The morning news., 1898-07-16
THE sun DANCE OF THE UrEs.
Remarkable Religious Ceremony
Which Has Lost Its Ancient Bar

baritfes.
Salt Lake Letter in the Omaha Bee.
The social event" of Ute Society took
place last week on the reservation at Fort
Duchesne 1t is known as the sun dance,
and is undoubtedly one of the most inter-
esting of the American Indians peculiar
performances This is the first time for
years that they have been permitted to
hold the dance, it having been prohibited
on account of the tendency toward in
humanity and self-torture on the part of
the performers. In fact, a comparatively
few years ago it was conducted in the
most barbarous manner possible, and was
the test or graduating exercise" of the
young bucks 10 show their courage and
endurance. If they withstood the ordeal
they could then join the warriors band;
if not, they Were placed with the squaws
and compelled to perform the most menial
labor which fell to their lot.
However, the sun dance of to-day is quite
changed from that ten years ago If the
agent refuses to permit them to hold the
dance near the agency, they are likely to
go to some out-of-the-way place in the
mountains and hold il. Consequently be
concluded it better to let them hold it
where it could be watched, and, if neces-
sary, regulated
They constructed sort of frame work
for a large tent or pagoda, about 100 feet
across. With the exception of a large
entryWay, the sides were covered with
bushes, the top being open. The per-
formers were stationed around about on
half the inclosure, part Of the balance of
the space being occupied by the "orches-
ira" The dancers (54 entered were at
tired in a gee-string, their bodies painted
in varied colors, some copper color others
yellow and others nearly white, to which
were added odd stripings and markings of
face and body in other bright shades.
Their hair was neatly combed, and, as us
ual, parted in the middle and braided in
two long strands, which were adorned
with feathers of varied colors. Each wore
small apron Of some brilliant color,
worked with beads in odd designs, also
adorned with feathers. Each had an odd
ly constructed whistle with tuft of feath-
ers attached.
The orchestra mot exactly a Theodore
| Thomas organization, but one which SEEM
ed to please those most concerned) con-
sisted of a big tom-tom, upon which seven
or eight strong bucks delivered a deter
mined assault with clubs, accompanied by
the dulcet voices of several squaws, who
at the same time might be imagined as
keeping time by waving branches The
celebrated Midway Plaisance orchestra
The music starts up and each performer
takes his whistle in his mouth, and dur
ing the performance with each breath
| adds to the discord. With feathers in
each hand he starts from his place, and
by short, stiff jumps, with feet together
goes toward the center pole, upon which
is hung a banner with a crude picture of
a buffalo at which he intently gazes and
to which he seems to be appealing. When
the center is reached the return is made
by the same kangaroo-like jumps back
ward. This is kept up fifteen or twenty
minutes, and if some should not go for
ward or backward each time they never
cease jumping up and down and swinging
their heads while remaining in one place.
When the music, or more properly speak
ing, the ouuandish jargon of sounds,
ceases each performer usually drops
down and makes the best of the short
rest. for il is only a few moments before
they must begin again and keep it up
day and night without other than those
short rests, and without food or drink
during The whole time-three days and
three nights.
With performers or orchestra and the
hundreds of Indians of all ages and modes
of attire present, a truly novel and inter
esting spectacle is presented, especially
at night, when The campfire adds much 10
the weird picture and leaves but little for
the Imagination to cause one to feel that
he is a part of the scenes so vivdly pic
tured in the yellow-covered l0-cent novel
of years ago. It is impossible to get an
intelligent explanation of the fun mean
ing of the peculiar performance. 1t is
evident, however, that undoubtedly a