126 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. IX. 



buffalo skull, halting four times on the way, and placed the tampers 

 between the skull and the pipe. 



Thurification. 



The assistant Chief Priest and the Lodge-maker took their places 

 in the circle of the priests. The Lodge-maker soon left his place 

 and got the fire-spoon and without formality took a coal from the 

 fire, carried it slowly in a stooping manner and placed it just under- 

 neath the tip of the jaw of the skull. He sat down upon his heels 

 with his right knee drawn up in front of him. He made four passes 

 toward the bag of incense lying by the side of the skull, and took 

 a pinch from it in his fingers. 



First Songs. 

 The priests began a slow chant, the first of several groups of 

 traditional sacred songs which recount the origin of the ceremony, 

 and which are supposed to be of great potency in bringing about 

 a new life and freedom from disease and famine. During this song 

 the Lodge-maker held the incense straight out in front of his body 

 in his right hand, his elbow resting upon his right knee. He main- 

 tained this same position during the second song and also during 

 the third. As the fourth song commenced he began to lower his 

 hand and arm slowly and gradually toward the skull, until at the 

 end of the song his hand rested just over the coal. He opened his 

 fingers and placed the incense upon the coal, thus sacrificing to the 

 four medicine-spirits and the sun. He resumed his place in the circle. 



Second Songs. 



Again the Lodge-maker received the spittle in his hands from 

 the Chief Priest, arose and went to the skull and resumed his posi- 

 tion as before by the side of the skull. He then made four passes 

 toward the bag of incense and took from it another pinch. They 

 began another song, during which time he gradually lowered his 

 hand toward the coal, his elbow this time not resting upon his knee, 

 and placed the incense upon the coal. He resumed his position in 

 the circle of the priests, who had not yet finished the song. While 

 they were singing the dancers left the lodge for a moment. By the 

 end of the second song of this second set the dancers had returned. 



Then followed the third song, without movement on the part of 

 any one. As the fourth song began the Lodge-maker arose and 

 handed the rattles which had been lying near the buffalo skull to the 

 priests. During this time the dancers were trying their whistles 

 to see if they were in proper condition. 



