May, 1903. The Arapaho Sun Dance — Dorsey. 67 



• Dog-soldiers'-Lodge — The following brief outline of a myth was 

 given for the origin of the dog root: 



"The camp-circle moved to another place. A man who happened 

 to be out for game, came to the old camp-ground and found a little 

 dog that was very poor in flesh and about to die. Sympathizing with 

 the poor dog, he led it to the river, but it was so helpless, on account 

 of loss of strength, that he left it and went in search of food for the 

 dog; but failing to find food, he brought over a good-tasting root and 

 gave it to the poor dog. The dog relished the root, and regained his 

 strength. 



"The dog appreciated the good will of the man, and in return had 

 compassion on him, and sat down and painted the Dog-soldiers' lodge. 

 The dog also gave him directions for erecting the lodge, and the 

 routine of the ceremony; and thus the lodge came into existence." 



In this lodge the dog root is used for spittle on both persons and 

 objects. Main root, tied to the lariat, is used for incense. Black 

 and red paint are used because the Offerings-lodge contains these 

 colors, and the Dog-soldiers lift the center-pole — carry the burden of 

 the tribe. 



Club-Board Lodge — Dog root is used for spittle upon persons 

 before they are painted and also upon objects before they are altered. 

 Sage and sweet-grass are used for incense during the painting of the 

 lodge, various colors being used; cockle-burrs are represented at 

 different portions of the body. The buffalo wallow painted like the 

 tallow, already described, half black, half red, made in the center 

 of the lodge, is the emblem of this society. 



Thunderbird Lodge — Same as the Club-Board; the painting of 

 the body, however, is different. 



Lime-Crazy Lodge — Dog root is used for spittle before painting 

 and before making weapons. Sage and sweet-grass are used for 

 incense. Crazy root is used to punish misdemeanors, to preserve 

 order, and to heal in certain ways. The root is also tied to Lime- 

 Crazy's robe, to his private robe, to his cap, and bow and arrows. 

 Sweet-grass is used for incense. 



When the bodies are painted in colors, the image of an owl is 

 made on the front of the body, beginning at the forehead and extend- 

 ing to the lower extremities. The owl is imitated by the men of this 

 society. Since the owl is troublesome to the people, the men behave 

 the same way; but in the color symbolism of the lodge, red is used on 

 the west side, black on the east. 



Buffalo-Women's Lodge — Dog root is used for spittle, both for 

 bodies and for objects. Sweet-grass is used for incense. Cockle-burrs 



