Dog-soldier insignia—rattle and quirt 987 95. Diagram of awl game 1002 96. Sticks used in awl game 1003 97. Trump sticks used in awl game 1003 98. Baskets used in dice game 1004 99. Dice used in dice game 1005 100. Cheyenne camping circle 1026 101. Paiute wikiup 1049 102. Native drawings of Ghost dance—A, Comanche; B, Sioux 1060 103. Jerking beef 1066 104. Kiowa camping circle 1080 [Illustration: PL. LXXXV INDIAN RESERVATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES IN 1890 Showing approximate area of the Ghost Dance ] THE GHOST-DANCE RELIGION By +James Mooney+ INTRODUCTION In the fall of 1890 the author was preparing to go to Indian Territory, under the auspices of the Bureau of Ethnology, to continue researches among the Cherokee, when the Ghost dance began to attract attention, and permission was asked and received to investigate that subject also among the wilder tribes in the western part of the territory. Proceeding directly to the Cheyenne and Arapaho, it soon became evident that there was more in the Ghost dance than had been suspected, with the result that the investigation, to which it had been intended to devote only a few weeks, has extended over a period of more than three years, and might be continued indefinitely, as the dance still exists (in 1896) and is developing new features at every performance. The uprising among the Sioux in the meantime made necessary also the examination of a mass of documentary material in the files of the Indian Office and the War Department bearing on the outbreak, in addition to the study in the field of the strictly religious features of the dance. The first visit of about four months (December, 1890–April, 1891) was made to the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Comanche, Apache, Caddo, and Wichita, all living near together in the western part of what was then Indian Territory, but is now Oklahoma. These tribes were all more or less under the influence of the new religion. The principal study was made among the Arapaho, who were the most active propagators of the “Messiah” doctrine among the southern tribes and are especially friendly and cordial in disposition.