May, 1903. The Arapaho Sun Dance — Dorsey. 55 



them together at one end, and painted one of the strings red and the 

 other black. He then took three small strings of sinew, which he also 

 painted red and black. These he placed with the bunch of grass, and 

 with the long string of sinew he fastened the bundle of grass to the 

 digging-stick. While these long blades of grass were being fastened 

 to the digging-stick, Watdnah and Wdaksenna (Bear's-Lariat) each told 

 a war story, at the conclusion of which they trimmed with the double- 

 edged knife the upper ends of the blades of grass, even with the blunt 

 end of the digging-stick. The digging-stick was now thrust through a 

 large piece of buffalo tallow from the tenderloin, which had first been 

 painted half red and half black. The digging-stick, with its grass and 

 sinew appendage, was now also laid by the side of the buffalo skull. 



THE CEREMONIAL DIGGING-STICK, 1902. 



In view of the importance of this object, which occupies such a 

 prominent position among the objects connected with the center-pole, 

 a full description of its preparation during the 1902 ceremony will be 

 of interest. 



After the completion of the decoration of the buffalo skull, 

 Nishnat^yana brought into the Rabbit-tipi one of the forked sticks 

 used on the previous day in staking out the buffalo. Hdwkan received 

 it and marked upon it the place where it should be cut, in order that 

 it might be of the proper length. He then passed the stick to his 

 wife, who placed it in front of Hdcheni, and knelt, placing her hands 

 upon his head. She then addressed to him a supplication: 



th/yeh's prayer to h6cheni. 



"Now, please, old man, be merciful to me! I am about to cut 

 the digging-stick in proper length. I have laid everything aside, 

 because I took pity on the Lodge-Maker, my grandchild. Although I 

 do not know the method of cutting this digging-stick, may I do the 

 act in harmony and sympathy with our Man-Above, in order that the 

 great undertaking may be easy and light for all. Since you are here, 

 old man, you are here as a true representative of the great lodge; may 

 this digging-stick bind us all, that we may succeed in life, and that this 

 lodge may be carried out in good faith, so thdt it may bring for us a 

 gentle blessing from our Father!" 



Hocheni then touched the ground with the tip of the forefinger of 

 his right hand, touched it to his tongue, took a bite of root, and 

 touched with his finger the five ceremonial points in the palms of her 

 outstretched hands, each motion being accompanied by the usual 

 slight ejection of spittle. He then repeated the latter performance 



