May, 1903. The Arapaho Sun Dance — Dorsey. 75 



the belt was taken out a small bundle, which, when unwrapped, dis- 

 closed two small bunches of eagle breath-feathers, each of which were 

 wrapped at the quill end to the extent of about two inches, with beads, 

 those of one bunch being red, those of the other white. Hdwkan now 

 repainted the red feathers with the red paint, while the white feathers 

 were treated to a coat of the white lime-paint. After these were 

 painted, they were returned to the case. The belt was then folded up 

 and replaced, along with the two headdresses, in the leathern sack, 

 which was placed south of the skull. Hiwkan then divided the gifts 

 of calico and goods between Wdtanah and Watdngaa. 



SYMBOLISM OF THE BELT AND HEADDRESS. 



As the belt still lay in its unfolded position, Hdwkan volunteered 

 the information that it represented a woman, the strings of the belt 

 representing the arms, the apron part the body, and the two loops 

 being the eyes. He further explained that it had existed from the 

 beginning, and that it was the foundation of the lodge. Further 

 inquiry elicited additional information concerning the interesting 

 objects. The five little piles of paint first put on the belt not only 

 represented the Four-Old-Men or the four elements of life with the 

 "Central-Moving-Body," but they form also a cross, symbolic of the 

 morning star, the Mother, which comes up in advance of the sun, as 

 the wife of the Lodge-Maker precedes the Transferrer on their return 

 to the Rabbit-tipi, after a rite described in another place. The red 

 paint which is smeared over the belt is symbolic at once of the naked 

 form of a woman and of the red skin of the whole race. While the 

 belt as a whole is symbolic of a woman, it is also typical of the vulva 

 and even of a generalized concept of life-generating power of the race. 

 The wife of the Lodge-Maker wears it to conceal her "cavity." 



Of the two headdresses, the one with the red bead wrappings 

 represents a female and is to be worn by the wife of the Lodge-Maker. 

 The red is symbolic of the Arapaho race, of purity, old age, and meek- 

 ness, and more especially of the earth with the glow of sunset. The 

 headdress with the blue bead wrappings represents a male and is to be 

 worn by the Lodge-Maker. The blue color has reference to the 

 brightness of the day, of vegetation, a spotless path for all, and espe- 

 cially does it symbolize the sky or Above, as contrasted with the earth 

 symbolism of the other headdress. 



The two headdresses together were also spoken of as representing 

 male and female birds, also the air and the "soft-breath." 



