132 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. IX. 



standing. Another song was begun and the dancers continued 

 whisthng and dancing, but during all this time, however, without 

 moving their arms. The Lodge-maker continued to stand about 

 four feet south of the skull. At the end of the song there was much 

 rejoicing and shouting on the part of priests, drummers, and specta- 

 tors, who at that time consisted almost exclusively of the near kin of 

 those actively engaged in the ceremony, for it was about two o'clock 

 in the morning. The shouting marked the end of the preparation 

 for the ceremony and the real beginning of the dancing, for hence- 

 forth the dancers occupied their time almost continuously, until they 

 were painted, by dancing; they fasted from this night until after the 

 last rite at the close of the ceremony. 



THE FIFTH DAY. 



This may not inappropriately be termed "altar day," as the 

 erection of the altar is the chief event of the day. It may also be 

 termed the first day of the dance proper. It is the first fasting day, 

 for after the feast of the previous night the dancers refrain from 

 eating until the close of the ceremony. As will be seen, there are 

 five distinct features connected with the erection of the altar, of 

 which the buffalo skull serves as the center. The events of the 

 building of the altar are the cutting of the sod and the formation of 

 the half circle, the insertion of the brush and the willow and plum 

 bushes on this half -circle, the digging and painting of the ditch, the 

 erection of the rain-bow sticks and the erection of the sticks represent- 

 ing the people. During the erection of the altar the dancers take 

 their pipes to their grandfathers, who paint them. Before each 

 dance, that is, before each ceremony in which a new paint is worn, 

 the rawhide is incensed and carried around the altar. Formerly, on 

 this day the children placed at the foot of the altar pole clay images 

 of animals, chiefly of the buffalo, which they had made in pairs at 

 the river. The paint of this day is known as the "Yellow-Paint." 



THE ERECTION OF THE ALTAR. 



After the events noted in the account of the preceding night the 

 dancers spent the few remaining hours wrapped in their blankets, 

 sleeping on the ground. There was no special dance at sunrise, 

 though in 1901 the Lodge-maker and his wife sat outside the lodge 

 and watched the sun rise. By seven o'clock all were awake and the 

 principal priests were present, sitting about the buffalo skull in no 

 special order. 



