May, 1903. The Arapaho Sun Dance — Dorsey, 41 



ENTRANCE INTO THE LODGE OF THE LODGE-MAKER AND 



HIS WIFE. 



Thihduchhdwkan, the Lodge-Maker, and his wife now entered the 

 lodge. Thihauchhawkan was painted from head to foot with white 

 earth. Around his neck was suspended a bone whistle, and his dress 

 consisted of a buckskin kilt, while over his shoulders was a buffalo 

 robe. In one hand he carried a pipe filled with tobacco, which he 

 offered to Debithe, his grandfather. Hdcheni now took from a 

 small buckskin bag a piece of root, which he placed in his mouth, then 

 spat upon his hands and rubbed" himself. Pieces of root were passed 

 to the others, who did the same. 



THE FEAST AND THE OFFERING OF FOOD. 



Food was now brought in by the friends of Thihauchhawkan, and 

 then Cheathea, Becheaye, Sosoni (Shoshoni-Woman, wife of Lizard), 

 Waatannak (Black-Bear), and the head men of the Star society entered. 

 Thihduchhawkan now took up the bowl of rice soup and placed it in 

 front of Hocheni, who took a piece of sage and made a single pass 

 toward each corner of the bowl, and then dipped it in the center and 

 handed it to Thihduchhawkan, who went to the southeast corner of 

 the lodge and made an offering or sacrifice of food to the tipi-pole at 

 that point; then to the southwest tipi-pole. He then touched the 

 earth with the sage near the fireplace on the north side, and then sacri- 

 ficed food to the northwest lodge-pole, and then to the northeast. He 

 now returned in a dextral or sunwise circuit to the west side of the 

 fireplace, where the buffalo skull had been deposited, and placed the 

 sage in front of the skull. All said, "Thanks," which was the signal 

 to begin eating. 



THE OFFERING OF SMOKE. 



During the days of the Rabbit-tipi, and later, within the Offerings- 

 lodge, the priests and others indulged in much smoking. With this 

 smoking are many rites, which will be described in their proper places. 

 But in connection with practically all of the smoking, offerings of 

 smoke are made to certain deities. First the stem is pointed toward 

 the southeast, then the southwest, the northwest, and the northeast, 

 thus recognizing the Four-Old-Men; then to the zenith, in honor of 

 the Father or Man-Above ; then to the earth, in honor of the Super- 

 natural-Beings. These Supernatural-Beings, or lesser gods of the 

 earth, are fishes, trees, rocks, winds, etc. They are also spoken of as 

 false people, whose evil influence is to be guarded against. To all 



