72 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. VII. 



The most important event of the day was the appointing by each 

 priest of pipe-bearers and a servant who should run errands and 

 assist him generally. The servants (see PI. Ill, Fig. i) collectively 

 act as police and guard the camp. The pipe-bearers (see PI. Ill, 

 Fig. 2) always accompany the priest; one bears his pipe and paints 

 and fasts just as the priest does who appoints him ; the other pipe- 

 bearer looks after the presents the priest receives for instructing the 

 dancers. 



SECOND DAY. 



With daybreak the servants began clearing and making ready 

 the space within the camp-circle, and the principal participants and 

 mounted Dog Soldiers began to appear. 



Preparation for the Sham Battle. 

 At about seven o'clock the chief, White-Eagle, made the follow- 

 ing announcement: "The enemies are coming to attack our camp. 

 We must be on the alert. All you young men get ready, for we 

 must drive them away and let them know that we are prepared to 

 repulse any depredation at all times. Mount your ponies, shoulder 

 your guns, prepare to follow your leader (Hairy-Bear) and repulse 

 them. They must be driven away for the safety of our camp and 

 of our women and children." Immediately following this announce- 

 ment, young men and old, gayly attired, began to appear and parade 

 around the inside of the camp-circle. Big-Elk from time to time 

 urged them to hurry and called for more men to volunteer. Near the 

 the center of the circle Big-Elk took his position with a standard, 

 and by him sat several musicians about a large drum. (See PI. IV, 

 Fig. 1 .) Near the drummers were gathered the men who had been 

 selected to fast and dance in the ceremony. White-Eagle stood to 

 their left and directed the performance, which was in the nature 

 of preparation to meet the enemy. Thus arranged, they sang war- 

 songs and related war stories for about an hour. (See PI. V.) 



Spying the Centre-Pole. 

 In the mean time the mounted warriors, the so-called Dog Soldiers, 

 led by Little-Soldier, set off to the north and went to the timber 

 to go through the formality of spying the tall willow tree (chosen 

 because the willow is hard to kill), which had been selected the 

 night before by the chiefs. (See PI. IV, Fig. 2.) Then they re- 

 turned toward the camp-circle, having painted themselves and be- 

 ing provided with grape-vine 'shields and willow poles for lances. 



