May, 1903. The Arapaho Sun Dance — Dorsey. 135 



days previous, and it was feared by the priests that, should the excess- 

 ive warm weather continue, the men would not be able to endure until 

 the end. Two or three of the priests, therefore, were heard at differ- 

 ent times on the preceding day, offering prayer, that cooler weather 

 might prevail. This fact was known throughout the camp, and great, 

 therefore, was the joy and satisfaction of all when the morning dawned 

 cloudy and cool and so continued throughout the day, thus affording a 

 much needed rest to all the members of the camp. 



THE SUNRISE DANCE. 



The ceremony continued on this day in a manner similar to that 

 on the previous morning. Just before daybreak the dancers formed 

 in line and accompanied by the singing of members of the Star society 

 they faced east, and danced until after sunrise. Then the spectators' 

 scattered to their various lodges for breakfast, while the dancers, 

 wrapped in their blankets, huddled around the fire, for there was two 

 inches of snow on the ground. The Crier called for water, which the 

 women brought for the dancers to bathe themselves with, food was 

 provided for the grandfathers and fresh sage and paint to be used in 

 painting and costuming the dancers. After the painting, they danced 

 at intervals, as on the preceding day. ^ 



PREPARATION OF THE SAGE WREATHS AND BANDOLEERS. 



On this day and the day following, in both the 1901 and 1902 

 presentations, the majority of the dancers wore certain wreaths of 

 sage, usually around the head, waist, wrists, and ankles. All these 

 accessories to the dancers' costumes were made, in both years, on this 

 the second day of the dance proper. 



As a rule, the sage wreaths were made by the grandfathers of the 

 dancers who were to wear them, and their construction was devoid of 

 formality. (See Plates LXXII. and LXXIII.) Attached to the 

 wreath was a small sprig broken from the cedar tree at the side of 

 the altar, and an eagle breath-feather. The wreaths were bound 

 together and held in place by means of strands of sinew. 



In the section of this paper which treats of the dancers, it will be 

 noted that in the 1902 performance, certain men wore, in addition to 

 the usual sage ornaments, bandoleers, which passed over the left 

 shoulder and under the right arm. These bandoleers were made on 

 this day, in one of the tipis, and not in the Offerings-lodge. The 

 bandoleers were made by Hanatchawdtant (Black-Buffalo), assisted 

 by WadtannihinSn (Black-Man) ; both priests fasted throughout this day. 



