The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-04
THE SUN DANCE.
How Western Correspondents De-
scribes It-CanGdian Indians.

! How Western Correspondent De-
scribes It-CRnGdian Indians.
A correspondent Of the st. Paul Globe,
| writing from Havre, Mont, says party OF
Cree Indians, of eighty lodges, under Nah
touche, who have had their camp near this
town for three or four months, last evening
| closed three days sun dance. which was
| largely attended by the citizens of this town
| aud also large contingent of soldiers from
Fort Asslneootne and party OF Blackfeet
| Indians. The dance was held in a large cir
cular wigwam, having diameter
of about fifty feet on one side
Of which wicker fence had
been put up, about four feet high, closely
interviewer with green boughs, so as to
form screen. Behind this screen the fan
tastlc, painted performers. numbering
about two dozen Of both sexes, reolined
upon the ground, waiting to be called into
the center area by the master of ceremonies
to commence the performance, which was
to test the fortltude and endurance of the
| young msn competing for the prizes, which
| consisted Of pony, thirty or forty pieces of
calico of oil eolors, with brilliant hues pre-
| dominating, and several pounds Of smoking
tobacco, together with numerous small
trinkebs. All OF their movements dur
ing the performance were regu-
lated by the musical band, con-
sistinR of twenty-four performers
Of both sexes, some beating on tom-toms,
keeping time to the voices, and the piping
upon whistles, held between the teeth, and
which gave forth sharp staccato sounds,
very nearly in the key OF tho small boys
goose quill whistle which was in vogue fifty
years ago These whistles were ornamsated
with oolored quill work, and some had at
the extremity bright oolored fluffy feather
that tiuttered when the pipe was blown.
Each OF the competing dancers had one of
these pipes In his mouth, upon which he
kept up foot, even while undergoing the
extreme fortunes of the sun dance.
The audience, which was a motley one,
standing mostly outside on one side of the
wigwam, where the covering had been re-
moved, we're first treated to an overture
and dance, in which the competing young
men joined In the dance hehiad the screen,
only the heads and shoulders appearing as
they bobbed up and down in the ry thmic
cadence, oil blowing their whistles till they
were out of breath. After this performance
came the dog feast, for which two fat dogs
had been slaughtered just outside tho tent
in the presence of the spectators. One of
these animals was an English bulldog be-
longing TO the proprietor OF the Windsor
hotel, and which was a great favorite in the
town. Old Joe had been stolen by a man
who had grudge against the landlord and
given to toe indians.
The feast was interrupted by the irate
landlord, accompanied by an officer, armed
with a warrant for the arrest Of the thief
and recovery of his canine friend but alas
they found the poor brute was largely filing
cavities IN the stomachs of the hungry
aborigines; but the thief was takon in
charge, and now must stand trial before a
jury of his peers.
The principal performance was then
given, which was begun by the taking up
between the fingers a part Of the flesh OF
the breast OF the performer and then
thrusting knife through and inserting a
wooden skewer in the slit which projected
on each side, aud to this skewer was at
tachsd a small rope fastened to the top of
the center pole of the wigwam. In this
position the young buck danced back
and forth, keeping time with his
whistle, accompanied by the tom-roms and
Others Of the performers. until he fell from
exhaustion, bleeding profusely from his
wounds. One Of them swung himself
around and so far out that the skewer tore
out the flesh, and he fell to the ground faint
ing from loss Of blood and exhaustion.
As these Indians belong to the Dominion
OF Canada, and, therefore, are not under
the control Of our government, no official
notice is taken OF these barbario and cruel
rites; but the dictates Of humanity call for
interference that will prohibit these exhibi-
tions that have q tendency to corrupt the
moral sensibilities OF our youth.