"Scalp Dance of the Dacotahs"

Eastman's list of pictures sent to the American Art Union describes the dance: (from McDermott, page 52) "After the Sioux return from the battle with the scalps they have taken the scalps are dressed, the inside rubbed over with blue clay or vermillion they are then stretched out to a hoop fixed to a pole it is then ready for the dance The scalp is fixed entirely by the Squaws. The medicine men beat time on skins stretched over a keg or made something like a tambourine at the same time singing a monotonous gutteral song. The squaws dance around the scalp in concentric circles. The scalps are carried on the shoulders of some squaws who have lost relatives in battle. After dancing five, ten or fifteen minutes they stop & one of the squaws will state to the assembly that her father, son, brother or husband was killed by a Chippeway [,] Soc or some tribe. She will conclude by saying-"Whose scalp have I got on my shoulder?" Then a grand war whoop is given [and] the dance recommences. The dance continues two or three months until it goes through every village of the tribe. After which the scalp is buried with a good deal of ceremony. Their richest dresses are worn in this dance."