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



As the time draws near, the head men of the different societies 

 invite their organizations to meet at some locality, where a feast has 

 been prepared, and the men are asked to prepare their clothing and 

 get their ponies in good condition. The head men also tell the young 

 men to behave themselves during the interval, warning them particu- 

 larly not to violate any of the Agency regulations. 



Shortly after Thihduchhdwkan's return to reason, in July, as has 

 already been noted, he began asking the people to aid him in his 

 efforts toward preparation for the coming ceremony, and especially 

 he went to his friends for advice as to how the permission of the Agent 

 should be secured, and for advice concerning the direction of the cere- 

 mony itself. He was finally advised by some of his friends that it 

 would be better for him to leave the Arapaho country for a short time, 

 that the change would do him good, and that in the mean time prepa- 

 rations for the ceremony would be undertaken by them. Thihduch- 

 hdwkan consequently left Oklahoma and made a visit to the Ute, 

 returning in October. 



As a result of his stay among the Ute, he brought home with him 

 a pony and a few things presented to him by friends in that tribe. 

 His mental condition had greatly improved. He now made a feast 

 and formally invited the Arapaho and the Cheyenne (for the two tribes 

 are intimately affiliated), at which time he stated that he was anxious 

 to set the time for the erection of the lodge. There was nothing now 

 to interfere with the ceremony taking place at this time; treaty pay- 

 ment, however, was soon to be made, at which time the entire Arapaho 

 tribe would visit the Agency, and as the reservation covers a large 

 area, it was decided to postpone the ceremony until immediately after 

 the treaty payment, which would thus obviate the necessity of two 

 journeys. 



The head men of the Star and Thunderbird societies now went to 

 Hdwkan, who as will be shown later on, has officiated in many Sun 

 Dances, and asked him to pity the Lodge-Maker and to see to it that 

 there was no unnecessary delay. They then went to Bech^aye 

 (Hairy-Face, wife of Old-Sun, owner of the straight pipe); to Yahiise 

 (Hiding-Woman), or Charlie Campbell, who was in charge of the 

 Wheel; to H6cheni (Old-Crow), one of two sole surviving members of 

 the Chinachine society; and to Chedthea (Broken-Down-Woman), the 

 Peace-Keeper and of all these they asked assistance. Thihduchhawkan 

 now searched the plains for the skull of a buffalo, while one of his 

 friends undertook to secure a buffalo hide. The Lodge-Maker also 

 visited a number of the camps of the Arapaho, taking with him a pipe, 

 which he smoked with the chiefs of each camp, and asking their 



