122 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. IV. 



used as sacred incense. It stands on the south side of the altar that 

 it may be closer to the sun. Next to the cedar was a small willow 

 tree, which is typical of long life and of cleanliness. It is therefore 

 used by the Arapaho in the Sweat-lodge, as well as in their mattresses 

 and head pillows. 



Beyond the willows were two, while on the north side of the skull 

 were three cottonwood limbs, five in all; as the Father had created 

 human beings with five fingers and five toes. The cottonwood is said 

 to grow very fast, looks clean, cool, and shady. 



THE WHEEL. 



Behind the skull, resting in the fork of the small willow stick, was 

 the Wheel. A bunch of wild sage intervened between the Wheel and 

 the willow. This sage corresponds to the eagle's nest in the center- 

 pole, and it also served to keep the Wheel clean, to prevent it from 

 coming in contact with anything. The Wheel itself has already been 

 described. 



THE BADGER-WOMAN. 



Just to the southeast of the skull was a bundle hitherto called the 

 "Badger-pack." The symbolism of its paint is the same as already 

 given for the Offerings-lodge in general. It is supposed that the 

 badger skin within its wrappings is like a baby in a cradle, and is thus 

 carried. This skin is used in the ceremony from the fact that the ani- 

 mal is skillful in digging and otherwise has wonderful powers. It is 

 one of the animals which controls the underground. Wherever there 

 is a hole or a crack that is dangerous to the race this animal covers it up. 

 If there were many holes and cracks in the earth there would be many 

 deaths, but because this animal was instructed by the Father to help 

 the Indian race from dropping down, it is reverenced. The animal 

 itself is a part of the earth. Beating the Badger-pack or using it as a 

 drum is like filling holes or packing the earth solid. The Offerings- 

 lodge therefore reaches from the bottom of the earth to the upper- 

 most part of the sky. This explanation of the presence of the badger 

 is due probably to the myth of the origin of the Buffalo-Women's 

 lodge, in which a badger (some say gopher) rendered material assist- 

 ance in restoring a woman who had married Young-Bull to her true 

 husband. According to another myth, the Badger- Woman played a 

 very mischievous part in a certain episode. With this myth in mind, 

 the following synopsis of the story was given by one informant, for 

 the presence of the badger skin : 



*'The badger was killed by the wolves and coyotes, because she 



