t>. 
 
 
 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 /. 
 
 O 
 
 A^ 
 
 .V 
 
 ^< 
 
 
 «- 
 
 t/. 
 
 fA 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.! 
 
 •^ 1^ 12.2 
 
 
 liS 1 1 2.0 
 
 
 1.25 1.4 
 
 1.6 
 
 
 ■a 6" - 
 
 
 ► 
 
 V] 
 
 <^ 
 
 //. 
 
 /\ 
 
 
 
 /A 
 
 ^ 
 
 '>i^^ 
 % 
 
 °w 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 Corporation 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 
 
 (716) 872-4603 
 

 A 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 
 Microfiche 
 
 Series. 
 
 CIHIVI/ICIVIH 
 Collection de 
 microfiches. 
 
 Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 
 
Technical and Bibliographic Notat/Notaa tachniquas at bibllographlquaa 
 
 I ha Inttituta haa attamptad to obtain tha baat 
 original copy availabia for filming. Faaturaa of thia 
 copy which may ba bibllographically uniqua, 
 which may altar any of tha imagaa In tha 
 reproduction, or which may significantly change 
 tha usual method of filming, are checlced below. 
 
 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 n 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 Coloured covers/ 
 Couverture de couleur 
 
 I I Covers damaged/ 
 
 Couverture endommagAe 
 
 Covers restored and/or laminated/ 
 Couverture restauria et/ou pelliculAe 
 
 I I Cover title missing/ 
 
 Le titre de couverture manque 
 
 I I Coloured maps/ 
 
 Cartes g6oqraphiques en couleur 
 
 Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ 
 Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) 
 
 I I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ 
 
 Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur 
 
 Bound with other material/ 
 RellA avec d'autras documents 
 
 Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion 
 along interior margin/ 
 
 La reliure serr6e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la 
 distortion le long de la marge intArieure 
 
 Blank leaves added during restoration may 
 appear within the text. Whenever possible, these 
 havA been omitted from filming/ 
 II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutAes 
 lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans la texte. 
 mais, iorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont 
 pas 6t6 filmies. 
 
 Additional comments:/ 
 Commentaires supplimentaires; 
 
 Thi 
 to 
 
 L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire 
 qu'il lui a AtA possible de se procurer. Les details 
 de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du 
 point de vue bibllographique, qui peuvent modifier 
 une image reprodulte, ou qui peuvent exiger une 
 modification dans la m^^hoda normale de filmage 
 sont indiquAs ci-dessous. 
 
 □ Coloured pages/ 
 Pages de couleur 
 
 □ Pages damaged/ 
 Pages endommagAas 
 
 r~n Pages restored and/or laminated/ 
 
 D 
 
 Pages restauries et/ou pellicuiAes 
 
 Pages discoloured, stained or foxe< 
 Pages dAcolorAes, tachet6es ou piquAes 
 
 Pages detached/ 
 Pages ddtachdes 
 
 Showthrough/ 
 Transparence 
 
 Quality of prir 
 
 Qualiti inAgale de I'impresslon 
 
 Includes supplementary materii 
 Comprend du material supplAmentaire 
 
 Only edition available/ 
 Seule Edition disponibie 
 
 Th« 
 poa 
 oft 
 filr 
 
 Ori| 
 bng 
 the 
 sior 
 oth 
 firs 
 sioi 
 or 
 
 r~yj. Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ 
 
 I I Pages detached/ 
 
 r~~j Showthrough/ 
 
 I I Quality of print varies/ 
 
 I I Includes supplementary material/ 
 
 I — I Only edition available/ 
 
 The 
 shal 
 TIM 
 whii 
 
 l\/lap 
 diffc 
 entl^ 
 begi 
 right 
 requ 
 metl 
 
 Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata 
 slips, tissues, etc.. have been refilmed to 
 ensure the best possible image/ 
 Las pages totalement ou partiellement 
 obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une peiure. 
 etc.. ont M filmies A nouveau de fa^on d 
 obtenir la meilleure image possible. 
 
 This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ 
 
 Ce document est film6 au taux de reduction indiquA ci-dessous. 
 
 10X 
 
 
 
 
 14X 
 
 
 
 
 18X 
 
 
 
 
 22X 
 
 
 
 
 26X 
 
 
 
 
 30X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 y 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12X 
 
 16X 
 
 20X 
 
 24X 
 
 28X 
 
 32X 
 
ire 
 
 details 
 !•• du 
 modifier 
 ler una 
 filmage 
 
 The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks 
 to the generosity of: 
 
 Library of the Public 
 Archives of Canada 
 
 The images appearing here are the best quality 
 possible considering the condition and legibility 
 of the original copy and In keeping with the 
 filming contract specifications. 
 
 L'exemplaire filmA fut reprodult grAce A la 
 gAnArositA de: 
 
 La bibiioth^que des Archives 
 publiques du Canada 
 
 Las images suivantes ont M reprodultes avec le 
 plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et 
 de la nettetA de l'exemplaire filmA, et en 
 conformity avec les conditions du contrat de 
 filmaytf. 
 
 Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed 
 b<^ginning with the front cover and ending on 
 the last page with a printed or Illustrated impres- 
 sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All 
 other original copies are filmed beginning on the 
 first page with a printed or Illustrated impres- 
 sion, and ending on the last page with a printed 
 or illustrated Impression. 
 
 ies 
 
 Les exemplaires orlginaux dont la couverture en 
 papier est ImprimAe sont fiimis en commenqant 
 par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la 
 dernlAre page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'lllustration, soit par le second 
 plat, salon le cas. Tous las autres exemplaires 
 orlginaux sont filmds en commenfant par la 
 premiere page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par 
 la derniire page qui comporte une telle 
 empreinte. 
 
 The last recorded frame on each microfiche 
 shall contain the symbol —^> (meaning "CON- 
 TINUED "), or the symbol y (meaning "END"), 
 whichever applies. 
 
 Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la 
 dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le 
 cas: le symbole — ► signifie "A SUIVRE ", le 
 symbole V signifie "FIN". 
 
 Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at 
 different reduction ratios. Those too large to be 
 entirely included In one exposure are filmed 
 beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to 
 right and top to bottom, as many frames as 
 required. The following diagrams illustrate the 
 method: 
 
 Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre 
 fiimis d des taux de reduction diffdrents. 
 Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre 
 reprodult en un seul clich6, il est filmd A partir 
 de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche d droite, 
 et de haut en bas. en prenant le nombre 
 d'Images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants 
 lllustrent la mdthode. 
 
 errata 
 to 
 
 pelure, 
 on d 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 32X 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
THE BLACKFOOT SUN-DANCE 
 
 IIV 
 
 KKV JOHN McLKAN. M.A , Vu.D. 
 
 
 •^i 
 
 
 
 tfP*! 
 
 { Reprinted from the Proceedings of the Cayiadian 
 Institute. No. i^i. iS8(^.) 
 
 fA 
 Y. 
 
 .- f" 
 
 'A' 
 
 
 .n 
 
 TORONTO. 
 
 THE COPP, CLARK. COMPANY, I.IMITED. 
 1889. 
 
TIIK HLACKFOOT SUN-DANCK. 
 
 HY KKV.-JOIIN M LRAN, M.A., (ILOOl> ItKMKUV K, AMIKRTA. 
 
 Tlio most important sacrcMl fcstiviil of the IMackfcot is tlio Sim- 
 Danco. In the native lani,'iiag(' it is called (.)ki'in, a word wliosu 
 incfaniu'^ is now untirtily lost. It is known auion;(st tlio wliitn |MM»|t|(> 
 as iho M»'di(!in(!-Dan('(' or Sun Dance. This ari.M'H from tluj fact that 
 Natos, the mtn, wlion comliincd witii other words is also translated 
 meilicini', referring to the spiritual ccromonieh of the medic-iil priest- 
 hood. In the native religion of the Indians its true signification is 
 holy or divine. As (i.xamples of these <listinctions we have, Natos- 
 aumu<|ka, medicine-riinncir, Natoapsinaksln, tht; divine l»ook, the 
 sun-book, the lUble, NattyetclstclkwC^, the holy day — the sun-ihiy 
 — the Sabbath. 
 
 As these Indians have borrowed some of tlnnr ceremonieH from the 
 Sioux Indians, and the natives of Yucatan still hold the religious 
 festival of the Sun-Dance, it may have happened that in the dim past 
 they adopted this festival and modilitsd it to suit them.selves. A 
 festival of nearly similar import is celebrated amongst the Cireea 
 named the Thii-st-Dance. The records of tradition state that an old 
 woman had a sick child which she loved tender ly. In her anxiety 
 for its recovery, she prayed Jnc(!ssantly to Natos for help in he)- dis- 
 tress. One evening as she slept, Natos appeared to her in a dream, 
 and told her that if she would build a Sun-lodge and make sacrifices 
 to him, the child would g(!t wtdl. She awoke, and told her people of 
 the wonderful vision, the lodge was erected, the festival was held, 
 and the child recovertMl. Since that period, the Sun-Dance has been 
 annually held. The time for the ceUibratiun of this festival is when 
 the wild-fruit is ri})e, at the end of duly or early in August. Seven 
 days is the length of time it is generally held, although this is sonie- 
 times shortened. The object of this festival is twofold, namely : 
 military and religious. It is chiefly a saci-cnl asse,nd>ly, and con- 
 stitutes a part of tludr native religious .system. A virtuous woman 
 

 2 TIIK lll.ACKKOOT MUN fiANl K. 
 
 (if tilt' tiil)t' iliiriii;^ llio y«>iir Iihh I'liswd tl'ioiij^li hmhh- tryiii;; (tfilciil, 
 jiikI ill niH'(»rtliiiii'i' with licr rt^li^ioiiH iilfiin iiii'l ilfMirt's, Iiiim pniyfil to 
 NutoH for licaltli for luTscIf or hoim" of Imr rcl.itioin, uml lias vowimI 
 to NiitoH, tluit if her jiruyofN uro iiiiMWcrfMl, nhc will luji'omn r<'H[»otiHil>ln 
 for f.lin iiiiiiuiil f«'h'l»nition of tho SunDunco. 
 
 Tho iinnouncciufiit haviiij; Iuhui miuin, the youtiy iiioii n'paii' («> tlu> 
 wooiIh to prncuro th<' ii('c«*sHary niatcM'iiiis to hiiihl tin* lfHl;^('. WIh'Ii 
 it is cut, hiriatH aro fastciUMl aroutitl it, ami it in drayKcil aloiij,' tho 
 i,'naiii<l to its (1t>stination l»y young men on horscliaok, amid tlm dx- 
 ultiitioi\H of their foimadcM. who a.s they liilo singing ami slionling, 
 sliout incesHantly with their gutiH into tht< h)gs. A level jiieet; of 
 ground is seh>(;tei| near the middle of the eanipand the erection of the 
 lodge is joytidly \ind(>itaken. The lodge is circular in form and of 
 various dimensions. Those that I Imvo Hnon aujong the I'dooil IndiaiiH 
 .."cro about thirty fi et in diameter. In the centi-e stands the sacred 
 pole from the top »f which, heavy ridgf^ \u)\m extend to the sides, 
 which ai-e alKMit livct f(>et in height, strong supports ai'<! plaeed around 
 the sides, the spaces intervening laung lilh^l with light hnishwood. 
 There is a large main entranci! and a lesser one. Opposite the lUitin 
 entrance and against the sidii of the lodge is the bower for the woman 
 and her husband who liave undertake)i the celebration of tlie f(!stival. 
 At the foot of tlu^ sacred pole burns tlie sacred fire. At th" left of 
 the bower facing the main entrance a band of young men sit l>'!ating 
 on drums as an accompaniment of the ceremonit s, in tluj ccntri' sii tlio 
 cln'efs near the sacjred poUt, and all around the sides the general 
 assemblag*^ is arranged as participants in the rites or merely as 
 onlookers of a strange scene of a decaying religion and civilization. 
 In tlie interests of science I have attended four Sun-Dances and taken 
 extensive notes of all 1 saw, and a d<!scnption of one of tliese will 
 illustrate the prevailing ideas of tlit; rn<lians. As the influences of 
 religion and civilization are slowly undermining the native religious 
 system, in a few years tlie celebration of thi.'i festival will become a 
 tiling of the past, and the oppoi'tunity for reciording these religious 
 customs will be gone. 
 
 On a warm day in Mie lattei- ])art of July, I visited the lilood 
 Indian cani[), and found the Sun-lodger as already described. There 
 wore by actual count one hundred and ninety-eight lodges, com]ti'ising 
 aV)out two thousand .souls. An old man was riding through the 
 
 -i 
 
 y y/ 3 V 
 
TIIK HI.ACKMluT HTN hANCK. 
 
 (!iiiii|» culliiiL; iijioii tli<^ |icti|)li' to itdt'Dil lliu i'i-i'iMii(iiii«*N. Ill a loil^r 
 iKMtr lit IiiukI, It iiioili 'iiif iniut wuh ilocorutiii^' tlic ihthmus wlut witrn 
 to ui»i|fM';^o t\\v lito of tortiiri'. I iiotiiHMl that in iiri'iiii'^iit^ tlin Im'ihI- 
 illtMH, lK>foi-if pliicili^ it on till) lii'iul of iturli iiuliviilinil irt jtiiNHtMl Win 
 liiunl iu'oiiihI it four tiiiiuM .ih Iio |>riiy<><l. TliiH wiiH pi'iMilinrly Hijrnili* 
 cuat, UK it sliowdl that tlioHii [i-toplo in ooiiiiiion with the Sioux an<l 
 niiiny othi'i- ImliiiiiH i°«';;{.'ii'i| th<< nmnlit'i- four hh ii hiku'imI mimlxri'. 
 TiiiH (Mil l»o »>iiHily inicjtil through thi'ir iiiyth()lo;{y, rnli;i{ioiis, social 
 autl |>oiiti>'iil c'listoniN. In thi- Sim h»l.;r tlii> su<;i')-il lirt) was burning, 
 ami this wa« UHfcl by tin |>oo|)Ui for ligiilin^ thtiir |)i|H)s. No chiM or 
 woman wa.s iillowttil to Hii|i|ily tin; fnul, hnt yunnij inun who h iil put'. 
 forniHil soini' v»iioronn iIh«'i1, t'HpcMtially tin* Httfaliiii,' of horses tVoni a 
 hostilti ti'ihc felt it to h(> an honor to iittiMMl to this duty, and nono 
 hut tim hravt> wiMu (jiialitif^il for this work. On the* sikmimI pole was 
 pliUHMl ill tfi(! toriii of a cross X f-^^'* huiiilh)s of small hriishwo id taUcii 
 from tlin Itircii tri.r. Tjic poh' Wiis diM-iirali-d with Hairitifcs of cloth- 
 ing and viiiioiis kinds of Indian t^oods to Natos. Tho (.-rosH evidently 
 rofors to the four winds, from its fo\ir points, and is not horrowod 
 from the (JhriHtiiin rtili^iou, as those pcoph^ usod this syml)ol Ix-foro 
 th(5y oaiiic III <oiitact with th(( whito mon, or had any knowl('d.r(t of 
 (Jhristiaiiity, hfsidi's heinj; very superstitious ahout adopting any of 
 the rites or Kyiiihols of the lelij^im of the pale f: me, and iniorporatiiiij 
 it with their own. In tlie l»ov or mad" of li^dlt liiiisliwood sat the 
 woman who orgaiii/ed the h)dge, her husl)and and a medii iiio man. 
 These [KM'Hons wtu'e fasting and praying, and during the full ti.'nn of 
 the continuance of the ceromoniHs, very little food was partaken. In 
 the mornings they were allowed a short smokt!, and a little watiu', 
 and in the eveiiiiigs a ft!W of their friends brought a small quantity of 
 food hidden under their blankets, und without ex[)()sing it to view, it 
 was eaten in sileiiee. The iii dicine man hid a crown of leav(!s U|)On 
 his head, his body pa'iited, .iiid without any clothing, save a long 
 strip around his loins. At short intervals he arose and danced keep- 
 ing time to the motions of his body, with a small bone whistle, which 
 he blew u[)oii incessantly, producing a series of monotonous sounds. 
 In the evening the woman prayed to Natos for good health for the 
 |)eo[)le, protection in danger, good crops and a bountiful harvest of 
 wild fruits. The virgins caiiu^ in the evening and |»r,iyed for a long 
 time for blessings from Natos. I>iiring tin; day, the ceremonies con- 
 
ill. ni.ACKKOOT Hl'NIlANCi:. 
 
 HiMli'il of ilraiiiiitic ii>)in>H<'TitiitioiiH uf linroic lulvcntiiioN liy Hiii^lo 
 iiiiliviiliiiilN, iiiiil I'Diiti'NtH with tli<' Crow iiml Sioux ItnliiitiH liy wiir- 
 |)urtii>M. OiK' I'liict' ItoiTDWi'il si-vi'ial ;(iiiii Iikiii IiIh fVifii'l>», luul ti 
 liii')/i* iiiiiiiIht of Iiiiliiiu war ini|il*<iiit>nt.H anil tintiv •■ liiiikctH. Str|i|)iii^ 
 t'orwiinl tliiit all tlit> |i«>()pl<< iiii}{lit Ri>n liiin, luiiiti |)i'()foiirii| niIcik'*', ho 
 uilili'PHKod thit nNHitiiil)|ii;{(\ lioMiii^ a '^\i\\ aloft hii told how ill A 
 OotltcHt with an ftifiiiy, ho hud Hiaiii hint and takxii his ;;iiii. Thn 
 Itaiid of iiiiiHii-iuiiN Ix'at on tUv'w /i>iu-toins in tokon of a|t|ilanH*<, K c^h 
 iifticln that ho had, i-oppisontod liiH varioiiH vietoricH, /md oacli hud IIh 
 Hoparutt' story, whifli was narrated ,i,s t.li<> first, and tli<> sanio routinn 
 ^oiH' lliroiii^h. When ln' had liiiisln'd, tho wholo assonilda^t^ joiMfd 
 till* htnHi«ManN in a|)|ilaii<liii'4 tho Np«>al<i<r. Many warrioi'N diirin^j lliu 
 day roliitcMl thoir hruvo doodH in Mio Haiiio luannor. 
 
 Sham (i;;htH wiM'o onj^agi'd in, which wen- ropntHcntattons of actual 
 Inittlcs. Kivo or six warriors appcarod iis (.-row Indiaiis and the siiiuo 
 or II loHS nunilior wen! tln' UIockI Indian warriors. A sin;4lt' horsn 
 rcproscntod that thoy had ho(«n on horsi^liack, anil this was dockod in 
 itH war paint. One of tho nion, tho hero of tho hattlo, iiutod as iiiHtruc- 
 tor of tho corcmonioH to the others. Four tinien thoy oiitorod tho 
 iod^o, and tlion the tit^Iit lio^an. They tired thoir t^uns over tho heads 
 of Iho people, the ('row Indians foil one l>y one, and wlieii they had 
 lii'on scalped amid the laughter and applause of the audience, tho 
 Hcono was at an end. lieiries i-ooked in fat wore l»rou<,djt in hy tho 
 women in pails and pots, and for a short time eating, Hiaoking and 
 conversation were the duties of tho hour. Occasionally Homo old lady 
 would call out the luuuo of a young man, and declaro his nohlo 
 (pialitios before the people, and another would urge the young men to 
 enudate tho hiu'oic deeds of their fathers and go to war. 
 
 ProHonts of bracelets, finger-rings and ear rings woro inado to sonio 
 of the women. The chief waiiior carried in his hand tho .sacrod pipii, 
 wliich he first held aloft with the stem toward the Sun, that Natos 
 might have tho first-fruits of everything, and still holiling it, stem 
 toward the chiefs, each was allowed to take a suioke. The i)ipo wu8 
 l)eautifully ornamenteil, and was u.sed only ut tho Sun- Dunce. Sonio 
 of these* pipes are of great value, tlie one which I saw costing (ifteon 
 of tlio best horses in tho tribe, and the.se woro used for hunting the 
 buffalo. Tho women huve one important coremony to |»erfoi'm, numrly : 
 the preparation of tho tongues, In former years when buffalo were 
 
ril»: MI,A<M»)»t>t MMN IMN* K 
 
 ill iiliuiii|iili(*i* riM liiimy KM two ilii* muA Kuirilu Ioiikiii>h v/i ri) iiM'il iii 
 It Nin^li' Klin l)iiii)'i> ; ti>»w, tlio liiittiuiM liiiv<« t>i In> i iHiti*iit)*«| witli Iwii 
 IiuihIi'ciI tt>ti^iii>N oC tliiiiii'Htii* cuttln. Tlit'n<' itii' oili^lilly lN)ili'i| ami 
 ilrit^il, out ill Nlifi»M \t^ry ntii>fully, lak«>ii in mu-kn to tin* Hiui ItMJ^'x mul 
 Kiiunlti<i Ity two youiii( iio<n, TIiim tii«> |Nirtiiki«N of tli«< iiii(iin> itf ii 
 Miirriiiiii<iit. NoiD- liiit virtiioiiN w ,iii>ii urn iillowi>i| in ^»l up iiinl 
 tuki* a |>ii>«'i< of l<tii((u«>. Aftitr tlic |Htr>4unN ijrvotril to NiiIom |NiitHki<, 
 till' toiiKUi^H Hit) iliMlriltut<><l itiiuui^Ht tlir |H>o|ili«, UM a n'li^iouN iiuftiiiiiiy. 
 
 An f Ntoixl outhitii' fli«< |(xlt<)«, Ii yoiiiit^ littiiau fiiiuul of iiiin<*, wi>til 
 to all oM iiM>i|'< iiM> witiiiaii ami imcakuIi il liirt Nanili<*«« to NatoH. 
 |)ui'iii)( till* your In- liuil ^oui< on a Ihi'hi' Nti>aliii^' i>x|H*i|iiioii ami hm in 
 ifUMloiiiary oil niicIi otiruMioiiN IiikI piayMl t> NatoH for |iroti>rtioii hikI 
 NucitHNH, otl'fi-iiiK liitiisrjf to liiM )^o<l if liiH itmyniit wciv iiitNwi>i'c«i, Mm 
 liail Imvou HtiirvHMrul ami lio .low |iii'M»iit4'i| ltiiii^«lf un a Huci-itii'i'. 
 'i'li(> ol<l woman to«>k IiIh liaixl li)*lil it towiini tlt(! Hun ami priiyril, 
 tJK'ii laying a t'm^i'i- on a liloirk of woihI sIii> several it witli oiu' Mow 
 fi'oiii a knife uiul iIi'it'h Immii hi'iuimm'. Sim In-hl tli*> poi-tion of tlm 
 tinker cut oti'towani tlir* Hun ami liixlicatrti tliat to liitii an tint yonn^ 
 inan'H Haciitifn. Tin' (.'liiff attnu^tion to tin- jtalo fa<'«< ih wliat Iihm Im'Oh 
 ii^nofantly ti'imi'il "inakini( Itnivtw." I <l)-Hir«*(l voiy inucli to M«t< 
 ttiiH ccmnoity oncf; tliiit I ini^lit know tin* fiiutM from |M>rHonal olm«u-v- 
 ution, ami draw my own conclusionH afttu- ROllv<u-^in^ with tint I niliaiiN. 
 
 Tsv'o youni( iikmi having tlipii' wlio|t> UoiIIiih [laintutl, witaiini; tlio 
 loin-clotlt only, Mini with wrcatliH of l«tav(>H aruuiiil their lioudN. ankles 
 imd wrintH, ht()|)|M>>l into the contm of the lo'l.{e, A hlankot 
 Hiul a pillow were laiil on the irroiimi, and ono of the youujt; men 
 Htretithed himself upon them. As he lay, an ojil man came for 
 wan] und hU)o*\ over him and tli(;n in an earneHt >«peech tohl th(> 
 people of thn ItiMve <leedH, and nuhio Imai't of the youii;; man. In 
 tho unumeration of Imn virtuoM and iiohle d(M)dH, after oii(;h Heparatu 
 Htatomcnt the muHiciaiiH heat applaUHe. When the aged orator cchhimI, 
 the young man arose, placed Imh ImndH upon the old man's HhoulderH, 
 and drew them downward, as a sign of gratitude tor the fuvorahh; 
 things said aliout him. Ife lay down, and four men held him while 
 a tit'th made tliu iiu.'isions in his Itreast ami l»ack. Two places w«u'o 
 markiMl in oacli breast denoting the tosition and width of each 
 incision. This iMUng done, tho wooden slcowerH l>eing in roadine.ss, a 
 douhle edged kuifo was held in tlio hand, tin." [>uint touching the 
 
6 
 
 THK HLACKFOOT SUN-UANCK. 
 
 Henli, ii siiuill |iit'c(i of wood was placJiil on tlio •uiiU<r HuUi to receive 
 tliii point of tlio knifti when it liiul <,'(m') throu-,'!!, jiiul th(i lU'sii w»uj 
 ilrawu out tlio dcsirod Ufum'th for tho kiiito to |»i(!rco. A (juick pres- 
 Hure and tlio incision was made, tlu' piwe of wood was rcMaov«;d, and 
 the ske^wer insortod from the undor-sido as the knifd was hcnng taken 
 out. When the skewer was properly inserted, it was beaten down 
 with the pahn of the hand of the operator, that it might remain firndy 
 in its j)laco. This iH^ing done to each breast, with a single skewer 
 for each, strong enougli to tear away the flesh, and long enough to 
 jjold the lariats faston(Ml to the top of the sacred i>olo, a double 
 incision was made on the buck of the left shoulder, to the skewer of 
 which was fastened an Indian drum. The work being pronounced 
 good by th(! persons engaged in tlie operatioii, the young man arose, 
 and one of the operators fastened the lariats giving them two or 
 three jerks to bring them into position. 
 
 The young man went up to the sacred pole, and while his counten- 
 ance was exceedingly })ale, and his frame trembling with emotion, 
 threw his arms around it, and prayed earnestly for strength to pass 
 succe.s.sfuily tli;'ough the trying ordv'al. ffis prayer ended he moved 
 Ijackward until the Hesh was fully extende*!, and })la(ing a small bone 
 whistle in his mouth, ho blew continuously upon it a series of short 
 sharp sounds, while he threw himself backward, and danced until the 
 flesh gave way and he fell. Previous to his tearing himself free from 
 the lariats, he seized the drum with both hands and with a sudden 
 pull tore the flesh on his l)ack, dashing the drum to the grouml amid 
 the applause of the i)eople. As he lay on the ground, the operators 
 examined his wounds, cut oft' tiie Hesh th.it was lianging loosoly, iind 
 the ceremony was at an end. In former years the head of a buftulo 
 was fastened by a rope to the back of the person undergoing the 
 feat of self-immolation, but now a drum is used for that piirpo.se. 
 
 From two to five persons midergo this torture every "^un-Dance. 
 Its object is military and leligious. It admits the young man into 
 the noV)lo band of warriors, whereby he gains the esteem of his fellows, 
 and opens up the path to fortune and fame. But it is chiefly a 
 religious rite. In a time of sickness, or danger, or in starting upon 
 some dangerous expedition, the young man prays to Natos for help, 
 and [)romises to give himself to Natos if his pi-ayers ar(! answered. 
 Upon his return, when the A.nuwal Hun-Dance is held, he fulflls his 
 
THE HLA(;KKOOT HUN-DANCE. 7 
 
 VOW, givns himself to liis god, and thus pprfortna a twofold chity. Of 
 coui-Ho tho iiiiphiuso of thr pooplo mid tho exliibitiou of connigo am 
 important fiirtors in tliis r\tr., hut its cliinf ft;aturo is a roligious ono. 
 In.stoa<l of l)oini,' a time of foasting and phiasure, tho Sun-Dance is a 
 military and irligious festival, in connoction with which there are 
 occasions for joy, and tho feast enhances the pleasure. 
 
 Tt is im|)osHil)le to obtain accurately the interpretation of the Sun- 
 lodge ceremonies without a ktiowiedge of the language, as the spoechea 
 made explain much that would otherwise hv. misunderstood. ()ft(>n- 
 times the entire ass(!mhlage will burst forth in songs of thanksgiving, 
 and again a famous warrior will sing aloud the praises of a young 
 man or some brave kinsman who merits the platulits of his tribe. 
 This is a kind of chant in which the name and nol)le deeds are spoken 
 of, and a tune accompanies or follows the oration. 
 
 Prayer is m;uie to Natos only, and everything in Okan is sacred to 
 him. The influence of this festival upon the hearts of the people is 
 such that it keeps alive their native religion, and excites their pa.ssi 
 for military glory. 
 
 on