The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-08-30

The sund dance is celebrated by al
most ali of the Indian tribes of North
America. and with each tribe it's rites
are different. Among the Ponca In
dams of Oklahoma, for example, us
chief feature at the present time IS an
Interchange Of gifts, and on these oc-
casions the redskins give away almost
all they have. They celebrated the 1e
event this year in June on the lOi
ranch. or the Miller ranch, as 1t is
sometimes called, which is about th1r-
ty miles south of Arkansas City, Kan.
Although there were not more than
1900 Indians present at this dance, yet
the presents which were distributed IN
the 'intermissions" were valued at
$4,000. Blankets worth between
$4,000 and $4,000 were given by the
indians to their friends, and were in
turn received by them from their as
sociates, and nearly 1000 horses were
distributed as gifts.
One Indian came to "Joe" Miller, the
superintendent of the ranch, In the
course of the dance and bought team,
paying for the two horses $500 In cash.
Then he led them out in front Of the
crowd and gave them to a friend. A
considerable number Of teams, eacn
valued at $3.50, were distributed in this
off-hand fashion. The number OF
yards of calico of variegated color that
was given away was almost beyond
computation. Trunks also occupied q
prominent place on the list Of pres
ents, and by the time the dance was
drawing to a close there was hardly a
lodge in the camp that had not
bright and shining new trunk standing
out in plain sight, in odd contrast to
the dirty tent flaps, the soiled blankets
and battered and fre-begrimed cook
ing utensils.
mo other tribe ever gave so much"
said an Indian to one Of the white Wis
itors. He worn one of the stars Of the
Indian police. 1.-THE Osages are richer
than we are and could give more, but
they don't The Osages are stingy
pack" There was deep scorn in his
voice, just as there had been pride
when first he spoke of the generosity
of his own tribesmen.
The sun dance to the Poncas Is Of
as much significance as worship. Ask
q Ponca why the tribe meets each year
for the sun dance, and the answer, al
though unsatisfactory, will impress the
fact upon one that this is a tribal GUS
tom, and that ever since time began
the Poncas have worshiped their
deity in this fashion. The dance lasts
three days, and then the Indians have
other dances for two more days.
Squaws Are Shut Out.
Forty eight braves participated this
year in the dances. No squaws had any
part in the ceremony. The dancers
were divided into bands of from three
to five. They were naked from the
waist up, and each buck was plenti-
fully besmeared with paint. Each band
had it's own color, and each it's own
particular pattern in applying the
paint. In this respect the dance of
each year is Identical with all that
have ever been held before. During
the dance those participating in it are
supposed to abstain from food or wa
ter. 1t may be that at some time this
regulation was observed with absolute
strictness, but the paIefaces who know
pretty we'll the ways Of their Indian
neighbors say they doubt if the Indians
now go three whole days without food.
At any rate, they dink pop" openly,
but they say that pop" is not water.