Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-04-01
THE SIOUX suN-pANoK,
One Of the Most Ou1i0us Oustoma - =
Warliko Indian Tribe.

lot the beginning OF the great dance
dedicated to the sun, the 'sun-pole' was
selected. A handsome young pine or Ar,
forty or fifty feet high. with the straight
est and most uniformly tapering trunk
that could be found within Q reasonable
distance, was chosen. The selection 10
always made by some old woman, gem
orally the Oldest one in the camp, II
there is any way Of determining, who
leads number of maidens gayly
dressed in the beautiful beaded buck
skin gowns they wear on state occa-
sions; the part Of the maidens is to strip
the tree of its limbs as high as possible
without telling it. Woe to the girl who
claims to be a maiden and joins the pro-
cession the old squaw forms, against
whose claims any reputable warrior or
squaw may publicly proclaim. Her pun
ishment is swift and sure, and her deg
radiation more cruel than interesting.
1.-THE selection Of the tree is the only
special feature of the first days celebra-
ton. After it has been stripped of its
branches nearly to the top, the BRUSH
wood and trees for considerable dis
lance about it are removed, and it is
left standing for the ceremony of the
second day.
Elephants in the next great step were
preparing themselves for the ordeal;
and a quarter of an hour before the sun
rose above the broken hills of white
clay a long line of naked young warri-
ors, in gorgeous war-paint and feathers,
with rifles, bows and arrows, and war
lances in hand, faced the east and
the sun-pole, which was from five to
a huv rIc nvdi ~
this group of warriors numbers from
fifty to possibly two hundred men. An
interpreter near me estimated the line
beheld as from thousand to twelve
hundred strong. Not far away, on a
high hill overlooking the barbaric
scene, was an old warrior, medicine
man of the tribe, think, whose solemn
duty it was to announce by shout that
could be heard by every one of the ex-
pectant throng the exact moment when
the tip of the morning sun appeared
| above the eastern hills. Perfect quiet
rested upon the line of young warriors
and upon the great throng of savage
spectators that BACKED the green hills
overlooking the arena. Suddenly the
old warrior, who had been kneeling on
one knee, with his extended palm shad-
ing his scraggy eyebrows. arose to his
full height, and in slow, dignified
manner waved his blanketed arm above
his head. The few warriors who were
still unmounted now jumped hurriedly
upon their ponies; the broken, wavering
line rapidly took on a moro regular APP
pearance; and then the old man, who
had gathered himself for the great ef-
fort, hurled forth yell that could be
IN nj 20 Of In
great throng. The morning sun had
sent its commands to its warriors on
earth to charge.
'The shout from tho hill was re-
echoed by the thousand men in the val
ley; it was caught up by the spectators
on the hills as the long line of warriors
hurled themselves forward towards the
| sun-pole, the objective point of every
armed and naked savage in the yelling
line. AS they converged towards it the
slower ponies dropped out and the
weaker ones were crushed to the rear.
Nearer and nearer they came, the long
limo becoming massed until it was but
surging crowd of plunging horses and
yelling, gosticulating riders. When the
leading warriors had reached point
within hundred yards of the sun-pole
the line, and moment later the rush
ing mass was sheet Of flame, and the
rattle-shots was like the rapid beat of a
drum resounding among the hills.
Every shot, every arrow and every lance
was directed at the pole, and bark and
chips were flying from its sides like
shavings from the rotary bit of planer.
When every bullet had been discharged
nd orI -
hurled the riders crowded around the
pole and shouted as only excited savages
can shout.
Had it fallen in this onslaught anoths
er pole would have been chosen and an
other morning devoted to this perform
ance. Though this seldom happens, it
was thought that the numerous assail-
ants Of this pole might bring it to the
ground. They did not, however, al
though it looked like ragged scare
crow, with chips and bark hanging from
its mutilated sides.
'That such a vast, tumultuous thronQ
could escape accident in all that wild
charging, firing Of shots, hurting of
lances and arrows and great excitement
would be bordering on miracle, and no
miracle happened. One of the great
""AAAoAo was oAaAPASu upoA III tQ0
charge and died late that evening, and
another Indian was shot. Tho bruises,
sprains and outs that might have been
spoken of in lesser affairs were here I'M.
noticed. and nothing was heard of them"
"A CaroImtan Burial Custom.
A very queer custom in Oconee Coun.
ty, South Carolina, is the manner of
burial. Instead Of elaborate marble
headstones or other such memorials to
the dead, the Carolinian will build over
the mound shed or small house to pro-
tect the grave from the i4clemepcy Of
the weather. At first one is apt TO take
these little structures for baby houses.
In the case Of tho better class of noun
taineer he will paint this wooden maui
soleum. The less favored will content