Dec, 1905. The Ponca Sun Dance — Dorsey. 81 



either to the right or to the left and encircled the lodge, and in regular 

 positions danced for a quarter of an hour. Thus the forenoon was 

 spent. 



The Final Dance. 

 Shortly after noon all the dancers in line passed outside the 

 lodge, went towards the south to the west of the lodge and faced 

 the sun overhead. Here they danced for nearly an hour, the dance 

 being of an extremely spirited nature. All then re-entered the lodge, 

 the dancers removed the cotton bands from their wrists and ankles 

 and the willow wreaths from their bodies, and deposited them, 

 along with the bunches of sage they had held in their hands, on 

 the mound at the foot of the centre-pole. (See PI. XXI, Fig. 1.) Those 

 who had used black handkerchiefs and those who had carried the 

 little images attached them to the base of the centre-pole. During 

 this performance the Dog Soldiers formed in a semi-circle facing the 

 lodge outside, and the priests formed in a circle just behind them. 



Secret Rites in the Tipis of Preparation. 



After the dancers had removed all of their paraphernalia, ex- 

 cept their kilts and loin-cloths, they reassembled in groups, and 

 each, led by its grandfather, went to one or the other of the secret 

 tipis of preparation. The group from tipi No. 4, that of White- 

 Eagle, was followed by the author. Arrived at the tipi, the leaders 

 entered first, and were followed by the dancers. They all sat down 

 in a circle around the sides of the tipi. The pipe-bearers entered, 

 while a group of Dog Soldiers sat outside. 



Female relatives of the dancers brought food to the tipi, and 

 it was passed inside. 



The Sacrifice. 

 White-Eagle sat opposite the entrance of the tipi and having 

 the sand-picture between him and the opening, took a cup of water 

 in his left hand and with the thumb of his right made a small hole 

 at the edge of the sand-picture. Into this he poured some water, 

 covered the hole, took a bunch of sage, dipped it in the cup and 

 drew it across the mouth of the dancer who sat next to him. Then 

 with his hand he pressed the rest of the water from the sage upon 

 the dancer's head. He again dipped it into the water, and went 

 through the same performance with the dancer next in line, and so 

 on until he had gone entirely around the circle. He then passed 

 the same piece of sage over the sun symbol, drawing it back and 

 forth irregularly. Then he passed it back and forth on the symbo 



