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2. CHAPTER II.

Many of the customs of the Dahcotahs are to be attributed
to their superstitions. Their teepees are always made
of buffalo-skins; nothing would induce them to use deer-skin
for that purpose. Many years ago a woman made a
teepee of deer-skin, and was taken suddenly ill, and died
immediately after. Some reason must be found for the
cause of her death, and as no other was known, the Indians
concluded that she brought her death upon herself by using

deer-skin for her teepee. They have always, since, used
buffalo-skin for that purpose.

Nothing would induce a Dahcotah woman to look into a
looking-glass; for the medicine men say that death will be
the consequence.

But there is no superstition which influences them more
than their belief in Haokah, or the Giant. They say this
being is possessed of superhuman powers: indeed he is
deemed so powerful, as to be able to take the thunder in his
hand and cast it to the ground. He dresses in many colors,
and wears a forked hat. One side of his face is red, the
other blue, his eyes are also of different colors. He always
carries a bow and arrow in his hand, but never has occasion
to use it, as one look will kill the animal he wants.

They sing songs to this giant, and once in a long time
dance in honor of him; but so severe is the latter custom,
that it is rarely performed. The following incident will
show how great is their reverence for this singular being.
An Indian made a vapor bath, and placed inside of it a rude
image of the giant, made of birch bark. This he intended
to pray to while bathing.

After the hot stone was placed inside of the wigwam,
several Indians went in to assist in giving the bath to their
sick friend. One of them commenced pouring the water
on the hot stone, and the water flew on the others, and
scalded them badly; the image of the giant was also displaced;
the Indians never dreamed of attributing their burns
to the natural cause, but concluded that the giant was displeased
at their placing his image there, and they considered
it as an instance of his mercy that they were not
scalded to death.

However defective may be the religion of the Dahcotahs,
they are faithful in acting up to all its requirements. Every
feast and custom among them is celebrated as a part of
their religion.

After the scalp-dance had been performed long enough,
the Dahcotahs of the villages turned their attention to
making sugar. Many groves of sugar trees were in sight
of their village, and on this occasion the generous sap rewarded
their labors.

Nor were they ungrateful; for when the medicine men
announced that they must keep the sugar-feast, all left
their occupation, anxious to celebrate it. Neither need it
be concluded that this occasioned them no loss of time; for
they were all occupied with the construction of their summer
wigwams, which are made of the bark of trees, which
must be peeled off in the spring.

But every villager assembled to keep the feast. A certain
quantity of sugar was dealt out to each individual,
and any one of them who could not eat all that was given
him was obliged to pay leggins, or a blanket, or something
valuable, to the medicine man. On this occasion, indeed
on most occasions, the Dahcotahs have no difficulty in disposing
of any quantity of food.

When the feast was over, however, the skill of their doctors
was in requisition; for almost all of them were made
quite ill by excess, and were seen at evening lying at full
length on the ground, groaning and writhing with pain.