May, 1903. The Arapaho Sun Dance — Dorsey. 35 



while the buffalo skull and other paraphernalia have been brought in 

 before; the building of the altar; the distribution of the goods by the 

 grandfather on behalf of the Lodge-Maker; the ceremonial washing 

 of the bodies of the dancers, followed by the second painting. (The 

 dance is continued at intervals throughout the night.) 



Sixth Day: — Dance to the rising Sun; the dance is continued at 

 intervals throughout the day ; removal of the paint of the second day, 

 followed by the third paint; medicine or courting night. 



Seventh Day: — Removal of the paint of the preceding day, fol- 

 lowed by the fourth paint; preparation of the medicine water outside 

 the Offerings-lodge; the final dance to the setting Sun; the emetic; 

 drinking the holy water, followed by the termination of the fast with 

 an elaborate feast. 



Eighth Day: — Dance out to the Sun, with purification rites; smok- 

 ing the straight-pipe by the priests and dancers; the sacrifice of cast- 

 off clothing at the altar and center-pole of the Offerings-lodge. 



IX.— The Sun Dance Ceremony. 



While the various scenes and incidents which have already been 

 noted form a necessary and more or less intrinsic part of the great Sun 

 Dance ceremony, yet they must be considered as preliminary to the 

 ceremony itself. On the completion of the camp-circle, and with the 

 meeting on the night of the day of its completion, when it is decided 

 that the "announcement" is to be made on the following morning, the 

 time of the preliminary period is at an end; for with the announce- 

 ment on the next day, the ceremony proper of the Sun Dance may be 

 said to begin. 



FIRST DAY, 1901 AND 1902. 



Early in the afternoon of this day, some of the leading men of the 

 Star society repaired to the lodge of Debithe, the grandfather, and a 

 head man of the Star society, taking with them food for the feast. 

 They then sent for Hdcheni, Hdwkan, Bech^aye, Cheathea, and some 

 old men of the Dog-soldier society. After an informal discussion 

 regarding the routine work about to be performed in connection with 

 the ceremony, and after partaking of food, H6cheni prayed: 



