May, 1903. The Arapaho Sun Dance — Dorsey. 183 



him his services in the morning. The "auxiliary" prepares himself 

 for the task. Just before the sun rises the one who made the vow, or 

 the "pledger," goes to the auxiliary, and he knowing the object, gets 

 up quickly and dresses himself. He takes up his pipe and tobacco 

 pouch. Both walk out from the camp-circle, or beyond the village 

 limits, each praying that their sacrifice may be heard and conveyed to 

 the Sun. 



The auxiliary fills the pipe with tobacco and lays it in front of 

 them. While the pledger has an awl and sharp knife in readiness, he 

 prays to the rising sun, saying: "We are meek and lowly in this 

 earth; do not know your holy wishes this day; your children have 

 taught us to do this; we hope that you will extend your sympathy and 

 protection. We know not how to pray to you and to the other sacred 

 beings, so please be merciful to us individually, and above all, when 

 you (Sun) have risen to give light to this earth, let your ray of light 

 shine upon this sick brother! Instead of leaving him in intense pain, 

 please come to him with all your mighty power and remove it. We 

 request you to help us in our daily lives and cause your light to reach 

 us that we may see the 'right road,' that our children may be blessed 

 and grow rapidly, like young birds, and live to be old men and women. 

 Send us plenty of rain for vegetation and please watch us closely, that 

 we may not slide ! We are under obligations to call for your assist- 

 ance, my Grandfather (Sun), on behalf of the sick man. Extend your 

 rays to him, so that he may get well!" 



The auxiliary then takes the sharp knife and awl and advances to 

 the pledger. Both face the east, to meet the rising sun. Just as the 

 first rays of light come out from the heat of the sun, the auxiliary, by 

 thrusting the awl with his left hand, slightly raises the skin from the 

 flesh, and with his right hand cuts the skin with a knife. He hands 

 each piece to the pledger, who holds it in his outstretched palm. The 

 auxiliary continues until he has cut seven pieces of skin, all being 

 given to the pledger. 



The auxiliary cleans a place in front of them and digs a small hole 

 or "ditch." The pledger then says in behalf of the sick man: "Now 

 these are seven pieces of my skin, which I do hope all of you Super- 

 natural-Beings and Spirits will take, to the end that my dear brother 

 may recover. So all look this way! Here in this hole I bury them." 

 The pledger goes through the motion of cleansing his hands by rub- 

 bing them together, while the auxiliary covers the skin. The burying 

 is done before the edge of the sun is seen above the horizon. The 

 auxiliary then lights his pipe and points the stem to the rising sun and 

 smokes it with reverence. He points the same to the east, then over- 



