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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