694 



THE GHOST-DANCE RELIGION 



[ETH. ANX. 14 



remove, states that the prophet " had no idea of giving up his lands," 

 and continues: 



This nun lias acquired an influence over his people through supposed revelations 

 from God, which he urges on them with an eloquence, mildness, and firmness of man- 

 ner that carries to their credulous ears conviction of his communications with God. 



To give a favorable turn to his mind, I apparently gave credence to his statements 

 of these revelations, and attempted to put a construction on them for him. He 

 listened to me with great attention, and, after I had finished, said I might ho right; 

 that God would talk to him again and he would let me know what he said. In the 

 meantime he would use his influence to get his people to move, hut that he could not 

 himself come over until all had removed; that there were many bad men yet among 

 them, whom he hoped to convert to the ways of God, and then all would come over. 

 He would preach to his men and warn them from taking away or injuring the prop- 

 erty of the white people, and if any white man struck them — to use his own expres- 

 sion — he would bow his head and not complain ; he would stop any attempt to take 

 revenge. He seems to have a wonderful influence over those Indians who accom- 

 panied him. Tiny neither drank nor painted, were serious, though not gloomy. 

 (Ind. Off., 7.1 



In the same month Kanakuk himself visited General Clark at Saint 

 Louis, and in the course of a long- talk explained the origin of his divine 

 mission and the nature of his doctrine, illustrating the subject by means 



of apeculiar diagram (figure CI), and clos- 

 ing with an earnest appeal in behalf of his 

 people that they should be allowed to re- 

 main undisturbed. Although it was said 

 by thi' traders that he had stolen his in- 

 spiration from a Methodist preacher, it is 

 plain from an examination of his doctrine 

 that he was the direct spiritual successor of 

 Tenskwatawa and the Delaware prophet, 

 who in their generation had preached to 

 the same tribe. Like his predecessors, 

 also, he condemned the use of "medicine 

 iiags" and medicine song's, which, although 

 universal among the tribes, seem to have 

 been regarded by the better class of In- 

 dians as witchcraft was in former days 

 among the whites. 

 After the usual preliminary expressions 

 of mutual friendship and good will, Kanakuk stated that all his people 

 were united in sentiment, and then proceeded to explain his religious 

 views as follows: 



My father, the Great Spirit has placed us all on this earth: he has given to our 

 nation a piece of land. Why do you want to take it away and give us so much 

 trouble.' We ought to live in peace and happiness among ourselves and with you. 



We have heard of some trouble about our land. I hav line down to see you and 



have all explained. 



Flo. Ill — Kiinuklik's heaven. 



