iMay, 1903. The Arapaho Sun Dance — Dorsey. 141 



drum had been perceptibly increased in size, and it was now noticed 

 that many of the musicians and spectators wore buckskin shirts and 

 leggings, while the majority of them had their faces painted in accord- 

 ance with individual privileges. (See Plates LXXXII. and LXXXIII.) 

 The drummers now struck up a low song, whereupon the Lodge- 

 Maker took the rawhide, and holding it to the right of him and walk- 

 ing in a stooping posture, he carried it in front of the altar to the west 

 and north of the center-pole, and on, around to the drummers, where 

 he made a motion as if to pass it among the drummers, four times, 

 and then threw it among them, whereupon they shouted vociferously, 

 beat upon the rawhide, and began one of the Sun Dance songs. Then 

 the semicircular line of priests retired to various positions about the 

 lodge. (See Plate LXXXIV. and LXXXV.) With the beginning of 

 the singing, the dancers rose, placed the whistles in their mouths, and 

 began dancing. (See Plates LXXXVL, LXXXVII., LXXXVIIL, and 

 LXXXIX.) Waakatani now went to Hisehaseh, who was standing in 

 front of the line, and who was holding in each hand a bunch of sage. 

 After four passes with his right hand, Waakatani removed these from 

 his hands. Debithe then went back behind the altar, took the Wheel 

 from its position, brought it around in front, passing to the right, and 

 handed it to the Lodge-Maker. (See Plate XC.) 



THE DANCERS PAINTED, 1902. 



An interesting variation was noted this day, not recorded in detail 

 heretofore. Before the completion of the so-called "poultice," each 

 grandfather went to Hocheni, before whom he knelt, and placed his 

 hands upon his head. In this position he uttered a prayer, or more 

 properly speaking, supplicated Hocheni to assist him. At the con- 

 clusion of the performance, the grandfather drew his hands down the 

 arms of Hocheni, and then held his hands in front of him, palms 

 upward. Hocheni now touched the forefinger of his right hand to the 

 ground, touched his tongue, took a bite of root, and with his finger 

 motioned five times in the palms of the grandfather's hands in the 

 usual ceremonial manner. He then spat five times at these same 

 points. He then spat to the right and left, to the head of the grand- 

 father, and in his hands, which he rubbed upon the man's head. Again 

 he spat in his hands and touched the grandfather's breast. Hocheni 

 next took a root from his mouth and placed it in the mouth of the 

 grandfather. The painting, with accompanying rites then followed, 

 as already described. (See Plate XCL and XCH.) Before the begin- 

 ning of the dancing occurred the rite of passing the rawhide over the 

 incense, as has already been described on a previous occasion. 



