52 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. IV. 



Returning late in the afternoon, he, with the assistance of two or three 

 of the Dog-soldiers, placed the tree, about twenty feet in height, just 

 west of the Rabbit-tipi, thus affording much desired protection from 

 the afternoon rays of the sun. (See Plates XII. and V.) Later on, 

 as will be seen, it formed an essential feature of the altar in the 

 Offerings-lodge. 



RITES WITHIN THE RABBIT-TIPI. 



The consideration of further events of this day, which also includes 

 the supplemental observations made on the second and third days of 

 the 1902 performance, may be referred to those which took place 

 within the Rabbit-tipi and those which took place without. Although 

 certain events had their origin inside this secret lodge and were com- 

 pleted outside, yet it is believed that this method contributes to a more 

 intelligent understanding of the ceremony. 



THE LARIAT FOR THE CENTER-POLE. 



Early in the morning, Hawkan returned to the Rabbit-tipi and 

 was soon followed by other leaders of the ceremony. After the men 

 had indulged in smoking and had partaken of the feast which had 

 been brought in by the families of the dancers, Sosoni cut a long strip 

 from the rawhide, which as has been mentioned, was brought in the 

 night before. This strip was about ten feet long and about three- 

 quarters of an inch wide. She handed it to Chanltoe, who passed it 

 from end to end over live coals upon which had been placed bits of 

 spruce. With the assistance of Waakdtani, Chanitoe now measured 

 the strip, and having located its center, they proceeded to paint it, 

 coloring one half of it black, the other half red. 



The preparation of the lariat for the tying of the bundle to the 

 center-pole, in 1902, was conducted in the following manner: The 

 wife of the "grandfather" of the Lodge-Maker, Thiyeh, immediately 

 after the buffalo robe to be worn by the Lodge-Maker had been pre- 

 pared, brought into the Rabbit-tipi a large rawhide, which he deposited 

 in front of Nishchdnakati. She then knelt in front of him, placing her 

 hands on his head, and then with the pipe-stem made the five cere- 

 monial passes toward the rawhide, spitting each time toward it, as he 

 pointed with the stem. Thiyeh then took the robe outside of the 

 lodge to cut it, it being more easily handled outside than in, on account 

 of the lack of room. (See Plate XIII.) Having cut the rawhide into 

 one long continuous strip, she entered the lodge with it, bearing also 

 the knife which she had used in cutting it, and the scraps or refuse 

 which remained after preparing the strip. The knife and scraps she 



