112 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. IX. 



Fig. 45. The chiefs bringing in the 

 center-pole, iqoi. 



the tree was dragged to its 

 final resting - place by lariat 

 ropes, but in recent times, at 

 any rate during the two cere- 

 monies witnessed, it was 

 brought into the camp-circle 

 on a wagon, the mounted chiefs 

 riding behind the wagon. (See 

 Fig. 45.) As they made the 

 journey from the timber to the 

 site of the Sun Dance lodge , they 

 halted four times for the four 

 medicine-spirits, and as they 

 laid the tree down in the cen- 

 ter of the lodge it corre- 

 sponded to the sun. 



The Hole for the Center-Pole. 



The right to dig the hole for the center-pole is acquired by pay- 

 ment, and is considered worthy of attainment, for it confers certain 

 privileges and honors. Thus, in 1903, the rite was performed by 

 Big-Baby, who, in turn, had purchased it from Left-Hand Bull. 

 (See Figs. 46.) The privilege was transferred at the close of the rite 

 by Big-Baby to Shave-Head, who presented Big-Baby with a gun. 



After the pole had been placed in the lodge by the chiefs, the 

 forked end being directed toward the west, the end of the hole was 

 measured by means of a small twig which was placed on the ground 



Fig. 46. Digging the hole for the center-poie. 



