Chapter XY 

 THE CEREMONY OF THE GHOST DANCE 



In chapter xi we have spoken of the Ghost dance as it existed among 

 the I'aiute. Shoshoni, Walapai, and Cohonino, west of the mountains. 

 We shall now give a more detailed account of the ceremony and con 

 nected ritual among the prairie tribes. 



AMONG THE NORTHERN CHEYENNE 



According to Dr Grinuell the Ghost dance among the northern 

 Cheyenne had several features not found in the south. Four fires 

 were built outside of the dance circle and about 20 yards back from it, 

 toward each of the cardinal points. These tires were built of long 

 poles set up on end, so as to form a rude cone, much as the poles of a 

 tipi are, erected. The fires were lighted at the bottom, and thus made 

 high bonfires, which were kept up as long as the dance continued. 

 (./. F. L.,5.) 



AMONG THE SIOUX 



Perhaps the most important feature in connection with the dance 

 among the Sioux was the "ghost shirt." already noticed and to be 

 described more fully hereafter. On account of the scarcity of buck- 

 skin, these shirts were almost always made of white cloth cut and 

 figured in the Indian fashion. The Sioux wore no metal of any kind 

 in the dance, differing in this respect from the southern tribes, who 

 wore on such occasions all their finery of German silver ornaments. 

 The Sioux also began the dame sometimes in the morning, as well as 

 in the afternoon or evening. Another important feature not found 

 among the southern tribes, excepting the Kiowa, was the tree planted 

 in the ceuter of the circle and decorated with feathers, stuffed animals, 

 and strips of cloth. 



At a Ghost dance at No Water's camp, near Fine Ridge, as described 

 by -T. F. Asay, formerly a trader at the agency, the dancers first stood 

 in line facing the sun, while the leader, standing facing them, made a 

 prayer and waved over their heads the "ghost stick." a staff about <> 

 feet long, trimmed with red cloth and feathers of the same color. After 

 thus waving the stick over them, he faced the sun and made another 

 prayer, after which the line closed up to form a circle around the tree 

 aud the dance began. During the prayer a woman standing near the 

 tree held out a pipe toward the sun, while another beside her held out 

 several (four?) arrows from winch the points had been removed. Ou 



915 



