io8 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. IX. 



•^T^ 



the buffalo skull. (See Fig. 37 and PI. XXVII.) The woman pro- 

 ceeded toward the Sun Dance lodge and about a hundred feet from the 



tipi stopped, and the whole line 

 halted. She deposited the skull on 

 the ground (See Fig. 38), and the 

 others walked forward and placed 

 the objects they were carrying 

 by the side of the skull. Then all 

 fell back about twenty feet and 

 sat in a semi-circular line facing 

 the center of the camp-circle (see 

 Fig. 39), the Lodge-maker being 

 at the south end (see Fig. 40), his 

 wife at the other. 



Fig. 38. 



Lodge-maker's wife depositing 

 the buffalo skull. 



Fig. 39. The Lone-tipi priests. 



PUBLIC RITES OF THE FORENOON. 



Before proceeding further with a descrip- 

 tion of the rites about to follow, it is ne- 

 cessary to relate the events which were 

 publicly performed on this day, especially 

 those which have to do with the erection 

 of the Sun Dance lodge. 



Counting Coup at the Site of the 

 Center-Pole. 



It will be remembered that Big-Baby was 

 charged with the responsibility of the per- 

 formance of certain rites in connection with 



Fig. 40. The Lodge-maker 

 at end of line of priests. 



