Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-02-12
BIG INJUN MUST DANCE.
srIS Not Only A CEREMONY BUT
A DUTY.
lie Engages In It Upon All Occasions, Some.
times Through the Most Horrible Tor.
ture-Hew Sioux Warriors Are
= uade-.A Brutal Test.

"A uchl Va CuEAV0lty 40 ACiV W m0uy
as to the meaning Of the Indian dance
as to why Indians should express
their feelings by dancing when civil
lied people would show thGir senti-
meuts in very different way. The
dance, among white Americans. is a
pastime; with the red man it is both q
ceremony and q duty. He dances
before he goes to war; he dances when
he returns; he dances at the death OF
his enemy and the burial OF his friend.
The Sioux youth dances, or did dance.
through exquisite torture into place
among the braves OF his clan, and
bears with him for life the marks Of
| the terrible ordeal. 1t was the fortune
Of a Chicago Herald writer, when
about eighteen years Of age-twenty-
six years ago-to witness the famous
sun dance. 1t is doubtful if this dance
will ever again be performed in all its
ancient glory, or perhaps "horror"
would be a more fitting expression.
The government long ago forbade the
sun dance on the Indian reservations,
and if performed at all it must now be
without the freedom and publicity
which were necessary. to its complete
success.
At the period mentioned Sitting Bull
OF the hostile Sioux. 1t may be noted
here that Sitting Bull was not born
chief. He did not come by origin
from what McAllister might call the
Sioux four hundred. What fame and
influence he acquired were earned by
his personal merits or dement's, &C.
cording as his acts are viewed from an
Indian or Caucasian standpoint.
, After becoming an acknowledged chief
he was always regarded by the chiefs
of aristocratic origin much as Napo-
leon was looked upon by the ancient
dynasties OF Europe-as an upstart
they are compelled to respect, but are
rather inclined to sniff at On anoth-
er occasion the writer may have more
to say upon this ard kindred matters
At present he will conAne himself to
the sun dance. This dance is really
an imitation. No Sioux is obliged to
undergo it. The youth has his choice,
when arrived at manly age, OF being
:. a woman-man-the word "squaw'' is
unknown to the Sioux-or of proving
by the tortures of the sun dance that
he is fitted to be a warrior. If he
prefers to be q woman-man he will not
be ill-treated or even scoffed at. He
, will become household slave, as the
:, women are, and be used like them. as
q hover of wood and drawer Of
water to the mon of the tribe. He
\ must dress like the women, and like
them he is left at homo when the
;, braves 60 to hunting or to battle. II
fact, this treatment is such n matter
', OF course that a stranger might visit {
camp and encounter any number o
these persons and have no reason tc
suppose that they were other thar
women.
Il With the young man who does no
shrink from the sun dance it is diff
a ferent affair." His chances OF dying
n under it are considerable. The write,
does not remember hearing any per
r centage stated, but the deaths, whev
a all tho forms are rigidly complied
TO with, cannot be less than one in four
* Few white men could survive, but tn
ID toughcned constitution OF the Indiar
holds up marvelously when every nerv,
a must DO in agony. 1t was in Siou,
X camp on bluff near the Missouri Riv
err tina: witnessed the sun dance. l
70 a "tepee," or tent, of buffalo skin, fou
II or five braves were dancing slowly an
!" deliberately around the CENTER pole
m keeping up monotOnous chant.
70 noticed that each of them was attache
I'd to the pole by long strings OF buffal
lt. hide. In one or two cases the strin g
were connected with the breast; i
T. the other cases with the back. Tn
N. muscular tissue near each nipple,
mt tho fastening was at the front. ha
of been gathered by grasp Of the hand
nd and knife run through it. Then tn
no tough skin OF buffalo rawnide wa
OF passed through the opening and col
nectcd with the pole. II the fastenin
n, was at the back the process was sim
10. lar. The pain thus occasioned TO tn
en- victim may he imagined. He must n,
ed only endure without sigh or groa,
he but must forthwith proceed to dane,
and keep up the dancing without foo
nd for days. II requisite. until tho frictic
ad OF the rawhide sewers the muscles ar
he releases the captive, o ull.6edg
-. brave.
m He 10 then Immediately fed by
N rich soup prepared for the occasion
nd and every care and attention that Il
h. dams know are bestowed upon his +
"a covery. The young man may be r
~ leased from torture at any time
asking. In that case he Ia doomed =,