RELIGION W D I EREMON LE8 I 2 I 



customs. As in all Indian ceremonies, dancing played 

 a Large part, hut in this case the dancers usually fell 

 into a hypnotic trance and upon recovering recounted 

 their visions and supernatural experiences. All partici- 

 pants were provided with decorated cloth garments 

 bearing symbolic designs which were believed to have 

 such relation with the coming Messiah that all who 

 wore them would be protected from all harm. Among 

 white people these garments were generally known as 

 " bullet proof shirts" (see Dakota collections). 



Fiji. 44. Peyote Button. 



The enthusiasm over the new ghost dance religion 

 spread over the several Dakota Indian reservations, 

 resulting in the attempted arrest and killing of the 

 famous Sitting-bull by the Indian police and hostile 

 demonstrations on the Pine Ridge Reservation, under 

 the leadership of Short-bull and Kicking-bear. In 

 consequence, United States troops were concentrated 

 on the Pine Ridge Reservation under the command of 

 General Nelson A. Miles. The hostility of the Indians 

 increased until December 29, 1890, when there was an 

 engagement between Big-foot's band and the com- 



