i8o Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. IV. 



afternoon of this the third day, where to the east of and near the 

 center-pole their ears were pierced with a porcupine quill, generally 

 by the priest, or by others, who from their position were permitted to 

 perform. 



The piercing of the ear typified the striking of the child by a 

 lightning bolt, and thereafter it was supposed proof against arrows of 

 the enemy in times of war. At the present time children are still 

 brought to the center-pole by their parents, who also provide them- 

 selves with presents of calico or of a pony, to be given to the priest, 

 who now steps up, and taking the child by the ear, makes a motion as 

 if to pierce it. According to Hdwkan, this custom of piercing the ears 

 at the time of the Sun Dance was learned from the Cheyenne, who 

 retain this same custom in a similar form to-day. According to the 

 same authority, the ears of the children of the Arapaho were formerly 

 pierced by medicine-men, but always in the privacy of the lodge, and 

 irrespective of the season of the year." 



Of interest in connection with this statement of Hawkan's is the 

 following account of a ceremonial piercing which took place some years 

 ago, the story being given as it was obtained from the narrator: 



PIERCING THE EARS, ARAPAHO STORY OF. 



"The Arapaho think much of their children, from birth to adult 

 age. Indian children are brought up 'easily,' and are therefore very 

 soft. Young men have their pleasures entirely independent of their 

 parents. They are to a certain extent under obligations to attend to 

 the ponies for their parents. They have all the time they wish to 

 sleep, and they get up whenever they wish. Their parents do not 

 disturb their rest. There are some who constantly watch their chil- 

 dren in order to make them useful in life. 



"It is told by our grandparents that certain young men were very 

 lazy and dirty, and their fathers would criticise them harshly for their 

 conduct. These young people finally made up their minds to be great 

 in the tribe, so they started out voluntarily in search of 'distant won- 

 ders,' after washing and dressing themselves neatly. All these young 

 men were the children of the chiefs and well-to-do families, but were 

 by nature too lazy to wash themselves or to comb their hair. Some 

 of them were of great annoyance to the tribe, and disgraced their 

 relatives. 



"In order that the child may be welcome at strange places by 

 different tribes; that he, though young, may show his good will toward 

 brethren; that he may anticipate going through a battle and receiving 

 a wound, his ears are pierced; thus the whole tribe sees him in pain, 



