zio THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



information that the world, as first created, was in the view of the 

 Blackfoot cosmologists an animated existence. 



But while these beliefs are all purely Algonkin, the chief religious 

 ceremony of the Blackfoot tribes is certainly of foreign origin. This 

 is the famous " Sun-dance," to which they, like the Dakota tribes and 

 some of the Western Crees, are fanatically devoted. That this cere- 

 mony is not properly Algonkin is clearly shown by the fact that 

 among the tribes of that stock, with the exception of the Blackfeet 

 and a few of the Western Crees, it is unknown. Neither the Ojibways 

 of the Lakes, nor any of the tribes east of the Mississippi, had in their 

 worship a trace of this extraordinary rite. The late eminent mis- 

 sionary among the Dakotas, the Rev. Stephen R. Riggs (author of the 

 "Dakota Grammar and Dictionary"), says of this ceremony: "The 

 highest form of sacrifice is self-immolation. It exists in the Sun- 

 dance, and is what is called "vision-seeking." Some, passing a knife 

 under the muscles of the breast and arms, attach cords thereto, which 

 are fastened at the other end to the top of a tall pole, raised for the 

 purpose ; and thus they hang suspended only by those cords, without 

 food or drink, for two, three, or four days, gazing upon vacancy, their 

 minds intently fixed upon the object in which they wish to be assisted 

 by the deity, and waiting for a vision from above. Others, making 

 incisions in the back, have attached, by hair ropes, one or more buffalo- 

 heads, so that every time the body moves in the dance, a jerk is given 

 to the buffalo-heads behind. The rite exists at present among the 

 western bands of the Dakotas in the greatest barbarity. After mak- 

 ing the cuttings in the arms, breast, or back, wooden setons sticks 

 about the size of a lead-pencil are inserted, and the ropes are attached 

 to them. Then, swinging on the ropes, they pull until the setons are 

 pulled out with the flesh and tendons ; or, if hung with buffalo-heads, 

 the pulling is done in the dance, by successive jerks, keeping time 

 with the music, while the head and body, in an attitude of supplica- 

 tion, face the sun, and the eye is unflinchingly fixed upon it." 



A letter from the Rev. Mr. McLean furnishes a detailed and 

 graphic account of this ceremony, as he witnessed it in June last, 

 when most of the Kena or Blood Indians were present as actors or 

 spectators. His narrative is too long for insertion here, but the con- 

 cluding portion will show the resolute constancy with which this 

 sacrifice of self-immolation is performed some new features being 

 added which are not comprised in Mr. Riggs's brief account, and pos- 

 sibly are not found among the Dakotas : 



" This year, several persons, young and old, who had made vows 

 during times of sickness or danger, had a finger cut off at the first 

 joint, as an offering to the sun ; and others had the operation of cut- 

 ting their breasts and backs. The old woman who cut the fingers off 

 held the suppliant's hand up to the sun, and prayed then placed it 

 upon a pole on the ground, laid a knife on the finger, and with a blow 



