914 THE GHOST-DANCE RELIGION [eth.ann.h 



him. The two versions were widely different, and there can be little 

 question that Wovoka made claims and prophecies, supported by 

 hypnotic' performances, from which lie afterward receded when he 

 found that the excitement had gone beyond his control and resulted 

 in an Indian outbreak. Sitting Bull insisted on the truth of his 

 own representations, and when accused by A'piataii of deceiving the 

 Indians in order to obtain their property he replied that he had never 

 asked them for the ponies which they had given him, and that if they 

 did not believe what he. had told them they could come and take their 

 ponies again. A'piataii replied that that was not the Kiowa road; 

 what had once been given was not taken back. Sitting Bull spoke in 

 a low musical voice, and the soft Arapaho syllables contrasted pleas- 

 antly with the choking sounds of the Kiowa and the boisterous loud- 

 ness of the Wichita. I could not help a feeling of pity for him when at 

 the close of the council he drew his blanket around him and went out 

 from the gathering to cross the river to the Caddo camp, attended 

 only by his faithful Arapahos. For his services in reporting against 

 the dance A'piataii received a medal from President Harrison. 



This was for some time the end of the Ghost dance among the Kiowa, 

 for while some few of the tribes were disposed to doubt the honesty or 

 correctness of the report, the majority accepted it as final, and from 

 that time the dance became, a mere amusement for children. The other 

 tribes, however — the Caddo, Wichita, and their allies — refused to accept 

 the report, claiming that A'piataii had been hired by white men to lie 

 to the Indians, and that he had never really seen the messiah, as he 

 claimed. Even the Apache, although in close tribal connection with 

 the Kiowa, continued to hold to the doctrine and the dance. 



Note. — Since the above was written and while awaiting publication 

 there has been a revival of the Ghost dance among the Kiowa, brought 

 about chiefly through the efforts of Bi'aBk'i, Pa'tadal, and others of its 

 former priests. After several times dispersing the dancers and threat- 

 ening them with severe penalties if they persisted, the agent was finally 

 obliged to give permission, on the earnest request of a delegation of 

 chiefs and head men of the tribe, with the result that in September, 

 1894, the Kiowa publicly revived the ceremony in a great dance on the 

 Washita, which lasted four days and was attended by several thousand 

 Indians from all the surrounding tribes. 



