134 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bulu ei 



Bufl'alo Boy stated that ho carri(Hl six buflah) skulls for four or five 

 hours, at tho expiration of which ho was set froe by the cutting of 

 tho flosh from which thoy wore suspended, the proper nnml)er of 

 horses being given for his release. 



A more severe form of torture was the hanging of the body clear 

 of the ground by means of thongs passed through the flesh on each 

 side of the lower part of the back, Seizes-the-Gun-away-from-Tluun 

 told of an instance in which a man rode to the sacred pole, and was 

 suspended by his back, after which the horse was led away. The 

 most severe form of torture was the suspension of the body between 

 four poles, by means of thongs passing through the flesh of both chest 

 and back, the ])ody hanging so that only the toes touched the ground. 

 Under these conditions the flesh tore less readily. John Grass stated 

 that a man had been known to remain in that position from one 

 morning until Ihe evening of the next day, when gifts were given 

 for his release. 



While the men were dancing, they "prayed for all in the tribe, 

 especially the sick and the old." Red Bird said: 



The warriors went on the warpath for the protection of the tribe and its hunting 

 grounds. All the people shared in this benefit, so when the warrior fulfilled his vow 

 he wanted all the tribe to share in its benefits. He believed that M'akaij^taijka is 

 more ready to grant the reciuests of those who make vows and fvdfill thcin than of 

 those who are careless of all thoir obligations; also that an act performed ])ublicly is 

 more effective than the same thing done i)rivately. So when a man was fulfilling 

 his vow, he i)rayed for all the members of the tribe and for all the branches of the tribe, 

 wherever they might be. 



As soon as a man enduring torture was set free by the breaking 

 of the flesh, it was customary to apply to the wound a medicine in 

 the form of a powder. It was said that the wounds healed readily, 

 blood poisoning and even swelUng being unknown. The writer saw 

 a large number of Sun-dance scars, which appeared slight consid- 

 ering the severity of the ordeal. 



After the medicine was applied, the man returned to his place with 

 the dancers, continuing his fast and dancing until exhausted. During 

 the period of dancing the men who painted the dancer occasionally 

 ofTered a pipe, holding the bowl as the man puffed; also putting the 

 dancer's whistle into his mouth, as participants were not allowed 

 to touch any objects while dancing. 



Each man remained in one place as he danced, merely turning so 

 that he continually faced the sun, toward which he raised his face. 

 In dancing he raised himself on the ball of his foot with rhythmic 

 regularity. At intervals of a few hours the men at the drum were 

 allowed to rest, and the dancers might stand in their places or even 

 sit down and smoke for a short time, but if they showed any hesi- 

 tation in resuming the dance they were forced to their feet by the 

 men who did the cutting of the arms and superintended the fulfill- 

 ment of the vows. 



