82 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. IV. 



warrior societies now hurried forward on their horses, made a charge 

 against the tree, shooting at it, counting coup, and ceremonially 

 "killing it." Nishchdnakati went up to the tree, embraced it four 

 times, calling upon Man-Above for a blessing to the people, while the 

 warrior societies and Dog-soldiers formed in groups and sat down to 

 the south of the tree. Handtchawdtant (Black-Bull) now carried a 

 filled pipe to Nishchdnakati, asking him to offer a prayer for the 

 people. The priest then got up, and holding the pipe in front of him, 

 prayed : 



NISHCHANAKATl's PRAYER. 



"In former years, your faithful servants gave away to the Medi- 

 cine powers, robes, clothing, eagle feathers, and many shells. For 

 your continued mercy and daily protection on the people, for the 

 benefit of the tribe, we are obliged to recall those holy events, for we 

 are young and are lacking in the knowledge of ceremonies. Whatever 

 you old priests and old women did at these times, and what you said 

 upon these occasions, may we do and say exactly the same to-day. 

 We are constantly crying for help, that we may be relieved from hard- 

 ship and kept free from evil. You Old-Men conducted these cere- 

 monies according to laws of your Father, and so we ask you to repeat 

 our prayer to him, to give us what things we need in life. It is the 

 desire of all that prosperity shall prevail hereafter, for our having 

 lived up to our belief. Although the game is gone, which makes it 

 hard for us to carry out our lodges, may whatever we place for substi- 

 tutes be pleasing to our Gods, and may we receive temporal blessings. 



"Our Father, Man-Above, your children have selected me recently 

 for their servant for this occasion, hence I have called upon you for 

 guidance and direction. This I have done, and now they give me a 

 pipe to go with them and to get this tree, to get a great good; and we 

 request earnestly that by the cutting down of it every one will have a 

 good future and be free from sickness and trouble. Here is the pipe, 

 which you have given us as a token of great love. Make us to love 

 each other better and let there be good deeds and actions among these 

 poor starving soliders! Look upon these Dog-soldiers! Please give 

 them long life, and may their work to-day be a true example to others! 

 Give them good music, and let them carry this tree to the center in 

 safety! Have mercy upon us all and cause us to arise in safety! 

 Keep our footsteps straight, and may this day be a profitable one for 

 us all! And above all, let the nation increase, so that your holy cere- 

 monies may be kept up! May we fight and conquer the evil! Thus 

 we ask, and request you to answer." 



