Rocky Mountains. 277 



manner to the lodge, around which, he must go with his bur- 

 den, before he can be released from it. No one is permitted 

 to assist him, neither dares he to put his own hands to the 

 cords, to alleviate his sufferings. If it should so happen that 

 the horns of the cranium get hooked under a root or other 

 obstacle, he must extricate it in the best manner he can, by 

 pulling different ways, but he must not touch the rope or the 

 head, with his hands, or in any respect attempt to relieve the 

 painful strain upon his wounds, until his complete task is per- 

 formed. 



Some of the penitents have arrows, thrust through various 

 muscular parts of their bodies, as through the skin and su- 

 perficial muscles of the arm, leg, breast and back. 



A devotee caused two stout arrows to be passed through 

 the muscles of his breast, one on each side near the mam- 

 mae. To these arrows, cords were attached, the opposite 

 ends of which, were affixed to the upper part of a post, which 

 had been firmly implanted in the earth for the purpose. He 

 then threw himself backward, into an oblique position, his 

 back within about two feet of the soil, so as to depend with 

 the greater portion of his weight by the cords. In this situa- 

 tion of excruciating agony, he continued to chaunt and to 

 keep time to the music of the gong, until from long absti- 

 nence and suffering he fainted. The bystanders then cried 

 out " Courage, courage," with much shouting and noise; af- 

 ter a short interval of insensibility he revived, and proceed- 

 ed with his self-inflicted tortures as before, until nature be- 

 ing completely exhausted, he again relapsed into insensibili- 

 ty, upon which he was loosed from the cords, and carried off 

 amidst the acclamations of the whole assembly. 



Another Minnetaree, in compliance with a vow he had 

 made, caused a hole to be perforated through the muscles of 

 each shoulder; through these holes cords were passed, which 

 were, at the opposite ends, attached by way of a bridle to a 

 horse, that had been penned up three or four days without 



