The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-03-31
INDIAN JUGGLERY.
CEREMONIES IN THE "SACRED
LODGE" OF SAVAGES.
A Programme Of Performances last
ing Six Weeks and Ending in
Sham Hunt-SOme of
the Tricks.

It is seldom that one meets with any
special form of entertainment among In
dians save shamanistic and other mystic
ceremonies, which are part of the rites
performed in connection with making
rain, exercising evil spirits, etc., but
among the Arikara Indians of Northern
Dakota there survives custom of giving
a public entertainment each year, which
causes the gathering of friendly Indians
from all directions. The ceremony takes
place during August and September, and
after continuing for six weeks terminates
in sham hunts. The young men and
warriors among nearly all tribes Of
the great plains organize themselves
into bands for mutual amuse-
ment, dancing and feasting, to while
away the long. dreary winter evenings.
One of these bands of Arikara braves
numbers but ten ortwelve individuals of
acknowledged prowess, and appears to
consist of candidates for future recogni-
ton as shamans or ''medicine men," As
they progress in the art of deception it is
necessary to impress the balance of the
tribe with their assumed mystic powers
and to secure for themselves the neces-
sary amount of superstitious veneration
for future success in becoming leaders in
the tribe.
The "Sacred Lodge of the Arikara is
around dirt lodge, with dome shaped
roof, resembling huge inverted bushel
basket. 1t measures fifty feet in dame
ter and from fifteen to eighteen feet high,
and has large opening at the top for the
escape of smoke. There is only one door,
facing the east, and this is directly oppo-
site the point of the interior at which the
band is stationed. In the middle of the
lodge are six heavy upright trunks of
cottonwood trees, serving as pillars for
the roof. The posts are arranged three
on a side, thus forming an oblong square,
between which, on the ground floor, fire
is kept burning more for light than for
heat, although the evenings at this lati
tude BECOME decidedly chilly at this sea-
son of the year. Attached to these posts.
and around the sides of the lodge, are nu-
merous candles which shed Just sufficient
light to add to the weirdness of the
scene. That quarter of the in
terror next to the door
is reserved for the audience, the old men
and women taking the first two rows of
seats-on the ground-the succeeding
ones being taken by the first corners. The
space around the wall of the lodge is
appropriated by the young Indian bloods
and boys, who usually manage to create
considerable merriment during the awk-
ward intervals, which are not infrequent.
The crier of the tribe mounts the roof Of
the sracred lodge each afternoon, and in
a doleful, monotonous song announces
the programme for the evening of that
day. When sunset approaches the
members of the band enter the structure
and prepare for the evening. An orches-
ira of two drummers, two male singers
and two women noted for shrill voices
occupies position on the right side of
the floor, and at the proper time drum
ming begins in very. faint tone, grad
ually increasing in intensity, when the
singers join in. There may be one or
two preliminary songs before the men,
bers of the band rise from their places
and advance toward the central fire,
where they form a semi-circle and dance,
keeping time to the beating of the drums.
Then young brave advances bearing
q. long pole before him which is sur
mounted by stuffed sea gull. His COM
panions dance around him excitedly,
singing loudly and accompanied by the
hired singers. All of a sudden there is
an instant of silence, when the birds
spirit can be heard, the voice issuing
apparently from the mouth of the gull.
Then, as murmur of appreciation notifies
the dancers that the trick is successful,
it is repeated. Upon close examination
it is found that thin reed tube extends
from the braves mouth to the pole, that
the pole is b ollow, and that small
whistle has been inserted in the top. i'm
mediately under the bird.
Another trick consists in swallowing
large bullet and having it removed from
the back. The pomme blanche, or Indi-
an turnip, is made to grow in the earthen
floor of the lodge, though it is almost
needless to say that these have been
planted there during the day Of the per-
formance. A small puppet, representing
an Indian, probably six inches in height,
is placed on the floor before the dancers,
and after considerable drumming and
singing the image begins to bob up and
down in unison with the music. One
dancer takes rod and passes it above
and behind the figure, to show that no
strings exist whereby its movements can
be governed. Finally all of the dancers
run around so as to cross the fire, each
time resting upon the burning branches
few moments, though not long enough h
to scorch the moccasins.
The closing exercises have been thus
described: ''When the last day of the
festival Sunday came the roofs of al
most every habitation in sight of the
plaza before the sacred lodge were
crowded with spectators, as none were
admitted on that day save those taking
part in the hunting scenes. First ap-
peared man representing duck, be-
ing covered with articles of clothing
made of duck skins stitched together. As
he issued from the door of the lodge he
passed into the next house-the resi-
dence of 8 shaman-where he tarried
short time. AS he again started to visit the
next house the duck hunters issued from
the door of the sacred lodge and fol-
lowed his trail. The duck initiated the
voice of the bird he represented, while
the hunters passed through many amusing
evolutions in their search. So the hunt
continued round the circle of six or eight
dwellings and back to the point of de:
narture Then the rabbit appeared and