o succeed in so doing. A horse like that would come in handy.

Perhaps the races and other sports inaugurated by the Police had their
effect in discouraging the Indians from the barbaric Sun-dance which the
Government sought to end as soon as possible, although not desiring to
repress them by force. The Sun-dance was a semi-religious, semi-tribal
festival for the purpose of enabling young braves to prove that they had
courage and stamina enough to go on the war-path. While we were engaged
in the Riel rebellion campaign we saw several Sun-dance lodges along the
line of our march after Big Bear, these lodges being left standing with
a view to frightening our men from pursuing braves who could demonstrate
their courage in the way the lodge indicated.

The Sun-dance lodge was a circular wooden structure of poles with
rafters coming together to a point above. From these rafters hooks were
suspended by thongs of tough leather. The prospective braves danced
around furiously within the structure in a frenzy of excitement,
fastening the hooks in their skin and thus lacerating themselves till
they sometimes fainted away. This performance was an annual affair on
the general principle that they should be always ready for war. There
was nothing in the festival that would justify a forcible suppression of
it, which would offend the Indians by interference with an ancient
custom. But the Mounted Police used their persuasive influence against
it and showed the younger Indians how foolish and useless it was.
Accordingly, we find Superintendent Steele, who was in command at Fort
MacLeod, saying in 1891, "This year both Bloods and Piegans indulged in
the time-honoured Sun-dance. From personal observation and careful
inquiry I am convinced that this festival has almost entirely ceased to
have any significance except to the old people. The vanity of the
ancient warrior is no doubt gratified when he recounts his scalps, but
there seemed very little interest and no enthusiasm on the part of his
audience. The young Indians of both sides seem to look on the whole
thing as an excuse for a picnic. Many Indians on the reserves did not
take sufficient interest in the festival to attend it. Two braves were
made at the Blood dance and none at the Piegans'." So this pagan custom
was vanishing. It is now a thing of the past, but we must credit the
Police with gradually ending it. About this period there were still some
rumblings of discontent amongst t