itself
with the character Of Nanatan and
may give Il favorable idea Of his cX-
treme fortitude Ill enduring pain. In
the summer Of 1898 he undertook a
journey. and, apprehending mach
danger from the ChippeWas, he made
Il vow To the sun. that if lie returned
safe he would abstain from all food
and drink Tor 1ouT successive days and
nights. and that he would distribute
among his people all the property
which he possessed. including all his
lodges, horses, dogs. 81. On his re-
turn which happened without accl-
dent, he celebrated the dance Of the
sun. this consisted III making three
cuts through the skin on his breast
and one Oh each of his arms. The
strips are cut in The manner OF loop.
50 is 10 permit Il rope To pass under
the skin and flesh which was thus di
sided from the body. The ropes be-
in thus passed through, their ends
were fastened to tall vertical pole,
planted 1t about - rods from lis
lodge. He then began to dance
around this pole, 1T the commence
ment Of his fast, frequently swinging
himself III the air SO rs 10 support
himself merely by the cords which
were secured to the strips OF Skin cut
from his arms and breast. lie con-
tinupd this exercise. with few inter
missions. during the Whole OF his
fast until the Ionrtn day about 10
o clock A. NJ. when the strips OF SKIN
on the breast gave way, notWlthstand-
ing which, he interrupted not his
dance, although supported only by his
arms. vt noon the strip from his
left arm snapped off. His uncle then
thought he had suffered enough, he
drew his knife and cut the SKIN from
his right arm. upon which Wanatan
fell to he ground and sNooned. The
heat at the time Was excessive. lie
was left exposed III that state to the
sun until night, when his friends
brought him some PROVISIONS. Alter
the ceremony was over, ne distributed
to them the whole Of his property,
among which we find five horses, and
he ard his two sqnaWs left his lodges,
every article Of their fur
llture-