PART I.— GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 



NAME OF THE CEREMONY. 



The name the Poncas give to the Sun Dance ceremony is Sun- 

 Seeing-dance ; that is, the sun is a witness to the dance. Another 

 name at times applied to the ceremony is Sacred or Mystery dance. 



Time and Duration. 



The time of the ceremony is determined by the Thunder-men 

 (Sun Dance priests), who assemble at the call of the tribal chief in 

 the spring for this purpose. The month being determined, they 

 choose the time of the month when the moon is at least half full. 

 All the Ponca ceremonies of which I have any record have been held 

 in June or July, the majority in the latter month. 



Participants. 



The priests of the ceremony are called Thunder-men, and are 

 medicine-men who have fasted at least four times during previous 

 ceremonies and who have learned the rites and paints. The priests 

 determine who shall dance in each ceremony, each priest selecting 

 one or more men who shall report to the priests in general at a certain 

 time during the ceremony, when the dancer selects his instructor and 

 remains in his care until the end of the ceremony and compensates 

 him liberally for his instructions. Each individual chosen may be 

 expected to be thus called, on three additional performances, where- 

 upon he becomes a Sun Dance priest. To be thus chosen is not without 

 considerable honor, for each dancer is supposed to bear the sufferings 

 of the tribe. The priesthood of the Ponca Sun Dance is, therefore, a 

 close corporation with self -perpetuating power. Each priest selects 

 a servant and two pipe-bearers, one to take care of his pipe, the other 

 to look after the gifts or presents. The ceremony is in charge of the 

 oldest and most learned of the priests and more especially under the 

 direction of the war-priest of the tribe. There are neither pledgers 

 for the ceremony itself nor those who vow they will dance and fast. 

 During the ceremony the directors were as follows: 



White-Eagle, Chief. (See PL I, Fig. i.) 



Hairy- Bear, Leader. 



Big-Elk, Assistant Leader. (See PL I, Fig. 2.) 



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