The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-12-21
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.
The Sun DANCE.

A Strange and Bapbaric Custom That
Prevails Among the Biaclsfeet Indians.
The sun dance Of the Biackfeet Indians
takes place during the hottest period OF
the summer-July or Augustr-and lasts
three or four days. But long before that
time, at O period late in the spring. the
Indians have begun to beat the tomtom.
their native drum, the sound Of which
goes long distance. and is heard
through the different camps. This
noise is kept up during most of the
nights, and is accompanied by dancing.
Tue drumming and dancing culininate
in the putting up of IA large medicine
lodge near the ground chosen for the
grand dance, and the exposing OF valua-
BILE presents as an offering 10 the sun.
The young men who are TO undergo the
ordeal generally fnst for some time pre-
yious TO the sun dance. AT the
beginning of the ceremonies they re-
pair TO the lodge of the medicine man,
who makes four inclsfons in each .aspir-
ants chest--two at each side md passes
a knife under the muscelf of the breast.
so that a short stick can be passed under
meath the flesh intervening between each
pair Of incisions. They then repair to the
dance ground, where stout pole about
twenty feet in length has been set up
right; suspended from its top are a half
dozen rowhide ropes, the loose ends of
which are made fast to the sticks IN the
young mems chests. The young meu
then throw their weight on the ropes and
begin TO dance around the pole. They
hang suspended only by These cords,
without food or drink, while the head
and body in an attitude Of supplication
face the sun and the eye IS unfilnchingly
bent upon it. the minds are intently
fixed upon the object in which they wish
to be assisted by the deity. and they
wait for a vision from above.
a bone whistle or shout and
sing In bravado, boasting of past exploits
ana OF the brave actions that they intend
to do, until the sticks are torn away
through the flesh and tendons, or the
dancers fail faintiug on the GROUND. Ii
they hesitate TO join the dance, or show
the least signs of cowardice in bearing
pain; they are regarded as unit to asso-
ciate with warriors. and henceforth rank
as ''squaw men," aud are not allowed to
take part in the tribe councils, war par
ties, and dances. Occasionally. as a
greater display of courage, individuals
will have corresponding incisions made
In their shoulders and backs, and attach
to these by hair ropes one or more sad
dies, shields, or buffalo or OK heads, so
that every time the body moves. as the
dancer keeps time with the music, a Jerk
him, until the STICKS are torn from the
flesh This greater display Of courage u
rewarded by more prestige as brave,
aud more important privileges among his
tribe in after life. Sometimes the SLICK IS
set so deeply in the flesh that two men
have to press on the performers shoulders
TO tear it away.
The sun dance affords barbaric and
striking scene. with tine great crowd Of
gayly attired on-lookers watching with
eager aud sympathetic interest the tor
tured braves, VINO, betraying no sign OF
the pain they endure, dance wildly amid
the continued songs of admiration anu
encouragement by the spectators, nccom-.
panied by the loud and violent beating o.
The ronitom. The young aspirants,
weakened by the previous fast, often fail
faint and senseless TO the ground; but
they are lifted mp and continue their
dance until the flesh tears loose, or II Is
manifest that they can endure no more,
In which case they are honorably re-
leased. The ordeal sometimes endures
for three or four days. but one BY one
they break AWAY, ana each, after his re-
lease from torture, receives the attentions
Of his relatives, who usually have pre-
pared for him u feast In after years the
fnoians snow Tho scars OF the ordeal With
pride. Harpssss Weekly.