Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-12-21
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MORE ABOUT THE DAkoTAHs.

MORE ABOUT THE DAKoTAHs.
The Sun Dance ornaments - Division
into Bands.
Especial correspondence.1
FoRr ToKAR, DEVILS LAKE AGENCY, D.
T., Dec. 2.-Early in the winter of 1887 tho
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
Monsr Of Indian affairs, with Governor RAM
say, Of Minnesota, negotiated with tho Da-
kotahs OF that region for all their land lying
east Of a line running from Otter Tail lake
through Lake Traverse to the junction of the
Big Sioux river with the Missouri, the In
dams retaining for their own use and settle
ment a reservation on the upper Minnesota,
90 miles wide, aoout 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
1eagued or allied, n they sometimes speak
OF themselves as the "Oceti Sakvier, or Seven
cipal bands which comprise the tribe or
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., or Village Of
the Spirit Lake.
Second-The Wahpekutes, or Leaf Shoot
Third-The wahpetonwans, or Village of
the Leaves.
Fourth-sissitonwans, or Village of the
Marsh.
Fifth-Ihanktonwannas, or Village OF the
End. This band is usrkply designated by
trayelers under the name Ct Y,anctons.
Sixth-1hanktonwans, divided into tho
following sub-bands or villages: The Pab-
aksa, or Cut Heads; the Wszikute, or Pine
Shooters; the Kigukrn, Dividers or Breakers
OF the Law. From the Waxikuts branch Of
this band the Assinaboines are sprung.
seventh-The Tetonwans, or Village OF
kotah people, numbering about 1850 souls,
Sitting Bull, tho leader Of the Custer massa-
ere, Il 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.
Sicangu, or Burnt Thighs; the Itanzipco, or
Mimi yewuzupi, or 'sThose who Plant by
the Water" the Ohenonpa, or Two Boilings;
the Oglslas and tho Hunkpapa.
EI-wAN-GAG wA-CI-PI, OR SUN DANCE.
The Sioux are very superstitious and firm
believers in dreams, and this dance follows a
sickness or other misfortune foreto1d by tbs
dream, and it is sort of . punishment under
gone to propitiate the Great Spirit. They
first form a 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
ones, forming a triangle, to one of which is
attached q piece OF red cloth, to the other q
piece of white cotton. After the dance thesa
are burned. There is also fastened to each
tree or pole q stout thong, o little
higher than o mans head. The dancer
L loo Hso ~I~nn -, xh~ nnvR1u " Aha
triangle, naked excepting apron and cloth,
his body painted black n his hair DISNEY.
eled, with rings of white rabbit skin tied b
the flesh Of shoulders and body. Then q por.
ton Of flesh on the shoulders or breast Il
pierced through and the thong passed through
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 IL begun, to the noise OF drum
beating and a regular band Of singers. This
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,
course with the eye, and tbs performer must
therefore keep his gaze fixed On the orb of day
III; ss,,dowE. unie;s worn out first, OF cpuTr;
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 Il
through the flesh, or, throwing their Who'll,
might toward the ground, they fall down
tearing the thong loose, and generally render
ing themselves insensible. During the dane,
they will psll sgainst the thongs, raising th,
flesh SO a man could pass his hand through
the cash.
The drummers keep up q continual chan
OF "The Great Spirit keep usln To see one un
dergoing this torture called dancing-naked
painted, hair streaming, blood trickling from
fearful gashes-is truly dreadful.
oRNAMENTs-MEDIcrNR MEN.
There ara but few ornament now in us
with any meaning. Eagle feathers, the mum
Der worn, showing the number Of enemie
killed, the wing feathers Of the bald headet
eagle denoting male and the black eagl
feathers denoting women, are perhaps mos
prominent. u they have scalped tho enem.
q broad, red streak is painted upon th
feathers. II the person killed was Of promi
nence or reputation the feather is sometime
dyed red. Small sticks wrapped with porcu
pine quilts are sometimes attached to the gull
Of the feather, and little pieces Of white fu,
feather unless entitled to it, as they believe 1
will fly away from their heads il worn un
lawfully. The scalp lock is still wor,
even among many Of the ~so-callet
civilized Indians. They arrange the scall
lock proper about an. inch across, and I'll
around this very firmly D head band, an
then tho hair is braided, ard an otter skin /
tied around it spirally. forming q braid a
least two and sometimes as much as four fee
long. This Is kept oiled for the enemy. ]
an Indian has the time, and the person kille,
II OF Importance, he will scalp of tho who'll
from beneath the eyebrows including tn
eyea. Grizzly bear claws ara worn as neck
lnces-I do not believe as o mark Of distinc
ton, but as they are costly ! think the wear
ing them Is merely 6 matter Of wealth an,
not OF craftsmanship.
Aside from his religious position The WI
cas-ts-wa-kan, or medicine man, IL the physi
clan, The N. D., among the Dakotahs, thor
oughly conversant with the medicinal quail
ties Of the various herbs. To give greater Of
feet 70 hts remedies he q accompanied b.
drum and ~rattles, and INDUCES in much con
~tortions Of features and limbs. Often b
: sucks with his mouth over the seat Of pain
Q novel way OF cupping, but often efilcacious
! have sesn cases Of long standing cured b,
these men, end instances whore the army sur
Eeon has given them u T. One cure I have II
mind was OF cataract OF the eye. IL wa
cured BY inserting beneath the lids film,
from brass wire. The patients are Away,
, painted red, to make their hearts strong the,
) say. Often the medicine men will cut al
, tmnge out Of paper or bark, and placing l
upon the ground the patient 10 held over It
then ths medicine man will take his gun an,
; shoot the image, destroying the Evil spiri
B that has caused the sickness.
PAUL BEcxw1rH.
nAK0rA LEGAL BLANKa.