72 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. IV. 



EAGLE FEATHERS GIVEN TO YOUNG-BULL. 



Debbithathat (Cut-Finger) was now heard outside praying to the 

 Four-Old-Men. At the conclusion of the prayer he entered, bringing 

 with him four eagle feathers in his right hand and a filled pipe in his 

 left. On entering the lodge, he gave the pipe to Nishnateyana, who 

 placed it in front of the skull, the bowl being up and toward the north, 

 as usual. The feathers he also gave to Nishnateyana, who put them 

 down, without ceremony, on the head of the robe. Nishnateyana 

 now sat down to the southeast of the skull, while next to him, toward 

 the door, on the south, were Watanah, Debithe, Watdngaa, Chanitoe, 

 Nishchdnakati, and Hawkan. 



Food was then passed in (the feast having been provided by the 

 wife of Debbithathat) to Thiyeh, who placed it in the usual ceremonial 

 position about the fireplace, the first vessel being placed southeast, 

 the second southwest, the third northwest, the fourth northeast, and 

 the fifth on the east. Watdngaa then turned toward the direction 

 of the buffalo skull and robe and spoke as follows: 



watAngaa's prayer to young-bull. 



"Now, Young-Bull, please listen to me. This day, friend 

 (Debbithathat) comes to you with his family and brings to you a 

 bundle of eagle feathers for your headdress; he has furnished the very 

 best, to show his respect and reverence to you. His recent days have 

 been, to a certain extent, in misery and sorrow, and his relatives have 

 had some contentions and troubles. Therefore, I pray you with an 

 earnest heart, that through his gift of feathers you will extend to him 

 and his family'your sympathy. This kind of a gift youconsider as 

 the best; so look up, listen, and answer his prayer! I further pray 

 you that by his earnest gift the whole tribe may multiply, that peace 

 and prosperity may exist in the tribe and among the surrounding 

 Indians, that this day you may be in accordance with our Man-Above, 

 to give us food, water, and particularly to give life for our children, 

 and may you also give us cattle. I ask you that in our every-day walk 

 we may be firm and live with good will toward our white brothers. 

 So now please accept this gift, with the hope that he will be pleased, 

 and that you will tell our Father that we have given you the best. 

 .Come, all you Supernatural-Beings! Look upon this poor and humble 

 servant; be with him and his family, that his daily footsteps may be 

 as light as the Sun, our Grandfather, that he may be protected by 

 Old-Woman-Night, our Grandmother!" 



Debbithathat now left the lodge and returned at once with his 



