May, 1903. The Arapaho Sun Dance — Dorsey. 107 



At the conclusion of the prayer the ends of the line closed 

 together, thus forming a circle, and in this fashion they passed around 

 the spot where the sods were about to be cut, four times, all making 

 occasionally a peculiar noise with the lips, representing a noise made 

 by the brant. 



Again they sat down in a semicircle with the opening to the 

 south. (See Fig. 2, Plate XL.) Hawkan gave instructions as to how 

 the sod should be prepared for cutting, whereupon Hocheni, with the 

 pipe-stem, made the five ceremonial motions toward the sod about to 

 be cut, ejecting spittle at the same time, while the women bearing the 

 digging-stick, the shovel, and the bar, pointed simultaneously in the 

 direction indicated by Hocheni with the pipe-stem. Then Hocheni 

 rubbed the stem over the ground, covering a space about a foot and 

 a half in diameter. The second space,* similar in size, was indicated 

 in the same manner. 



Thiyeh, with Waanibe, removed the grass from around the first 

 space just indicated, whereupon all of the women now worked together 

 in loosening a piece of sod about sixteen inches in diameter and about 

 six inches deep. (See Fig. i, Plate XLI.) After it had been loosened 

 on all sides, Hocheni went around the sod, and with his pipe-stem, 

 simulated a prying motion. (See Fig. 2, Plate XLI.) The crowbar 

 and digging-stick were used to lift the sod, whereupon all surrounded 

 it and lifted it up and placed it on the blanket which had been spread 

 on the ground near by. (See Figs, i and 2, Plate XLIL) As the sod 

 was being transferred, the women all made a peculiar noise with their 

 mouths. The women returned to the hole and rubbed their hands 

 against its sides and bottom and on the grass surrounding the hole. 

 The second piece of sod, of similar shape and of equal size, was cut, 

 with the same rites, and was placed on top of the other sod, on the 

 blanket. 



In the procession back to the lodge, Hocheni led the way, fol- 

 lowed by Hawkan, the five women, Watanah, Chanitoe, Nakaash, and 

 Waatanakashi. (See Fig. i, Plate XLIII.) At four different times 

 on the way back to the lodge, the line, beginning with Hocheni, was 

 diverted from its direct course, off to the right, and circled back upon 

 itself twice. (See Figs, i and 2, Plate XLIV.) As they performed 

 these circling evolutions they made the same noise with the lips which 

 they made as they circled around the sods before they had been cut. 

 The fourth movement was made just in front of the lodge (see Figs. 

 I and 2, Plate XLV.), after which, they entered, went through this 

 movement, and deposited the blanket with the sods south of the skull 

 and wiest of the center-pole. (See Plate XL VI.) The priests sat 



