674 THE GHOST-DANCE RELIGION [eth.aj»n.14 



Tatepocoshe, be being present. His death was decided upon after lull deliberation; 

 and, arrayed in his finest apparel, ho calmly assisted in building bis own funeral 

 pile, fully aware that there was no escape from the judgment that had been passed 

 upon him. The respect due to his whitened locks induced his executioners to treat 

 him with mercy, lie was deliberately tomahawked by a young man, and his body 

 was then placed upon the blazing fagots and consumed. The next day the old 

 preacher Joshna met a similar fate. The wife of Tatepocoshe and his nephew 

 Hilly Patterson were then brought into the council bouse and seated side by side. 

 The latter had led an irreproachable life, and died like a Christian, singing and pray- 

 ing amid the flames which destroyed his body. While preparations were making 

 for the immolation of Tatecoposhe's wife, her brother, a youth of 20 years of age, 

 suddenly started up, took her by the hand. and. to the amazement of the council, led 

 her out of the house. He soon returned, and exclaiming, " The devil has come among 

 us (alluding to tin- prophet), anil we are killing each other." lie reseated himself in 

 the midst of the crowd. This bold step checked the wild frenzy of the Indians, put 

 an end to these cruel scenes, and lor a time greatly impaired the impostor's influence 

 among the Delawares. (Drake, Tecumseh, 2.) 



The prophet now changed his name to Tenskwatawa, "The Open 

 Door" (from skwa'te, a door, and the'nui, to be open; frequently spelled 

 Elskwatawa), significant of the new mode of life which lie had come to 

 point out to his people, and lixed his headquarters at Greenville, Ohio, 

 where representatives from the various scattered tribes of the northwest 

 gathered about him to learn the new doctrines. Some, especially the 

 Kickapoo, entered fervently into his spirit, while others were disposed 

 to oppose him. The Miami, who regarded the Shawano as intruders, 

 were jealous of his influence, and the chiefs of his own tribe were 

 somewhat inclined to consider him in the light of a rival. To estab- 

 lish his sacred character and to dispel the doubts of the unbelievers, he 

 continued to dream dreams and announce wonderful revelations from 

 time to time, when an event occurred which effectually silenced opposi- 

 tion and stamped him as one inspired. 



By some means he had learned that an eclipse of the sun was to 

 take place in the summer of L806. As the time drew near, he called 

 about him the scoffers anil boldly announced that on a certain day he 

 would prove to them his supernatural authority by causing the sun to 

 become dark. When the day and hour arrived and the earth at mid 

 day w;ts enveloped in the gloom of twilight, Teuskwatawa, standing in 

 the midst of the terrified Indians, pointed to the sky and cried. "Did 

 I not speak truth? See, the sun is dark!" There were no more 

 doubters now. All proclaimed him a true prophet and the messenger 

 of the .Master of Life. His fame spread abroad and apostles began to 

 cany his revelations to the remotest tribes. 



We get but fragmentary light in regard to the details of the doctrine 

 and ceremonies of this religious revival, as well as of that which pre 

 ceded it. There were then no railroads, no newspaper correspondents 

 to gather each day's proceedings, and no telegraph to Hash the news 

 across the continent before nightfall; no reservation system, with its 

 attendant army of employees, everyone a spy when an emergency 

 arose; and no investigators to go among the tribes and study the 



