The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-09-02


 Of Gift-GIvIng, Too-white Eagle, the Old Chief, Tells What the Dance Means.
 Among the most interesting of all the religious rites of the Indian tribes still in existence is the ''sun dance" of the Poncas and Sioux, and especially that of the f1rst-named, from the fact of it's general observance every year and the general curiosity which it arouses among the whites
 The Ponca reservation, near Bliss, Oklahoma, has been visited by more ever before. This was due partly to the growing interest in it, and alike to the announcement that White Eagle, the venerable high chief, the ruler and priest of the Ponca tribe, would abdi- cate the chieftainship' in favor of his eldest son, Horse Chief.
 The sun dance held in the northern part of the famous ''101" ranch was con- cluded the middle of the week. It was followed by ghost, war and smoke dances and a general feast, breaking the fast which for three days those par ticipating in the dance must observe. It is the rule that they must go through the devotions to their deity, for such is the significance of the sun to them, un- til they have become exhausted, and no water or food can be drunk. Soda pop, however, in recent times has been made an exception to this, and during the rites just observed thousands of bottles of this beverage were consumed by the hungry and thirsty redskins.
 Sunday was the big day. White Eagle sent out the invitation in the language of his tribe: Big dance. All whites come" And the whites did come, rid Ing on the tops of the trains out to the spot of prairie owned by No Ear, a member of the tribe, and driving dis tance of thirty or forty miles.
 The sun dancewas continued through out the day at intervals, at such times as the dancers saw fit to execute pen , ance to the divinity, and until Monday noon, when it gave way to the other rites, partaking more of good fellow ship and less of religion. The Indians remained in camp the rest of the week, and the next week saw them scattered over the reservation, some of them re- turning to their civilian clothes, others to the costumes of their forefathers.
 For two weeks or more preceding the three days proper of dancing the Pom cas were gathering from all parts of their reservation, and, indeed, coming from as great a distance as Nebraska and the Dakotas. Old-Man-Sits-on-a- Hill, the chief medicine man upon thie occasion, came down from the Dakotss, bringing with him the most attractive tepee of any of those Withi nthe circle. The camp was located in the northern part of the .e1O1" ranch. The tepees were ranged in circle of about quar- ter of a mile diameter. Inside this cir ele of Indian tents were the tepees be- longing to the half dozen or more medi- eins. linen, who were the leading ones officiating at the sun dance.
 At last the time designated by the chief arrives, when the dance begins. As soon as day begins to break the bucks and a few of the squaws inaugu- rate the ceremonies The medicine men and subordinate chiefs seat themselves dIOuIl0 LOlIl-IUllI VI Nl All1 ny Jlll5 SluS- wise on the ground and with sticks beat in unison. The time which they keer would require an ordinary trot of a man to be in step with it. 5.....
 Long before this, however, possibly weeks, other medicine men have been S selected to officiate in the ceremonies These have charge each of a squad ot dancers, ranging in number from foul to fifteen. The medicine man holds com nnunion with the sun deity for days be. fore the dance, and by means of visions secures directions as to how he shal conduct those under his spiritual tute. lage. Matters of appearance and dres: for the occasion come in for chief con- sideration here. All the dancers art stripped as in their most primitive state, except that they wear an abbre. viated breechcloth. Their bodies ant faces are painted in the most brillian E colors, rendering their appearance 1T some cases hideouS, in others demon1a cal.
 Some squads carry emblens of vari ous kinds, such as pasteboard figure! of animals and men. All carry spris of sage brush, the plant evidently beins sacred to them. Most of them have { small wooden whistle which they blow footing Justify, at the same time tha tonn-toms are beaten. Lined up in { row in the early dawn or late in tn, evening, the beating of the drums blowing of whistles and writhing of tn bodies, one way and then another, il indeed a weird spectacle. Last Sunda! night the final penance to the sun deit, was performed just before heavy rail storm reached the camp, and while i was approaching. It was supposed t be sunset. The bucks and squaws wer arranged in a long line on the opel prairie. a:.ss' <, E '3 #
 Suddenly White Eagle, after mucl gesticulating and mumbling in the Pon ca tongue began the beating of tn tom-toms. The dancers all took up tn spirit, blowing their whistles flor sev eral minutes. Then the medicine maj having the squad at one end of the lin marched the dancers forward about ; hundred yards, where they faced tn west and stood. Immediately the medi cine man, followe by those in bis charge stretched forth his right hand as a ben ediction.
 Then followed the cries of the dane CTS. the wild wailing of the squaws fo their dead and moaning and groaninl as of wild beasts. The Indians appear ed to be inploring, from the very depth of their souls filled with anguish, pro 4aof;n,, and care IJnoO themS selves an