The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1894-11-30
Sioux Superstitions.

To the Sioux of the past, religion was !
truly mystery. From the simple growth
of the blade of grass to the complex phe-
nomena of the thunder storm, all life,
power and strength were interpreted as the
physical acts of unknown gods. The Great
Spirit, writes Lieut. William II Wassell in
Harper's Magazine, is name given us by
the interpreter, for the Sioux had no ccn-
ception of a single spirit, however great,
capable of ruling the universe. Light
ming was the anger Of a thunder god, an
awful bird, whose structure varied from
wings containing only six quilts to wings
with four joints each, according TO the iE.-
agins.ion of The medieine-man. The
moving god, he whose aid it was difficult
to invoke, was too subtle 10 be likened to
any known form, but he controlled the in
tellect. passions and mental faculties. alb
stractions for which the Sioux has not even
name. The Hayoka was the contrary
god, who sat naked. and famed himself in
tho coldness OF Dakota blizzard. and hud-
died shivering over FIRE in the heat of
summer, who cried for Joy and laughed in
his sorrow. Rocks and powders were the
hardest and strongest things; hence they
belonged to the oldest gods-smaller rocks
were fetiches. On the barren bu,ies Of the
Dakotas may be seen many crumoling
pile of stones erected In 5y-scne days 10
propitiate an unknown god. Many for
gotten chief has gone to the highest hill
when his son was sick, and amidst hastings
and incantations reared mound of little
stones in the hope tha. his loved ones life
might be spared, And still another relic
of the savage belief of the old Sioux is found
on the bodies Of the warriors themselves.
Take almost any man who is thirty years
scars on his back or breast. and dozens Of
smaller scars on bis arms, all inflicted by
himself in fulfilling his vows TO the sun
The sun-aance was one Of the great relig-
ious ard political events of the Sioux life
Whole Villages assembled and feasted,
while the worshIpers tasted and exhausted
the strength they were to need so badly in
the coming test Of endurance On the ap-
pointed day none but virgins were allowed
to cut down and trim The tree that vas tc
be used, while only chief and warriors oI
exceptional bravery were allowed 10 carr,
II to its place in the center of the village.
Here, with mysterious pire-smokings and
unintelligible incantations. the pole il
planted. ropes of buffalo hide having beer
fastened to its top, one rope for each wor.
shipper. The men, already half dead from
exhaustion, are then brought out and lait
on the ground around the pole. alSayi
ready knives thrust through the muscles o
their chests or backs, and in the holes thu
made wooden skcwers thrust, TO which an
fastened the loose ends Of The ropes. TneI
round and round dance the worsnlpers
their eyes fixed on the tlazing sun. Will
the jerk, jerk, jerk Of the bleeding aesl
beats s'ckering time 10 The hi-yas Of
Dakota scng. Frieads and relatives. men
women and children. cash their arms an
breasts ta stimulate the dancers and kec
up their occrage. wnen the flesh is tor
apart the dancer is released. his vow ful
filed. his bravery. his manhood upqUe'
) toned. These and a thousand o;her mon
strous customs were vha; the early mis-
{ sionary had to combat,