Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-11-13
WORSHIPIISG STONES.
PECULIAR CUSTOM OBSERVED
BY SIOUX INDIANS.
They Subject Themselves to Torture In
the Hope OF Receiving Benefits
The Process Consists
OF Steaming.

ECdCllCQ bnOAL AOt1CO UGlOIO
some of the Indian bucks repaired to
a cleared piece OF ground and began
to heap some stones into a pile, writes
ALI. Burkholder, in Detroit Free Press
They soon had some sticks piled
around the stones. After the stones
had been consecrated the fire was
| lighted that was to endow their god
with superhuman powers The casual
observer would doubtless have thought
great dog feast was near at hand.
| While the stones were heating the In
dams were constructing frame of
saplings, the poles being bent into q
semi circle and both ends stuck into
the ground. Blankets, quilts and
every imaginable piece of wearing
apparel composing their limited ward
robes were thrown over the frame
When the lodge was finished it resem-
bled, in shape, a hemispheroid about
| five feet in diameter at the bottom and
four feet high. BY this time ten
strong. sinewy and robust Indians had
assembled. Among the participants
were several medicine men having
more than local regulations. 1t was
not long before they had shed their
clothing and began TO enter the lodge.
The first one who entered addressed
each one of the rest as brother, uncle,
cousin, brother in-law. ETC.. and all
followed the example before entering
the lodge.
The little Indian boy who attended
to the various wants of the worshipers
was now engaged in carrying the
stones TO the lodge, whore they were
received by one OF the Indians and
placed in the center of the circle
formed by the worshipers. Thoy were
very particular that their god should
not be desecrated by pieces of char
coal, which were carefully removed.
The stones had been placed in the
lodge in the shape of frustrum Of a
cone. The boy was then told to get
some kinniknik. n mixture of tobacco
and red willow bark, smoked by the
Sioux Indians. This was thrown on
the fire to take away the mystical
properties of the remaining stones,
which were too small to be carried on
the hay fork used in transporting the
larger ones. The boy handed them
the followed sticks which had been
prepared for the occasion. These
were small willow branches painted
brilliant colors. Each stick had a
small bag of calico tied TO the end
These bags contained a mixture OF hui
man skin and kiuniknik. The skin is
usually cut from the arms or shoul-
ders, and this constitutes the sacrifice.
After the sticks have been consecrated
they are placed on the hill to pacify
the evil spirits that come and cause
all trouble and affliction. Furs food
and many other things which make
man more conciliatory are often put
on the ground among the sticks.
A pail of water was then put into
the lodge and the entrance closed, 1t
appeared impervious to the gentle
breeze. but occasionally one OF the
worshippers would call to the boy to
throw something over certain place.
When completely exhausted they call
ed the boy to open the lodge. tHere
they were found resting in the same
position as when the lodge was first
closed; all kneeliug around the pile OF
| stones. Precipitation was trickling
down their heated forms, moistening
the ground where they knelt as typi-
cal Indians, perfectly calm Not a
muscle OF face moved while they bore
the torture OF the heat which was in
tense. The inevitable pipe was again
filed up and passed around with the
same solemn ceremony as at first.
The boy was then told to bring some
hot water and cayenne pepper. When
brought the pepper was mixed with
the water, which they drank with
apparent relish. The pipe was
passed to the boy, who was told
to replenish il and lay it at
the entrance of the lodge. Again the
lodge was closed, and as they thought,
they were once more secluded from
the evils and temptations of this ini-
quitous world. to allow the steam TO
penetrate their bodies, thereby heal
ing their Affections. There they re-
NAMED for half hour. praying and
singing. Then the sides of the lodge
were again raised. and, after smoking
once more, they came out to breathe
the pure atmosphere While they sat
on the grass for few minutes before
dressing perspiration flowed from
their bodies in perfect streams Their
limbs were scalded and burned. The
scene they presented as they orouched
their nude forms in huddle was so
horrible that some of the young Indians
who were playing near the lodge ran
away In fright. Although they looked
weakened by the torture they had
borne, they professed to be stronger.
and more industrious. This they
verified by going to field. where they
worked as men do who had determined
TO try again with renewed vigor and
determination. Now they are per-
fectly contented. and look forward to
the time when they expect their pray
ers TO be answered; one expecting a
new red wagon, another a pony, one
trusting his seed potatoes will not be
favored with kerosene another hop
ing he will receive onion sets in lieu
of seed, etc.
The Paris Census.