806 THE GHOST-DANCE RELIGION [eth.an.v.h 



Bannock are chiefly ou Fort Hall and Lemhi reservations in Idaho. 

 The Shoshoui are on the Western Shoshone (Duck Valley) reservation 

 in Nevada, ou Fort Hall and Lemhi reservations in Idaho, and on Wind 

 Ltiver reservation in Wyoming. The Ute are on Uintah and Uncom- 

 pahgre reservations in Utah, and on the Southern Ute reservation iu 

 Colorado. There are also a considerable number of Bannock and Sbo- 

 slioni not on reservations. The Ute of Utah sent delegates to the 

 messiah soon after the first Ghost dance in January, 1889, but it is 

 doubtful if the southern Ute in Colorado were engaged in the dance. 

 Although aware of the doctrine, they ridiculed the idea of the dead 

 returning to earth. (G. 1>., 11.) 



In regard to the dame among the Shoshoui and Paiute on the West- 

 ern Shoshoni reservation, in Nevada and Idaho, their agent writes, 

 under date of November 8, 1890: 



The Indians of this reservation and vicinity have just concluded their second 

 medicine dance, the previous one having taken place in August last. They are look- 

 ing for the coining of the Indian Christ, the resurrection of the dead Indians, aud 

 the consequent supremacy of the Indian race. Fully one thousand people took p;irt 

 in the dance. While the best of order prevailed, the excitement was very great as 

 morning approached. When the dancers were worn out mentally and physically, 

 the medicine-men would shout that they could see the faces of departed friends and 

 relatives moving about the circle. No pen can paint the picture of wild excitement 

 that ensued. All shouted iu a chorus. Christ has come, and then danced and sung 

 until they fell in a confused and exhausted mass on the ground. . . . I apprehend 

 no trouble beyond the loss of time anil the general demoralizing effect of these large 

 gatherings of people. Several of the leading men have gone to Walker lake to con- 

 fer with a man who calls himself Christ. Others have gone to Fort Hall to meet 

 Indians from Montana and Dakota, to get the news from that section. In fact, the 

 astonishing part of the business is the fact that all the Indians in the country seem 

 to possess practically the same ideas and expect about the same result, i ti. ]>., u.) 



On December <>' lie writes that another Ghost dance had then been in 

 progress for six days, and that the Indians had announced their inten- 

 tion to dance one week in each month until the grass grew, at which 

 time the medicinemen had told them the messiah would come, bring- 

 ing with him all their dead friends. ( 0. I)., 13.) This dance, however, 

 was attended by a much smaller number of Indians, and skeptics had 

 already arisen among them to scoff at the new believers. The leaven 

 was working, and only a little shrewd diplomacy was needed to turn 

 the religious scale, as is shown by an extract from a third letter, dated 

 January 10, 1891, from which it would seem that Agent Plumb is a man 

 of practical common sense, as likewise that Esau was not the only one 

 who would sell his birthright for a mess of pottage: 



Christmas day was the day set for commencing another dance, i in learning this. I 

 told the Indians thai it was my intention to give them all a hie; feast and have a 

 genera] holiday on Christmas, but that I would not give them anything if they 

 intended to dance. I told them they could play :ill of their usual games, in fact, 

 have a good time, but that dancing was forbidden. 1 showed them how continued 

 dancing :it various si.mx agencies had ended in soldiers being sent to stop them. I 

 stated (Ire case as clearly as 1 could: the Indians debated ii two days, and then 



