138 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. IV. 



fulfilled. In connection with this, a speech, made by Hdwkan to all 

 those present in the Offerings-lodge (speaking particularly to the 

 grandfathers and the dancers), just before sundown, is of considerable 

 interest: 



"Listen, my young people! I am here to tell you that this is 

 Medicine Night. From this time on, until the last moment of the 

 dance, you must do your best to extend your gifted powers to comfort 

 and relieve your grandchildren. Set your thoughts on the Gods in 

 the Heavens. Be careful not to omit any detail of the painting. 

 Tell your grandchildren the particular place that they must look. 

 Help them, and give them things to attract the Supernatural Beings. 

 Let every one come into the lodge and keep up the spirit, and sing 

 the songs which our forefathers used to sing. You know what this 

 Medicine Night means. Make a joyful noise for us. Give music to 

 our Father-Above. 



"Give solemn thoughts to your Creator, you dancers, and don't 

 think about water or food, but weep to him by holding the center- 

 pole in your mind. The old folks tell us that this lodge is hard and 

 tedious, but if you have faith you will gain some good. Now, friends, 

 I am going over to drink some water." 



The meaning of Hawkan's last sentence may be better under- 

 stood when it is stated that he also had kept the fast with the dancers 

 from the night of the feast at the break-up of the Rabbit-tipi. 



There is a considerable amount of evidence to the fact that in 

 former times unbridled license prevailed throughout the camp on this 

 night, which was taken advantage of by all, as it was considered one 

 of the rites of the ceremony. In more recent years, however, this 

 has been entirely given up. The occasion is still seized, however, by 

 the younger people as an opportunity for courting, and it is safe to 

 assume that many future marriages have their beginnings on this night. 



SIXTH DAY, 1901; SEVENTH DAY, 1902. 



This corresponds to the seventh day of the 1902 performance, 

 and with one exception the number and succession of rites during the 

 day were practically the same for both years. The events of the day 

 followed, practically the same as those just described for the pre- 

 ceding day, except that at the conclusion of the day's performance 

 there occurred the interesting rite of dancing toward the setting sun. 



