May, 1905. The Cheyenne — Dorsey. 133 



The Excavation. 



The Chief Priest spat in the hands of Cedar-Tree, Big-Baby, and 

 the assistant Chief Priest, and with similar rites spat upon an axe 

 five times. In the mean time the Lodge-maker brought in the bundle 

 of dog-wood sticks which had been lying outside of the lodge. Big- 

 Baby and the assistant Chief Priest without formality cleared the 

 ground for a considerable distance around and especially in front of 

 the buffalo skull, removing all trace of vegetation. They next pre- 

 pared to mark the site of the excavation to be made in front of the 

 skull. The assistant Chief Priest took a slender rod and placed one 

 end of it upon the upper side of his lower arm bent at right angles to 

 his upper arm. He measured with the stick in this position to the 

 base of his middle finger. Having cut the stick this length, he roughly 

 indicated on the ground in front of the skull the length of the excava- 

 tion. Big-Baby with his two hands took the hands of Black-Man 

 and caused him to touch an axe and make a circular motion over the 

 space thus indicated ; then he caused him to direct the axe downward 

 five times and touch the ground with the axe in four different places, 

 beginning with the southeast, thus indicating a rectangular figure. 

 Continuing to hold his hands he again caused him to make a circular 

 motion and to direct the axe four times and touch the ground in the 

 center, thus indicating the place to be cut. The space was again 

 measured with the stick, preparatory to its excavation, the width 

 now being determined by the assistant Chief Priest, who placed the 

 tips of his two thumbs together with his palms downward and out- 

 ward.* 



By this time the heat of the sun was excessive, and women brought 

 poles and a piece of tipi cloth with which they formed a shelter over 

 the priests working at the altar. Before actually beginning the 

 work of excavating, although its size had been indicated, Big-Baby 

 passed around behind the buffalo skull and sighted over the median 

 line of the skull, in order to make sure that the space was in a direct 

 line between the center of the skull, and the center-pole. Thereupon, 

 Black-Man, without further formality, began loosening the earth in 

 the rectangular area. Big-Baby, with his right hand, took the right 

 hand of Black-Man, made a circular motion with it over the loosened 

 earth, directed his hand toward it four times, and the latter took up 

 a handful of earth and placed it upon an old blanket which had been 

 spread out by the side of the excavation as a receptacle. The cir- 



♦It will be remembered that the same measure was used in indicating the width of the bands 

 on the four poles and the center-pole of the lodge which were to receive bands of paint. 



