ii6 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. IV. 



After these troubles had taken place, an Arapaho Indian, Joined- 

 Together, had vowed to erect an Offerings-lodge for his personal 

 benefit, but the sacred pledge was made and given out in the fall of 

 the year;* consequently the Indians looked for the ceremony to take 

 place some time in the spring (May). 



Naturally, with the Indians, the forthcoming Sun Dance cere- 

 mony draws a number of young men to participate voluntarily. Of 

 course some vowed on account of sickness in their families, others on 

 account of dreams. Usually the young men keep their vows or 

 pledges secret for some time, until a short time before the cere- 

 mony. 



In the fall of 1879 a small party of young Arapaho men escaped 

 from the Agency and started for Wyoming. At that time the Sur- 

 rounding Indians were still unfriendly to fhe Cheyenne and Arapaho. 

 The young men who w*re in the party had the spirit of war (and some 

 of them are still living). Before they started off, one of them, know- 

 ing that the Sun Dance was to take place among the Indians, pledged 

 that he would take part in the dance, but kept it secret. On their 

 arrival at the Northern Arapaho camp-circle, there was a war party 

 from here (Oklahoma), which was composed of the best warriors, and the 

 party agreed to go along. In the night they sung war songs, and one day 

 the party went away for black paint (the black paint means a victory). 

 The young man who pledged to fast in the Sun Dance ceremony of 

 Joined-Together, wished, at the time he left his own home, for his safe 

 return. The war party came to a band of Paiute Indians in the west 

 Big Horn Mountains, and a hard fight took place. In this fight two 

 of the Southern Arapaho and one Paiute were killed. The young man 

 who was to fast in the Sun Dance took a prominent part, and again 

 at the General Custer fight, where he struck many soldiers. Every- 

 body that saw him as he charged would be eye-witnesses. After the 

 last fight, he came back to the Northern Arapaho, and told the old 

 people of his luck. So the old men gave him the new name, which 

 was, "Famous," his old name being, "Weed-Boy." 



After staying some time with the Northern Arapaho, this young 

 man worried much in regard to his vow. A big camping circle was 

 near the river (probably a river near Ft. Harrison). One night this 

 young man, Famous, went to an old man ("priest," meaning "strip of 

 buffalo back)," weeping as he went. This young man said to the old 

 priest, "Now, Old Man, I have come over to tell you that I was to 

 fast in the Sun Dance ceremony in the south, but am here, and I don't 

 know what to do. May a young man go to the top of a hill and stake 

 himself to the ground and fast? Will you please tell me what is the 



