May, 1903. The Arapaho Sun Dance — Dorsey. 149 



"My Grandfather, Big-Painted-Red-Robe, listen to me! You are 

 the one who directed and instructed me; and whatever I do, may it be 

 pleasing to your sight! I have taken great pains to pursue the way 

 which you gave me. May this woman (Chanitoe's wife) carry this 

 kettle of sweet-water safely to your holy place ! As the geese drank 

 that pure water without difficulty, so let it be with us! My Father, 

 please come and be with us!" 



The priests now left the lodge, accompanied by Chanitoe's wife 

 carrying the kettle, and proceeded to the Offerings-lodge, where they 

 passed directly to the spot between the western wall of the lodge and 

 the buffalo skull. Here a circular excavation was made for the wooden 

 bowl, the sage being first removed, and Hawkan indicating the spot 

 with the pipe-stem by the four motions, where the excavation was to 

 be made. A bowl provided by Watdngaa was then placed upon the 

 excavation. Chanitoe opened the two sacks, one containing red, and 

 the other black paint. The paint he mixed with tallow. Nishnat^- 

 yana, with the pipe-stem, after four passes with it toward the bowl, 

 made a mark on the west side of the rim of the bowl, and then one on 

 the east. Hawkan placed across the bowl at these two points a stem 

 of sage, being assisted by Watangaa. Nishnateyana again made four 

 motions with the pipe-stem, ejecting spittle, at the same time touch- 

 ing the bowl, first on the southeast corner, and then on the southwest, 

 northwest, northeast, and finally drawing the point of the stem 

 entirely around the rim of the bowl. Chanitoe applied black paint to 

 the south rim of the bowl, while Watangaa besmeared the rim on the 

 north side with red. Naen also applied black paint to the south side, 

 passing her finger from the east around to the west, and then applied 

 red paint on the north rim, beginning at the west. Chanitoe touched 

 with the point of his forefinger the bowl, on the inside near the edge, 

 at two points equidistant and half-way between the east and west 

 diameter of the bowl; and Watangaa went through a similar perform- 

 ance on the north side. Nishnateyana made the four motions with the 

 pipe-stem on the outside of the bowl, and on the east side, ejecting 

 spittle also. At this point near the rim and edge and south of the 

 east side of the bowl, Chanitoe painted a circular symbol. Nishnate- 

 yana repeated this performance on the west side of the bowl just north 

 of the line of the diameter, at which point Watdngaa painted a red 

 crescent-shape symbol. Nishnateyana made the usual passes near the 

 kettle, which had been standing near by, Chanitoe accompanying the 

 movement of the pipe-stem with the ladle. He then dipped one ladle- 

 ful from the bowl at the southeast corner, moving it as he passed it to 

 the bowl, in a sunwise circuit. The second ladle of water was taken 



