Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-11

These features Of the dance occurred on
one of the fasting days. In the most COM
mon form of torture two small skewers
were inserted by a medicine man in the
breast Of the subject. The medicine man took
the subjects loose skin and, slightly extend
ing it. pierced it with either large awl or
knife ground to point. Through the hole
thus formed was inserted the skewer, over
which was Tapped a buckskin thong. with
ends tied to those Of a long rawhide lariat
fastened to the fork in the center pole OF
the dance lodge. The person so tied coulo
move only a short distance from the pole,
and thus he commonly danced all night. In
the morning his skin on one side OF the
skewers was cut, and he would thus pc
freed. When witnessing the sun dance Oh
the Cheyenne three years ago Mr.. Dorsey
says this feature was arranged by brave
who desired to thus effect the healing OF
a sick daughter. But either from tough
ness of the subjects skin or Guinness OF
the knife used the medicine man did not
succeed in making the incisions, whereupon
he declared that the anxious parent mad
fulfilled his obligations. Another man. how
ever, had skewers inserted in his back, ana
over them were looped buckskin bands at
tached to two fragments of buffalo Skull,
which the man dragged two miles around
the inside Of the camp circle and pack 70
the starting point without evidence Oh 'ho
slightest degree of pain.
OF the dances of the plains, the next IN
spectacular effect is the Omaha dance,
which originated with the Omaha Indians
and spread to the different tribes. 1t Is
nantomimic representation of an attack on
an enemy's camp The GROW Dance an.
other summer ceremony OF the plains
tribes is a cross between the Omaha ana
sun dances The green corn dance Is the
nrincipal summer festival of the eastern
tribes, some of whom have introduced II
into Indian Territory. 1t really occurs
after the corn has been harvested, ratner
than when it is green. and comprises a
MI fourth
day of this festival Is given over entireiy
to gambling. Just as soon as any berry
ripens In the spring and summer the III
quois Of western New york ceieprate the
berries are picked and crushed with maple
sugar. Then there follows the dance and
an eloquent grafton of thanksgiving to the
deities. Not until after these ceremonies
can any one pick the berries In question
The Ghost Dance.
The "ehost dance" of the plains tribes
was participated in by Mr.. James Mooney
of the bureau of ethnology when he visited
the Arapahoe and Cheyenne several years
ago. Hypnotism contributes the most inn
portant feature of the ceremony, according
to the ethnologist.
It doubtless will surprise many that the
Indians can successfully practice hypno-
tism. AS matter of fact such power and
sleight- of hand formed part Of the former
Indian medicine mans equipment from the
st. Lawrence to the gulf. The Indian priests
do not understand the phenomena, but as
cribe them to a supernatural cause. On
arriving among the Arapahoe and Cheyenne
Mr.. Mooney heard numerous stories OF
wonderful things occurring in the ghost
dance-how people died. went to heaven and
came back again; how they talked with
dead friends and brought back messages
from the other world. On two occasions
Mr.. Moneys woman partner in the ghost
dance came under the hypnotic influence.
He saw one young Arapahoe Carlisle stu
dent-a clerk In a store-become rigid in a
hypnotic trance of the ghost dance night
after night. This same youth afterward
took part In the sun dance, dancing three
days and nights without food, drink or
sleep. After observing the ghost dance
among the southern tribes during four
years, Mr.. Mooney concludes that the hyp-
motto tendency Is growing and the religious
excitement dying out
Some dancers commence to tremble and
mony without any effort on the part of
the hypnotist.
In the ghost dance the hypnotist, usually
q man. stands within the large circle or ring
hand an eagle feather, scarf or handkcr
chief. and as the dancers circle about him
singing In cadence to their steps, the ex-
element increases until the more sensitive
siSiDiy aucCteQ. 10 hasten
the emotional effect the time of the music
is quickened. The first dancer to succumb
Is generally young woman. She suffers
a muscular tremor, distinctly felt by those
holding her hands in the circle The hypno-
fist inside the ring Is on the watch, and as
soon as he notices the woman's condition
he approaches and stands Immediately in
front of her. looking intently into her face
and rapidly whirling the feather or hand
kerchief, or both, before her eyes. He con-
stantly faces her and at the same time
moves along with the dancers. All of this
while he keeps up series of sharp sounds
like the rapid breathing of an exhausted
runner. Now the feather or handkerchief
is whirlins about. now moving rapidly up
and down. Usually before the circuit Is
completed the woman loses control of her
self entirely. and breaking from the circle.
staggers into the ring. She now stands be-
fore the hypnotist, who makes quick passes
with his hands which her eyes follow with
a fixed stare. She still sings in stagger-
ing, drunken fashion. then with eyes shut
or fixed and staring, she stands rigid and
utters low, pitiful means. At last she falls
heavily to the ground, unconscious and mo-
tionless, and the hypnotist goes In search of
another subject. Thus in time the dance
field becomes strewn with persons overcome