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Show The Sioux Inditius Sttling Bull A Sua Dance. The Sioux, while having maDy tribal relations and dialects, are really divided into two great families, TltK DAKOTAS AND THE TETONS. For many Generations tho Telons liavc ruled supreme west of the Mis-jsnuri Mis-jsnuri river. The name Teton implies People of the Lodges, or those who live wwl uf ihe Missouri. The Tetons, and tribes reUted to them, use the L instead of tho D, saying Lacota, etc. I The main tribes or branches de-'sounded de-'sounded from the Teuton are the i Unkpapa (some dried meat); Siba-sapa Siba-sapa (black feet); Sichango, or Brules I (burnt thighs); Minn sha!a (red : water), Pteutischne (don't eat cow); lOgaiaila (one who pours out); Hohen-1 Hohen-1 onpa (two kettles); Minneconjou ! ( water-logged ) ; Ilazi ppacha ( Ixiw-iand Ixiw-iand arrow tribe). East of the Mis j.'ouri river there are the Isantee (the lodge knipe); Yanktonais (arrow I point); Pahbsksa (cut heads). All llieoo latter tribes ut-e the D. Tiieu I there are the Asiuiboms, or Hohe I (kettles), who are alw5 subdivided. I 1'bey roam Around the Pembina line, . iu the Hoop-Up country, but are mainly provided for at Belknap. The I Wahtopaua (band that uso the pad-' pad-' tile) wero originally Yanktouais, but got separated from the preseut tribe about 100 years ago. Tatuuka Eyotuuka, or Sitting Bull, is at least 40 years of age, has dark brown hair, gray eyes, aud is five feet nine inches in height. The Indians call Sitting Bull Hunkishne, lor the slow one a generic term ap I plied by way of sarcasm. Silting Bull , ; speaks only Sioux aud Arickaree. i j On the 16th of June, Sitting Bull and his allied bunds fell udoq Geo. Crook and achieved a partial victory. Runners were immediately dispatched dispatch-ed to lukewarm tribes arouod the agencies, to carry the news and drum ! for recruits. Accordingly a number of young braves left Standing Kock, Cheyenne agency, and Fort Peck reservation, and joined Sitting Bull. Before, however, they could be accepted, ac-cepted, they had to pass through the ORDEAL OF THE SUN-DANCE. These ceremouiea wero hold in a. wild canon of the Big Horn mountains; moun-tains; and a graphic description has been given by W.O, Gooding, a young Massachusetts trader who is studying the aboriginal character, previous to applying for a position on the Indian peace commission as a humanitarian. The Sun dance commenced on the alterncon of the lSib of June; and, from its commeDceme.it to the end, 200 warriors were not to eat or drink anything. Under shades of cut i boughs, Sitting Bull and other war-! riors were gathered to witness the ceremonies. The 200 young warriors were ranged around , medicine pole,; their bodies blackened with charcoal, and wearing nothing but a short skirt of buckskin around their loias, and eagle feather coronets. They would dance at intervals of half an hour, and were then allowed a short respite until again called out by the tom-tom. A warrior was suspended from the medicine pole by the emU of a lariat fastened to two thornB stuck in the flesh of bis back; in each band he held a long pole, which partially Kiinnnrtfd him: but every lew min utes he would swing the whole weight pf his body upon the lariat, in an eflort to tear the thorns from his flesh. After hanging for three hours in the glaring sun, he was cut down and carried away. Another young warrior, war-rior, who wanted to show what a brave heart he had, lay down on his face and had six thorns put in his back and shoulders; then turned over and bad two mOTe put iu his breast. Then, risiog to his feet, buffalo skulls were fastened to the thorns iu bis hack, and a lariat to those in his breast, and he was made fast to the medicine-pole. The tom-tom struck up, and the Indian began to dance; and, as the skulls tore out of the flesh one by one, Sitting Bull and the chiefs would shout their approbation. Then, bracing back till the lariat pulled his breast out like a woman's, hedanced with renewed vigor; and, as the thorns tore Irom his flesh, and he had demonstrated terrible powers of endurance, the chiefs gave him loud cheers. Theso are the kiud of men who are now on the war-path agairjst their hereditary foe, the pale-faco. Is it any wonder that the brave Custer fell before them ? |