The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-07-24
THE SUN DANCE.
description of a Barbarous Indian Feas'
Now Suppressed by the Government.


The wild Indian Sun Dance, which
was held for the last time during June,
I 1883, with its barbarous and cruel in
aictions, is one of the historical pasts
that will never again be repeated. The
writer was present at that sun dance,
and the only scenes that will again
greet his or any other eyes are views
that were taken on the spot, and which,
but for the iron will Of the Indian agent,
would never have been taken, so super
stitious were the Indians against it.
Prior to the completion of the sun
dance circle. when three days are
taken to feasting on dog soup, dancing,
giving away ponies, cattle and every
thing else that gives evidence that the
''heSrt is good the chiefs, sub-chiefs and
head men meet in council in some wood
land, where they select twelve virgins
who are to do the hopor of cutting the
pole. A number of young Indians aye
appointed to make search for good
pole for the occasion (Which has,
however, been selected a long time
before; but they must go through certain
9retentions so as to make themselves
appear proper), and finally, after con
siderable delay, the twelve virgins each
take an axe, and give the pole one cut,
the young bucks finishing the job. The
crossing of stream is superstitiously
forbidden, and when the young Indians
are ready they march in triumph to the
place selected for its planting" Be-
fore them rush thousand young braves
on ponies, who fire off rifles and r.
volvers until outside the limits of tic
encampments, which, together with
their yells, would drive off any evil
spirits that might be hanging around;
and that is their part in the play. The
pole is raised and green brush is placed
in circle about it, while the pole itself
is gorgeously decorated with strips of
calico in all the brilliant hues, which
have been placed there as offerings
from some dusky maiden or old squaw.
The sun dance among these wild
people is a barbarous religion with
them. During the year an Indian has
prayed to the Great Spirit for fortune
| in hunting, restoration of health or
some other wish, for which he promises,
if the prayer is granted, to make some
sacrifice or dance at the annual sun
dance, which was usually held during
the month of June. 1t is composed of
fasting and feasting combined, the ones
who have made vows fasting for several
days, and those who are to ''see them
through" Teasing on delicious young
dogs made into soup. Mothers who
have asked the Great Spirit for some
favor bring their babes and young chill
dren to be "gouged" in the ears with
any thing but sharp knives by the
''medicine men, (who are on hand in
great numbers), the girls receiving two
infections in each ear and the boys one,
| for which the medicine man receives y
pony or two. Women have their
arms, shoulders or face cut as they
may have promised at the time.
Groups of men and women dance
with upturned faces to the burn
ing sun, footing continuously whistle
made of an antelopes bone. All these
are preliminary to the most bar
barous and painful task of being brave.
The young men who have fixed their
hearts upon this tortue by going through
the ordeal of being cut in the two
breasts and a sinew passed through
| the wounds, are tied to a rope attached
to the stationary sun dance pole, which
they endeayor to break out by contin-
nous dancing and Jerking. Their faces
are lifted to the scorching June sun
while they blow on the antelope bone
whistle To contribute to their success
| finland an, ra1 ot
out sticks to the surrounding crowds,
and scramble is made to secure them,
ms each stick entities the holder to n
pony Invoking the Great Spirit for
success is general by the medicine men,
while groups of dancers with whistles,
and bands of nearly naked wild men,
painted in all colors, yellow, green, red.
blue, black, white or purple, in whole,
in part or combinations, with the de-
signs of hands, horseshoe prints,
horses, Indians, etc, go through
mournful singing to the beats of a
dozen great drums, making the
conglomeration of noises any
thing but what band leader
would term Harmony" On the occa.
sion to which this article refers but one
! out OF the tnfee Succeeueu III breaking
the flesh from the breasts-and he
proved the meanest as well as braveSI
the others fainting; and some of the
few whites present became faint them
selves during the progress of this hor
rible torture.
At the close of this festival, lasting
about eight days. the Indians returned
to their homes to find themselves either
richer or poorer than when they left
but large store-house OF rations fur
nished by the Government supplied thcil
wants to at least limited extent. Or
their return home they found what fen
crops they had put in before they lef
had either got behind the growth of the
weeds or been eaten by stray stock. Thu
the progressive Indian failed to pro
gress, and the Government did a mos
sensible act when it abolished the SUI
dance. which every Indian was com
PEELED to attend or be held in disgrace
by the leaders. = Creighton (Neb.) Pic
neer.
Turkish Bedrooms.