May, 1903. The Arapaho Sun Dance — Dorsey. 73 



wife and child, and. sat down near the door on the north side of the 

 lodge. Nishnateyana now placed a vessel of food in front of Hocheni, 

 who after the usual ceremonial motions, prepared five pieces, which 

 Debbithathat received from him, drawing his right hand from 

 Hocheni's right shoulder to his head, and made the usual offerings to 

 the four directions, placing the last piece in front of the skull. The 

 vessels of food were now passed by the wife of Debbithathat to the 

 wife of Nishnatdyana, who distributed them. 



At the conclusion of the feast the food vessels, together with the 

 remainder of the food, were removed from the lodge. Then Debbitha- 

 that and his wife and child were cleansed by the Wheel, according to 

 the manner already described at length, the Wheel during the cere- 

 mony being held by Nishnateyana. 



At the conclusion of this ceremony, and after the Wheel had been 

 "wrapped" and Debbithathat had made a prayer for life and for other 

 material benefits, the bundle of eagle feathers was given him, while he 

 still sat by the side of the skull, which he tied to the forelock of 

 the robe. 



These feathers may be regarded as a headdress for Young-Bull, 

 and are a token of respect and love — the giver of the feathers is 

 thereby cleansed and blessed. 



THE BELT AND HEADDRESS REPAINTED. 



This rite took place, in the performance of 1902, during the after- 

 noon of the third day, on the return of the priests from the location 

 of the Offerings-lodge. Seated on the north side of the tipi, in order, 

 beginning at the west, were Wdtanah, Hawkan, Thiyeh, Chanitoe, 

 Nishchdnakati, and Debithe. Watanah now entered with a new piece 

 of calico, which was spread down in front of Hawkan on top of a 

 blanket. Hdwkan and Watanah both touched the forefinger to the 

 ground, then to the mouth, took a bite of root, and spat five times in 

 the usual ceremonial circuit upon the calico. The leather case con- 

 taining the belt was then laid upon the calico. 



The wife of Nishnateyana then knelt in front of Nishchdnakati, 

 while the latter prepared her hands by the usual motions and ejection 

 of spittle, that she might remove the belt from its case. Waakdtani, 

 who with the others had been sitting on the north side of the lodge, 

 placed a coal in front of Wdtanah, upon which Hawkan deposited five 

 pinches of incense, beginning on the southeast and continuing in a sun- 

 wise circuit, the fifth pinch being added from the center. Nishehdna- 

 kati then made five ceremonial passes with the pipe-stem over the 

 pack, ejecting spittle at the same time, after having first touched his 



