Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-03-12
scene too terrible and revolving t.. be

scene too terrible and revolving to be
seen. " ss (. IA Il
The banbarous and disgusting scene
of the scalp dance was the indians
mode of celebrating a victory ]; and
was usually given fifteen nights in
succession; when war party re-
turned from battle. having taken
scalps from the heads Of their enc
mics. Taking the scalp was practiced
by all the northwestern tribes, by
cutting off a patch of the skin from
the victims head when killed In bat
tie; and this piece of skin, with the
hair on it, was the scalp, taken and
preserved solely for a trophy; as the
proof positive that its possessor had
killed an enemy in battle. The In
dams idea is, that having no books
of history or public records to refer
to in the account of their battles and
individual exploits; the scalp is taken
as memento of the event The OBJ
ject to the scalp is definitely under
stood, and has been explained; but
the motive-or motives for which the
strict ceremony of the scalp dance Is
so scrupulous1y held by all the North
American tribes over the scalp Of any
enemy is subject not satisfacto
settled. Without entering into 81 a
question which opens wide field of
inquiry, it is perhaps sufficient to
observe that no doubt the great object
of these exhibitions was public ex-
ultation, yet there are several con-
elusive evidences that there. were
other essential motives for thus
formally displaying the scalps Of the
slain in battle Taught from infancy
to reverence his own traditions and
ceremonies, the Indian is satisfied of
their value; and breads the anger Of
the Great Spirit il he should depart
from the customs Of his ancestors.
Among most of the northwestern
tribes it was the custom to bury the
scalp of the slain victims, after they
had gone through this series of pub
lie exhibitions and awarded public
credit to the persons who obtained
them; thus showing from the solemni-
ty with which they buried these ghost
~ trophies, chanting their mournful
songs to the names of their unfortu-
nate victims, that they have a super
stitious dread of the spirit of their.
slain enemies, and by the many con-
ciliatory offices they perform, hope to
insure their own peace. 4.. .5S,
The writer has a vivid recollection
Of having Witnessed a calp-dance-
when boy during the early settle
ment of Minnesota in 1857. 1t was
performed by war-party Of Sioux
Indians who had met and vanquished
a band of Chippewas in battle; and
was enacted by the victors on their
return to their native village as q
celebration of their victory. The re-
turned warriors-who were painted
and decked out in their habiliments
Of Warmarched out in front of their
Council Lodge carrying in their midst
the scalp of two Chippewa braves who
were slain in battle. These trophies
of war were stretched in small hoops
fancifully decorated, attached to war
spears, and carried aloft. Having
selected smooth and level piece of
ground in the midst of their village
they formed into circle and the per-
Torrance commenced. A couple of
comely young squaws were selected to
aid-though they did not actually join
in the dane Who, upon receiving the
war spears stepped into the center of
the ring and holding up the scalps So
all could see them, commenced to
chant the melancholy put inspiring
measures Of a war song. The braves.
after Wanting forth the most extrava-
gent boasts of their wonderful powers
in battle, brandished their weapons
and commenced to dance or rather
jump around in a circle, whooping
and yelling in q most frightfuI man
ner. Meanwhile an old Indian pound
ed out "a heelinspiring tone. on a
rudely constructed drum; ingeniously
made by stretching piece OF raw
hide over the end of an old moIasses
keg, while the warriors continued.
their dancing. ali jumping around on
both feet at a time with a simultane-
Gus stamp and blow and thrust Of their
weapons with which 1t would seem
as If they were actually cutting and
carving each other to pieces. During
these frantic leaps and yelps, and
thrusts. every man distorted his
hideons hateful looking painted face
to the utmost Of his muscles, darting
his glaring eyebaIls about and snap
ping his teeth as IL he were III the
heat OF, and actually breathing