Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-12-17
MORE ABOUT THE oAkoTAHs.
The Sun Dance - Ornaments - Division
into Bands.

MORE ABOUT THe DAkO iAf1S.
The Sun Dance - Ornaments - Division
into Bands.
Especial corespondencel
FoRT ToKAR, DEVILS LAKE AGENCY, d.
T., Dec. 2.-Early in the winter Of 1887 the
Dakotahs coded all their land lying on the
eastern bank of the Mississippi to the United
States government, and this tract at present
forms the settled portion Of Minnesota
During the summer OF 1851 the commits
sioner of Indian affairs, with Governor Ram
say, Of Minnesota, negotiated with the Da-
kotahs Of that region for all their land lying
east of line running from Otter Tail lake
through Lake Traverse to the junction OF the
Big Sioux river with the Missouri, the In
dians retaining for their own use and settle
ment q reservation on the upper Minnesota,
% miles wide, about 40 miles long, and q
to the southern point Of Devils Lake, direct
south TO the Cheyenne river and some dis
lance TO the west.
Their name, the Dakotahs say, means
leagued or allied, and they sometimes speak
Of themselves as the "Oceti Sakvier, or Seven
Council Fires These are the seven prime
cipal bands which comprise the tribe or
nation, viz:
First Observation-Disclosures, or Village Of
the Spirit Lake.
Second-The wahpekutes, or Leaf Shoot
ers.
Third-The Wahpetonwans, or Village of
the Leaves.
Fourth-Sissitonwans, or Village Of the
Marsh
h-Ihanktonwannas, or Village Of the
End. This band Is usually designated oy
travellers under the name Of Ysnctons
th-Ihanktonwans, divided into the
following sub-bands or villages: The Pab-
aksa, or Gut Heads; the Waxikute, or Pine
Shooters; the Kigukra, Dividers or Breakers
of the Law From the WaZikute branch OF
this band the Assinaboines are sprung
Seventh-The Tetonwans, or Village OF
the Prairie; about one-haf OF the entire Da-
kotah people, numbering about l2,5OO souls.
Sitting Bull, the leader OF the Custer massa-
ere, is from this band, and they are con-
sidered the finest body OF men among the
Dakotahs, physically and mentally. They
live on the western side OF the Mississippi
They are divided into seven bands: The
Sicangu, or Burnt Thighs; the ItanZipco, or
Bow Pith; the SchaSapa, or Blackfeet; the
Mimi Yewuzupi, or "Those who Plant by
the Water" the Ohenonpa, or Two Bollngs;
the Oglalas and the Hunkpapa-
HEwAN-GAG wA-CI-PI, OR sun DANCE
The Sioux are very superstitious and firm
believers in dreams, and this dance follows q
sickness or other misfortune foretold by the
dream, and it is sort Of a punishment under
gone to propitiate the Great Spirit. They
first form circle Of green boughs stuck into
the ground, in the center Of which q tall sap
ling is planted, stripped of all limbs except a
bunch near the top, and then two smaller
ones, forming q triangle, to one OF which Is
attached piece Of red cloth, to the other q
piece of white cotton. After the dance these
,oI Tbara Ia alec faCfaua6 IN zach
tree or pole a stout thong, little
higher than a mans head. The dancer
takes his place in the center OF the
triangle, naked excepting apron and cloth,
his body painted black and his hair dishev-
eled, with rings of white rabbit skin tied to
the flesh Of shoulders and body. Then por-
ton Of flesh on the shoulders or breast Is
pierced through and the thong passed through
the incision sometimes as many as three at
once). A small quill whistle is taken between
the teeth, through which the dancer breathes,
the whistle sounding at each breath. AT mid
night the dance is begun, to the noise OF drum
beating and regular band Of singers. The
sun is then supposed to be beneath the feet,
and the dancers eyes are turned downward
at first. The idea is to follow the sun IN It's
course with the eye, and the performer must
therefore keep his gaze fixed on the orb OF day
till shutdown, unless worn out first, OF course
turning the head with the course of the sun.
The moment the sun sinks below the horizon
they begin to strive, by pulling and jerking
with their bodies against the thong, to tear 1t
through the flesh, or, throwing their whole
might toward the ground, they fall down,
tearing the thong loose, and generally render
ing themselves insensible During the dance
they will pull against the thongs, raising the
flesh so a man could pass his hand through
the cash.
The drummers keep up continual chant
of The Great Spirit keep us!' To see one UNI
dergoing this torture called danCing-naked,
painted, hair streaming, blood trucking from
fearful gasheS-is truly dreadful
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. MEN.
There are but few ornaments now in use
! with any meaning. Eagle feathers, the num-
| Der worn, showing the number of enemies
killed, tho wing feathers Of the bald headed
eagle denoting male and the black eagle
| feathers denoting women, are perhaps most
prominent II they have scalped the enemy
a broad red streak is painted upon the
feathers II the person killed was Of promi-
hence or reputation the feather is sometimes
dyed red. Small sticks wrapped with porcn-
pine QuillS arc sometimes attached to the quill
Of tho feather, and little pieces Of white fur
glued TO the ends. No one will wear an eagle
feather unless entitled to it, as they believe it
| will fly away from their heads If worn I'M
| lawfully. The scalp lock is still worn
| even among many Of the So-called
| civilized Indians They arrange the scalp
| lock proper about an inch across, and tie
| around this very firmly head band, and
| then the hair is braided, and an otter skin IL
| tied around it spirally, forming a braid ut
| least two and sometimes as much as four feet
| long. This is kept oiled for the enemy. If
an Indian has the time, and the person killed
| is Of Importance, he will scalp off the whole
| from beneath the eyebrows including the
ewes. Grizzly bear claws are worn as neck
| laces-I do not believe as mark of distiuc-
ton, but as they are costly think the wear
| ing them is merely matter Of wealth and
not Of craftsmanship.
Aside from his religious position tho Wi
| caS-ta-wa-kan, or medicine man, is the physi-
| clan, the NJ. D., among the Dakotahs, thor
| oughly conversant with the medicinal quail
| ties Of the various herbs. To give greater eff
| feet to his remedies he Is accompanied by
drum and rattles, and INDUCES in much con-
| tortions Of features and limbs. Often he
sucks with his mouth over tho seat of pain
| a novel way Of cupping, but often efiicacious.
have seen cases Of long standing cured by
these men, and instances where the army sur
geon has given them up. One cure l have in
! mind was Of cataract OF the eye. it was
| cured by inserting beneath the lids fling
from brass wire. The patients are always
painted red, to make their hearts strong they
say. Often the medicine men will cut an
image out Of paper or bark, and placing it
upon tho ground the patient is held over 1t;
| then the medicine man will take his gun and
shoot the image, destroying the evil spirit
that has cauIed the sickness
PAUL BECKwITH