May, 1903. The Arapaho Sun Dance — Dorsey. 95 



toward the middle of the pole with the pipe-stem, then touched it, 

 passing the pipe-stem around the pole, and then repeated this per- 

 formance a few inches higher up on the pole. Thiyeh went through 

 the same performance, but with the Wheel (see Fig. 2, Plate XXXIII.), 

 touching the pole with the feathers of the Wheel in the two places just 

 indicated by Nishnat^yana, while Wahiibahu touched the pole in the 

 same way with the knife. The Lodge-Maker then opened the bag of 

 red paint, and between the two marks thus indicated by the pipe-stem 

 and the Wheel he painted a red band, which encircled the pole. (See 

 Figs. I and 2, Plate XXXIV.) 



The first pole having been painted, the line then continued on 

 around the lodge until they came to the northeast pole. Here rites 

 were performed exactly similar to those performed at the first pole, 

 this also being painted with a band of red. 



Again the line of priests made the circuit of the lodg^, halting at 

 the southeast corner, where similar rites were performed. This pole, 

 however, was painted black, the work being done by Waatanakashi. 

 Again the line moved around the circle, halting at the southwest 

 corner, where the fourth and last pole was painted with similar rites. 

 This also was done by Waatanakashi. 



Many parents, accompanied by their children, now came forward 

 from the crowd of surrounding spectators, and touched one or another 

 of these poles, some of them tying to the poles pieces of red and 

 black calico. 



The priests now continued on around the lodge in sunwise circuit. 

 Arriving at the eastern entrance of the lodge, they entered and passed 

 in single file to the center-pole^ which it will be remembered, had been 

 placed inside of the lodge with its base near the hole which had been 

 dug for receiving it, while the fork extended toward the west, lying 

 in a perpendicular position. Again a song was sung, as at the four 

 rafter-poles, and Hawkan indicated to Nishnat^yana where the bands 

 should be painted, whereupon the latter indicated with his pipe-stem, 

 with the usual ceremonial passes, while his wife went through the same 

 performance with the feathers of the Wheel, thus marking off a space 

 about eight inches in width on the tree. Around this, Waatanakashi 

 now painted a solid band of black. Just above this, Niwaat painted a 

 band of equal width in red, Waatanakashi then guiding the hands of 

 Yahiise (the latter being blind) over the paint — for it will be remem- 

 bered that Yahtise had obtained this privilege by a rite in the Rabbit- 

 tipi. (See Plate XXXV.) 



The priests then stepped over to the west a few paces, where they 

 encountered two bundles of long slender willow branches which had 



