490 TRIBES OF THE UPPER MISSOURI [eth.ann.4o 



them in accomplishing their objects and the dreams that present 

 themselves under these circumstances are received as favorable or 

 unfavorable omens according to the nature of the visions presented. 

 This is done by those who are desirous of leading a war party or 

 becoming capable to lead by some great exploit, and the leader chosen 

 is he whose dream appears to present the greatest appearance of suc- 

 cess. These fasts are sometimes accompanied by cutting the breast 

 with a knife horizontally or the arms transversely above the elbow, 

 making incisions about 3 or 4 inches long and half an inch deep, 

 which are not bound up. Among the Mandan and Gros Ventres 

 these ceremonies are still more severe. Incisions are made on each 

 side of the shoulder blade on the back and a stout stick is thrust 

 through. A cord is then attached to the stick and they are drawn up 

 off their feet to a post planted for the purpose. By an impetus given 

 with their feet they throw themselves out from the post and swing 

 themselves around violently until the cord winds and unwinds suc- 

 cessively, for one or two days, when the hold breaks and they fall 

 to the ground. 



If not already too much weakened, new incisions are made and 

 cords 10 or 12 feet long are tied therein. To the ends of these cords 

 are attached three or four buffalo bulls' heads and horns, each 

 weighing from 15 to 20 pounds, and they drag this weight over 

 the ground, the horns plowing it up until the holds break, or faint- 

 ing from exhaustion they are carried away by their relatives. Noth- 

 ing is eaten or drunk during all this time. 19 



These and other ceremonies are what they think appeases the 

 anger, averts the evil, or secures the aid of Wakonda or Great 

 Mystery. They are not made with the view of any atonement 

 whatever for bad deeds, neither with the object of purifying 

 their minds for communion with him or it, but as a payment. The 

 idea is that he who undergoes so much voluntary punishment or pain, 

 or destroys so much property to him valuable, entitles him to the 

 protection of that unknown power and that it can and will favor 

 those who thus remember and worship him. 



They have no idea of national and individual atonement, nor 

 that any person was to or has come on earth to answer for them. 

 To make this idea reasonable to them they would first have to be 

 taught that they are guilty of crime and a correct knowledge of 

 the attributes of the Great Mystery, together with a moral sense of 

 justice. To do this the entire regeneration of the grown Indian must 

 be brought about, which it would be little less than a miracle to 

 accomplish. 



111 We perceive by the printed inquiry that this is not credited, yet it is so common 

 among these people as scarcely to attract the attention of the traders. 



