114 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol, IX. 



just back of the skull and praying over it. (See Fig. 48.) Others 

 came up to the skull and held up their hands over it and prayed. 

 (See Fig. 49.) This rite, including the offering of calico to the lodge- 

 pole to be made later, and the offering of calico to the skull, is in 

 the nature of a prayer that their children may grow up and be under 

 the favor and protection of the medicine-spirits. The atmosphere 

 of the whole assembled multitude at that time was one of supreme 

 religious fervor and enthusiastic happiness. The warrior societies 



were singing encouraging 

 songs, and in another 

 place were heard the chiefs 

 beating upon the drums 

 and singing, while one 

 after another of their 

 number arose and related 

 some episode of his war 

 experience. 



The wives and rela- 

 tives of the men who were 

 to dance and fast in the 

 ceremony began to ap- 

 proach the line of priests 

 bearing food in pans and 

 The Lodge-maker took a piece of food from one of these 

 vessels, and stepping forward, that is, toward the north and in the 

 direction of the lodge, he held it aloft and dropped it upon the ground, 

 thus offering it to the medicine-spirits. He then returned to the line 

 of priests. 



Painting the Lodge-Poles. 



The Lodge-maker was joined by Bull-Tongue and they together 

 left the line of priests and went toward the lodge, where they made 

 a complete circuit, passing beyond the reach poles which radiated 

 out from the sides of the lodge. This circuit was symbolic of the 

 circular symbol which was reproduced later by means of a small 

 black circle on the breast of the dancers. Again they began to circle 

 the lodge and its outlying poles. Having reached the southeast 

 corner of the lodge they encountered one of the four reach poles* 

 which had been decorticated and which represented the medicine 

 spirit of the southeast. Bull-Tongue approached it at its base, for its 

 small end was directed toward the lodge. Here Bull-Tongue moved 



♦These reach poles or rafters are given the same name as is given to the poles of a tipi. 



Fig. 4g. Priests smoking offering pipes. 



pails. 



