May, 1905. 



The Cheyenne — Dorsey. 



109 



the center fork. On the night of the second day he had decided 

 on a spot suitable for the center-pole and there had erected a few 

 boughs. Early on this morning the two old spies, Wolf-Face and 

 Mad-Robe, rode around the camp-site, entered the camp-circle at 

 the east door, and rode up to the site of the medicine-lodge and 

 struck the sticks and grass which had been erected by Big-Baby, 

 each first relating his war story. This is supposed to awaken enthu- 

 siasm in the rest of the tribe to ^o after the lodge poles. By striking 

 the boughs each indicated that 

 he was still active and had 

 struck the enemy inside of his 

 tipi. One of these two spies, 

 it will be remembered, is sup- 

 posed to have located the cen- 

 ter-pole in the woods and to 

 have counted coup on it. In 

 the mean time all the members 

 of the different warrior socie- 

 ties had been assembling at 

 the lodges of their leaders, all 

 gayly dressed in full and elab- 

 orate costume, or in the spe- 

 cial regalia of their order, and 

 all were mounted on their best 

 ponies. (See PI. XXVIII.) 

 Those who had been warriors 

 had painted their horses in 

 appropriate war medicine 

 paint. As fast as each society 

 was ready, the members entered the camp-circle on horseback, 

 riding at full speed and yelling and shouting. Each bore a long 

 willow pole to represent a lance, and a shield of cotton wood 

 boughs. They rode directly toward the site of the center-pole, passed 

 on and, still on the run, counted coup on the boughs. (See PI. 

 XXIX.) Bands of women gayly attired and provided with long 

 willows also counted coup, and then set off to assist the men in 

 the timber. (See Fig. 41.) 



Timbers for the Sun Dance Lodge. 

 All the poles to be used in the formation of the lodge, except 

 the center-pole, are brought to the site of the lodge by the warrior 

 societies, each society being supposed to bring to the lodge a certain 



Fig. 41. Women with head-dresses and 

 lances of willow. (Mooney.) 



