Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 November 1880 — THE THIRST DANCE. [ARTICLE]

THE THIRST DANCE.

Dlaffuatlnr Ceremonies by Wfclelt the. Indiana Propitiate the eroat Spirit and Drive Away Evil Demon*. (Prince Albert (British Territory) Cor. Chicago Times.] Each dancer was provided with a whistle made from the wing bone of a goose, ornamented with feathers and colors. As they jumped about they sounded shrill notes upon their instruments, which, blending with the whoops, yells, and monotonous drumming, fell upon the civilized ear with startling effect. Hour after hour the dance was kept up, the only intermission being at the will of the drummers, who were relieved at intervals. At times the surging and noise subsided, and a wise man in a see-saw tone recited tales of heroism for the edification of the young. The warriors gave many exhibitions of their power of endurance. A muscular warrior stood unconcerned while a couple of chiefs stuck long skewel's through the flesh of his shoulders. The lines of a horse were attached to the skewers, and the warrior was told to lead the animal around until the flesh gave way. With blood streaming down his back and breast and mingling with the paint upon his dusky body, the enduring savage walked around for a couple of hours without a murmer. Though the flesh upon his shoulders tore in the direction of the neck yet it did not give way, and the medicine man, with much ceremony, unloosed the hero, who sauntered off with a grunt of satisfaction. The next act on the programme was more startling than the last. A young buck was introduced, and allowed two skewers to be thrust through the [flesh on his breast without wincing; two lariats suspended from the roof-pole of the tent were fastened to the skewers. He then began to swing around the tent as far as the lines would allow him, throwing his whole weight upon the lines in his endeavor to break loose. The dancers danced and the drummers drummed with renewed vigor while this exhibition was in progress. After several hours’ exercise he demonstrated to the satisfaction ■ of all that he was a tough young man, and was loosed, amid grunts of approval. Another heroic scalper had three pegs driven into him—two in his back and two in the back part of his arms. Four guns were hung upon the pegs, and he walked around and flirted with the girls as if nothing bothered him. A party of Assiniboines, painted to the eyes and armed to the teeth, appeared and gave an exhibition of how they killed their enemies. They throw their knives and guns about so carelessly, and attacked each other so fiercely, that the few white spectators began to think that the fight might spread, and felt uneasy for their scalps. The cock of the walk was a young Assiniboine chief. Over his shoulders he wore the skin of an American lion, killed single handed by himself. Pendant from the skin were ten lariats, showing that he had captured or stolen the horses. He strutted proudly around with his ten tails dragging behind him, and received with composure the admiration of his companions. Horses, blankets, knives, fire-arms, fancy lariats, skins, and other articles were given as offerings to propitiate the Great Spirit, many giving all they possessed that their children might be brought into the tent and blessed. The dance was kept up from Thursday night until Saturday, when the medicine man made “medicine” for rain, and in an hour it came a perfect downpour—testifying that the Great Spirit was pleased with the festival. After the dance came the dog feast. It is supposed by the innocent roamers of the plains that the eating of a dog’s liver, without regard to the quality of the dog, makes them strong-hearted. The temple used in the “thirst” dance was taken down, with the exception of the centrepole, around which the warriors seated themselves in a circle and enjoyed a social smoke. Suddenly a cry was given and the warriors sprang to their feet and commenced circling around to the dismal beating of a drum. The quivering carcass of a dog was thrown within the circle by a woman, and the men whooped in ecstacy. The carcass was cut open, the liver torn out, and hung by a thong from the pole. The warriors, one by one, stepped up and took a bite of the yet warm liver, and marched off happy. As soon as one liver was consumed a fresh dog was thrown into the circle and the stock of liver replenished.