SIOUX WAR-DANCE. 



85 



but these were found cumbersome in the hasty- 

 retreat which they always make as soon as they 

 have killed their enemy ; they are now satisfied 

 with only tearing off the scalp. This is usually 

 taken from the crown of the head, of a small 

 circular size ; sometimes however they take the 

 whole integuments of the skull, with which they 

 ornament their war jackets and leggins, or twist 

 into a brush for the purpose of keeping off the 

 mosquitoes. The scalp is their glory and 

 triumph, and is often carried by women stretched 

 upon a stick, and hung with various articles so 

 as to make a jingle to men when they perform 

 the war-dance. 



This is very animated and striking, as they 

 generally dance .completely armed, and with 

 gestures to represent their mode of going to 

 war, their attack upon their enemy, the scalping 

 of those who are slain, and their triumphant 

 return as conquerors. They go through these 

 evolutions in such a wild and savage manner as 

 frequently to excite the fears of the European, 

 who witnesses the war dance, lest it should ter- 

 minate in a bloody conflict, and the death of 

 most of the party. 



We returned to the Forks, after having seen 

 a party of half-breeds set off with their horses 

 and carts for buffaloe meat, in the same direc- 



