The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-12-24
THE SUN DANCE.
A strange and Barbaric Custom.
From Harpet's'we

From Harpefs'weekly.
The sun dance of the Blackfeet Indians
takes place during the hotties, period OF
the summer-July or August-and lasts
three or four days. BIT long before thai
time. at period late in the spring, the
Indians have begun to beat their 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 ac-
companed by dancing. The drumming
and dancing culminate in the putting up
OF large mecicine lodge near the ground
chosen for the grand dance and the ex
posing of valuable presents as an offering
TO the sun, The young men who are 20
undergo the ordeal generally fast for
some time previous TO the sun dance. AT
beginning of the ceremonies they repair
10 the lodge of the medicine-man, who
makes four incisions in each aspirants
Chcst-two at each sihe-and passes knife
NLANi tuN llluoAtFs VI but blNdols ~ hiub % |
short stick can be passed under the flesh
intervening betweenicach pair of incisions'
They then repair to the dance ground,
where a stout pole about twenty feet in
length bas been set upright; suspended
fror. its top are halfdozen rawhide
ropes. the loose ends Of which are made
fast TO the sticks in the young mems
chests. The young men then throw their
weight on the ropes and begin TO dance
around the pole. They hang sus-
pended only by these cords, without food
or dIink, while the head and body IN an
attitude OF supplicalIOn face the sun and {
tue eye is unllinchlngly bent upon it. q
Their minds are intensely fixed upon the 4
object IN which hey wish to be assisted h
by the deity as they wait iOi vision from I,
above. Swinging by he rope, they blow y
a bone whistle or shout und sing in BRAY N n
ado, Boosting Of past exploits and of the c.
the brave actions that they intend To do, n
until the sticks are torn away through u
tls flesh and tcudOns or The dancers fall m
hinting on the ground. If they hesitate cl
q join the dance or show che least signs
Of cowardice in bearing pain, they are re- |"
gTrded as unfit 10 associate with warriors m
'rd henceforth rank as "squaw men" ana
're not allowed TO take part in the tribe W
Councils, war parties and dances. Occa. o.,
'i6haliy, as greater display ol courage. An
Individuals will have corresponding incl Of
ions made in their shoulders and backs, =,
M attach to these by hair ropes one or a. o.
lore saddlts, shields, or buffalo or OK
eads, so that every time the body moves, co
7-ihe dancer keeps time with the music =.
jerk IS given TO the objects dragging be. p,
ind him, until the sticks are torn from ct
leAesh. This greater display of courage
Rewarded by more prestige us a brave el
np more important privileges among his s
1be in afterliie. Sometimes the stick is
y so deeply in the flesh that two men do
aye to press on the performers should. co;
Il to tear it away. or'
The sun dance affords barbaric and
tlking scene, with the great crowd OF for
ayiy attircd on lockers watching with iaI
aser and sympathetic interest the tortur. uo
d.brares, who, betraylng 20 sign of the j
aln they endure, dance wildly amid the Co
onfinued songs of admiration and en-. IS
arrangement by the spectators, accompan. an an
eh by the loud aud violent bea,ings OF pei
he.tomtom. The younh aspirants, weak. -
ned by tile previous fast, often fall faint
nd senseless 10 the ground but they are
fitted up and continue their dance until the
esh tears loose, or it is manifest that they
an. endure no more, In which case thew
re honorably released. The ordeal
endures for three or four days
W one by one they break away and each
TIER his release from torture, receives The
uentions of his relatives, who usually 4
ave prepared for him feast. In alter.
earS the Indians show the scars of the
rteal with pride.