726 



THE (iHOST-DANCE RELIGION 



[ET1I. ANN. 14 



east and west. T have been all those ways. This is the center. 1 live here. The 



red split is my heart — everybody can see it. The yellow grass grows everywhere 

 around this place. The green mountains are faraway all around the world. There 

 is only water beyond, salt water. The blue [referring to the blue cloth strip] is the 

 sky, and the star is the north star. That star never changes; it is always in the same 

 place. 1 keep my heart on that star. I never change." 



There are frequent services, a sort of processional around the outside of the fence, 

 the prophet and a small boy with a bell entering the inclosure, where, after hoisting 

 the flag, he delivers a sort of sermon. Captains or class leaders give instructions 

 to the people, who are arranged according to stature, the men and women in differ- 

 ent classes marching in single file to the sound of drums. There seeins t.. he a 

 regular system of signals, at command of the prophet, by tin- boy with the bell, 

 upon which the people chant loud or low, quick or slow, or remain silent. These 

 outdoor services occurred several times each clay. 



Sniohalla invited me to participate in what he considered a grand ceremonial serv- 

 ice within the larger house. This house was built with a framework of s1 cut logs 

 placed upright in the ground and roofed over with brush, or with canvas in rainy 



weather. The side's consisted of 

 bark ami rush matting. It was 

 about 75 feet long by 25 feet wide. 

 Singing and drumming had been 

 going mi for some time when I ar- 

 rived. The air resounded with the 

 voices of hundreds of Indians, male 

 and female, and the banging of 

 drums. Within, the- room was dimly 

 lighted. Smoke curled from a fire 

 mi Ihe floor at tin- farther end anil 

 pervaded the atmosphere. The ceil- 

 ing was hung wide hundreds of sal- 

 mon, split and drying in the smoke. 

 The scene was a strange one. < m 

 either side of the room was a nm of 

 twelve women standing erect with 

 arms crossed and hands extended, 

 with linger tips at the shoulders. 

 They kept time to the drums and 

 their voices by balancing on the 

 balls of their feet :md tapping with 

 their heels on the lloor, while they 

 chanted with varying pitch and 

 time. The excitement and persistenl repetition wore them out, and I heard that 

 others than Sniohalla had seen visions in their trances, but I saw none who would 

 admit it or explain anything of it. I fancied they feared their own action, and that 

 real death might come to them in this simulated death. 



Those on the right hand were dressed in garments of a red color with an attempt 

 at uniformity. Those mi the left wore costumes of white buckskin, said to he very 

 ancient ceremonial costumes, with red and blue trimmings. All wore large round 

 silver plates or such other glittering ornaments as they possessed. A canvas covered 

 the lloor and on it knelt the men and hoys in lines of seven. Each seven, as a rule 

 had shirts of the same color. The tallest were in front, the size diminishing regu- 

 larly to the rear. Children and ancient hags filled in any spare space. In front on 

 a mattress knelt Sniohalla, his left hand covering his heart. (In his right was the 

 boy bell ringer in similar posture. Smohalla wore a white garment which he was 

 ] d eased lo call a priest's gown, tint it was simply a white (doth shirt with a colored 

 stripe down the back. 



Fig. 64— Suinlialla's flag (heraldic). 



