The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1889-11-23

AoiudHce VI Iue Hl9Qlc1nS uanCe BRINGS
out the fact that the Indian dances and
ceremonies are almost obsolete 1t is
true that on rare occasions the savage
tribes indulge in some ceremonial dance,
but the round of pleasure that few
years ago marked tho Indians year is
gone forever, and many dances that were
formerly often seen will never be wit
messed again, for while there are still
many wild Indians, each tribe has it's
distinctive dances, and with the civiliza-
ton of tribe or it's extinction came the
loss of its peculiar dances.
The Cheyenne, Arapahoe and Sioux In
dams were the most noted among the red
men for their dances, both as regards the
variety and number of good dancers. An
investigation reveals the fact that now
dances are of rare occurrence, and when
they are performed it is done in per-
functory manner, as though it was all
duty and no pleasure. The contrast with
the conditions Of things in the same
tribes ten years ago is striking, and this
: decadence OF Indian ceremonial has
caused an inquiry into the old rites:
Living near Leavenworth is an old
Arapahoe chief, who is peacefully end
ing his days in a good, civilized man.
ner. He was noted for his great agility
in the dance, and to such an extent
were his performances remarkable that
his name of Black Wolf had been trans
formed by the French trappers into La
Loup Culver, Or the Leaping Wolf.
knowing his former fame he was
sought and asked to give some informa-
ton regarding the dances in which he
took part. The old Indian was slow to
start, but, as he became interested. he
was animated with the recollections of
his youthful days, and, with flashing
eyes, he almost seemed to renew his
youth as he recounted the achievements
OF his race. The substance of his talk
was CLEANED and is here given.
There are three kinds of Indian
dances: Religious ceremonial, secular
ceremonial and social. The hoch-e-a-
yum or medicine dance of the Cheyennes
and Arapahoes is Identical with the ia
nous sun dance Of the Sioelx, and all the
wild tribes had dance which repre-
scented the same idea, bat in the more
wtrlike tribes the dance was followed
by herrible .tortures.~. These fortunes
were accepted as the tests of endurance,
which is looked upon e1s the Hottest
human virtue. These to.1tures are not
part OF the hoch-c-a-yuln, but take place
at the close OF that ceremony. TWENTY
years ago when an Indian youth desired
to leave the ranks of childhood he was
obliged I'd go through an ordeal as brutal
and bloody as it was possible for Indian
ingenuity to conceive. At that time
there were volunteers for torture at the
close OF every medicine dance They
were generally young mrn. but on rare
occasions ssu older warrior would desire
to expia5e some wrong ant would do SO
through sclf-torture. Those who vol
untcefea Tor the torture did not Join the
dance, but spent the few days immedi-
ately preceding the trial in fasting and
seclusion.
The Old rnen and the medicine chief
decided when the proper time had ar
rived, and sent for the volurpaeers one
by one. ihcy were stripped to the
breechc!out and were examined care
fully to ascertain what amount of suf-
fering they could endure without fatal
consequences. When all had been
looked over certain religious ceremo-
MES were performed, and the medicine
chief took kroad-bladed knife and
approached the lasle. On some he would
make two vertical incisions OF each
breast, about two inches apart. passing
the knife through the pectoral muscles.
The portion between the incisions
would be lifted up and the ends of
horse-hair rope passed through and
fastened to pieces of wood The free
end OF the rope WIGS then fastened to
the top of the lodge pole, giving the
Indian about ten feet play. lSome-
tinses the incisions were made through
the muscles of the back and the ropes
to blocks OF wood or bagsfalc
skulls. Others were dragged up into
the air and left to hang until their
weight and struggles tore out the flesh !
and released them. I
In this condition tie sufferers re- I
mainei without food on ;svater until Sg
their own effort. or the softening of
their tissues, they were able to tear
themselves loose from the ropes. Each |
man would make most stseauous efforts /
to free himself. They realized that il !
was best to tear loose asssaon as posi- !
bic, not only as a quicker end of their |
torture, but also from religious point !
II view, as lit was good msdicine'' to !
lear loose atOnce, but bad mei3 icine" to |
be long tirse about it. As sesn as the !
victim was fseed he was examined by
the medicine chief, and religious cere-
noRies were gone through with, after
which the wounls were dressed and the
received the congratulations of
Ais friends.
Should any one aiinch from the lsnife
IL cry osat or show any signs of suffering
turing the progress of the trial he was
released at once and Mas thereafter dis
Traced man. He was held in great COZ
'empt. could neither hold property nor
marry, and was made to.do women's work.
these ceremonies were common to all
Wild Indians, although under different
James. At times some warrior would
announce that on certain day he would
Undergo the torture in expiration of some
Iced which he had committed. A plant
'ole was planted, and after the rope was
'un through the incisions the other end
would he tied to the top of the pole
which was bent over for the purpose.
This is the most exasperating form OF
he torture. for the pole would give with
lis struggles, but at the same time re-
aiG it, CHASTITY hold, and the victim