May, 1903. The Arapaho Sun Dance — Dorsey. 173 



information was also obtained by Cleaver Warden during the winter, 

 from an Arapaho named Black-Hand, and from this it would seem 

 that actual intercourse between the grandfather of the Lodge-Maker 

 and the Lodge-Maker's wife does not take place, although it is admit- 

 ted that "the temptation is great." 



In former times, in accordance with the fixed rites of the cere- 

 mony, the grandfather of the Lodge-Maker, i. e., the Transferrer, and 

 the Lodge-Maker's wife, on the night of the day following the erec- 

 tion of the Rabbit-tipi, had intercourse. This usually occurred at or 

 shortly after midnight, the chief priest of the ceremony leaving the 

 Rabbit-tipi first, and calling out the request that all people remain 

 inside of their tipis and that every one be quiet. Then the wife, of 

 the Lodge-Maker would leave the Rabbit-tipi with the grandfather, 

 who carried with him the ceremonial pipe. Both of them, with the 

 woman in the lead, would proceed to the distance of about a hundred 

 yards toward the east, where each would offer a prayer, in which both 

 emphasized the fact that they were about to do that which had been 

 commanded at the time of the origin of the ceremony, and that what 

 they were about to do was in keeping with the wish of their Father. 

 The woman, naked, would lie down on her back. The Transferrer 

 stood by her side and prayed to Man-Above and to the subordinate 

 gods for their favor toward all the Arapaho tribe. He then offers her 

 body to Man-Above, the Grandfather, the Four-Old-Men, and various 

 minor gods. During the act of intercourse, the Transferrer places in 

 the woman's mouth a piece of root which he has brought with him 

 from the Rabbit-tipi. On the return of the two to the Rabbit-tipi, 

 the chief priest would again go outside, and would call out in a loud 

 voice, "All go ahead now with your affairs." 



Formerly this rite was also performed on the second night follow- 

 ing, i. e., on the night of the completion of the Offerings-lodge, with 

 the altar, and occurred before the first dance, but after the dancers 

 had entered the lodge. On this occasion they went to the west of the 

 lodge a few hundred feet. On their return to the Rabbit-tipi, the 

 woman leads, and as they enter she addresses her husband, saying: 

 "I have returned, having performed the holy act which was com- 

 manded," whereupon he, together with the other dancers, says, 

 "Thanks!" and they pray for her succe'ss. 



According to my informant, the Transferrer represents the sacred 

 Wheel or AU-Powerful (Man-Above), while the woman represents the 

 mother of the tribe. The root placed in her mouth she hands to her 

 husband on entering the Rabbit-tipi; it represents the seed or food 

 given by the All-Powerful, while the issue of their connection is 



