58 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. IV. 



THE CEREMONIAL SCALP. 



In connection with the further preparation of the digging-stick 

 occurred an amusing incident in the 1902 performance, at noon on the 

 following day, when as the priests were about to leave the Rabbit-tipi 

 Hdwkan reminded them that all preparations were not yet complete. 

 It has been pointed out before,that this conscientious priest was desir- 

 ous that others should share with him the knowledge and ability to 

 perform the routine rites of the Rabbit-tipi, and on this year, he 

 warned some of his pupils, especially Watdnah and Watdngaa, that he 

 should expect them to be on the alert. They had completely forgot- 

 ten the fact, which they must have observed on previous years, that 

 before the digging-stick could be regarded as complete, it must be 

 thrust through a piece of tallow decorated in a certain manner. 

 Hdwkan had said nothing on this subject on the previous day and had 

 awaited, thus testing his pupils as to their ability properly to conduct 

 the lodge. A messenger, therefore, was sent to one of the tipis in the 

 circle, and soon returned with a large piece of beef tallow, from the 

 tenderloin. Hawkan now instructed Nishnat^yana in cutting out a 

 piece from the tallow, about six inches square. Hdwkan then assumed 

 a position previously occupied by Nishnat^yana, next to the buffalo 

 skull. Hdcheni then moved up nearer the skull, placed the forefinger 

 of his right hand upon the ground, then to his tongue, took a bite of 

 root, and spat five times upon the tallow, which had been placed in 

 front of him. A live coal was now placed in front of Hdwkan, 



Taking the black paint, Hdwkan drew a straight line diagonally 

 across the tallow from east to west. Nishnat^yana drew a similar 

 line parallel to this, with red paint, and painted the half toward the 

 north red. In the mean time, Hdwkan had painted the remaining half 

 black. This side of the tallow was then turned down and Hdwkan 

 painted the other side entirely black. H6cheni again moved forward 

 and took up the knife. He now told a war story, and then cut out a 

 piece of tallow, circular in shape, in the center, thus "scalping" it, in 

 accordance with the war story which he had just related. Hdwkan 

 took the digging-stick and thrust the sharp end of it through this 

 circular incision in the tallow, the latter being so held that the back 

 side was uppermost, while the side painted half red and half black 

 consequently was in the direction of the sharpened end of the stick. 

 It was then replaced in the position it had occupied over night, at the 

 west wall of the tipi. 



