May, 1905. The Cheyenne — Dorsey. 93 



The Lodge-Maker's Robe. 



After a short period of smoking, Big-Baby took up the rabbit 

 skin, because symbolic of food in general, and cut it into nine pieces. 

 Through each piece he inserted a piece of string. The Lodge-maker 

 passed to him his buffalo robe, and Big-Baby with an awl made nine 

 holes in the robe. Eight of these holes were around the border, 

 one being at the head, one at the tail, four at the four extremities, 

 one in the middle on each side of the robe, and the ninth hole in the 

 center. Holding the hair side of the robe out, Big-Baby attached 

 to each of these holes a piece of the rabbit skin. The Lodge-maker 

 left the tipi and soon returned bringing with him ten dried rawhide 

 objects, each in the shape of a rattle. They were new, and as yet 

 contained neither pebbles nor handles. He also brought a new 

 hatchet and a piece of wood. By that time Big-Baby had fastened 

 the last piece of rabbit skin to the robe. Next he mixed some white 

 lime paint in a bowl and smeared the wool side of the robe with the 

 paint, drawing a sun symbol on the right and a moon symbol on 

 the left of the piece of rabbit skin at the center of the robe.* The 

 paint of the buffalo robe, the location of the pieces of fur, and the 

 method of inserting the string through the pieces of rabbit skin 

 may be seen in the diagram. (See Fig. 23.) The Chief Priest 

 stooped down with his back to Big-Baby and took up the robe with 

 his two hands, grasping it along the median line. Thus holding it, 

 he lifted it, pausing four times, completely from the ground, and 

 put it on the Lodge-maker. 



The Feast and the Preparation of the Priests. 



The wife of the Lodge-maker brought into the tipi the usual 

 amount of food for the feast, the first bowl being placed in front 

 of the Chief Priest. 



Deafy, after having his hands prepared by the Chief Priest by 

 the usual rite, began working on the piece of sinew, which, it has 

 been noted, was brought into the lodge early in the morning. The 

 Lodge-maker's hands being prepared in the same manner by the 

 Chief Priest, he sat down in front of the Chief Priest and ate. The 

 assistant Chief Priest moved and sat south of the buffalo skull while 

 his hands were prepared by the Chief Priest. The Lodge-maker 



•The robe thus decorated represented a buffalo : of the nine pieces of fur, four represented 

 the medicine spirits, one the sun, one the moon, one the mominK star, one the evening star, and 

 one the spirit star. The privilege of paintinjj the Lodge-maker's robe and his wife's belt is 

 obtained by purchase, and may be owned by but one priest at a time. It is now owned by Big- 

 Baby. 



