May, 1903. The Arapaho Sun Dance — Dorsey! 27 



movements both of his assistants and of the pupils and of the dancers 

 themselves, so the ceremony requires the presence of a woman to 

 direct a certain few rites where a man may not properly perform. 

 This was done by a woman named Chaiii (Lump-Forehead). In previ- 

 ous ceremonies, in which she fulfilled this office, she cut the so-called 

 "ditch," an important element of the altar. In the ceremony under 

 consideration, she directed Sosoni, His^nibe (Singing-Woman), and 

 Wadnibe in this rite. The reason why this so-called "ditch" is cut 

 by women, is because the woman who ascended to the Heavens and 

 became the wife of Sun-Boy, dug a similar hole at the time that she 

 rediscovered this earth. 



In the next group of participants is the Lodge-Maker, his wife, 

 and the sponsors of these two. The reason for the presence of the 

 Lodge-Maker in the ceremony is of course obvious. During the secret 

 rites previous to the beginning of the dance in the great lodge, as well 

 as during the days of feasting, he is accompanied by his wife Biba 

 (Curly-Hair). Inasmuch as these two individuals require constant 

 instruction as to particular duties which they are to perform, they, as 

 well as the remaining men who are to fast during the ceremony, have 

 recourse to the services of men known as "grandfathers" ("he touches 

 me"). The grandfather of the Lodge-Maker of each Sun Dance is, 

 in the regular course of events, the Lodge-Maker of the preceding Sun 

 Dance. Inasmuch as the Lodge-Maker of the last Sun Dance, how- 

 ever, was no longer alive, Thihauchhdwkan, the Lodge-Maker of the 

 present Sun Dance went to Sosoni, who had taken an active part in 

 several previous Sun Dances, to obtain her consent to act as grand- 

 mother to his wife. Sosoni *s present husband. Lizard, had never 

 taken part in the Sun Dance, consequently, Thihauchhawkan asked 

 Nisah (Twins) to be grandmother. Old-Camp, now dead, as stated 

 above, was Lodge-Maker in the preceding Sun Dance; but on account 

 of paralysis at the time, a man by the name of Debithe had represented 

 him in the ceremony; consequently, Debithe became grandfather of 

 Thihduchhdwkan, while Nisah acted as grandmother of Blba. That in 

 the ceremony itself, or in the great dramatization, as we must regard 

 the ceremony, Debithe, as grandmother, takes the part of an important 

 personage, there can be no doubt; as the representative of the preceding 

 ceremony he is spoken of as "Hetuhenait" (Transferrer). Nisah, 

 during the ceremony, not only assisted and acted as adviser to Blba, 

 hut during one of the final performances, placed the Wheel on the 

 head of Biba, and throughout the drama, played the part of Mother- 

 Earth. 



