May, 1903. The Arapaho Sun Dance — Porsey. 83 



He then touched the forefinger of his right hand to the ground 

 and placed it to the tip of his tongue, took a bite of root, and ejected 

 spittle five times in the palms of his two hands. He then held the 

 pipe in front of him, the bowl pointing upward. He then held the pipe 

 out with the bowl pointing toward himself, holding it on his two sides 

 perpendicularly, first on his right side, then on his left, then right, 

 then left, and then along the median line of his body. He then placed 

 the pipe in front of him, pointing the stem toward the ground. 

 Handtchawdtan! now came up, and drawing his right hand down 

 Nishchdnakati's arm four times, rubbed his right hand over the latter's 

 right, the latter motioning the pipe toward him four times, and giving 

 it up to HanatchawatanI, who lighted it. 



The Sun Dance priests had now formed in a crescent-shaped line 

 with Nishchanakati at the end on the west, Hanatchawatan!, who had 

 just received the pipe, being next to him, on his right. After the 

 pipe had been lighted, it was passed unsmoked to the last man of the 

 line at the right or east end, who smoked for a few moments, and then 

 the pipe was passed down the line toward the west, each man, after 

 passing the pipe, rubbing his hands together, then over his body, head, 

 and face. The pipe was then passed unsmoked back to the east end 

 of the line, and then again traveled toward the west end, being smoked 

 by each one in turn. 



Hissdhnihani (Yellow-Woman), during this second smoking of the 

 pipe, stood, lifted up her hands, and uttered a prayer, Nischdnakati 

 touched his finger to the ground, then to his tongue, and took a bite 

 of root, touched her hands five times, ejecting spittle at the same 

 time. Then he spat on each side of her head and in his hands, which 

 he rubbed on her head, and again in his hands, which he rubbed on 

 her breast. 



After the pipe had reached Nishchdnakati, he emptied it and 

 cleansed it in the usual ceremonial fashion, when HandtchawdtanI 

 received it and sat down in his place. Hissehnihani then stepped in 

 front of Nishchdnakati and placed her hands on his head. 



It had been her intention to cut the center-pole, but owing to 

 indisposition, she was unable, and was compelled to secure a substi- 

 ute. This woman, Wadhsandhi's (Charcoal's) wife, now came up, 

 together with another woman, Hdgo's (Rat's) wife, who was to assist 

 her, both standing in front of and asking a blessing from Nishchdna- 

 kati, who repeated his former performance with Hissehnihani in 

 connection with both of them. 



Nishchdnakati arose and proceeded to the tree, carrying a pipe- 

 stem and accompanied by three old women, each of the women carry- 



