May, 1905. 



The Cheyenne — Dorsey. 



151 



shouted, and certain medicine-men pierced the ears of some of the 

 children.* During all this time the best of good feeling and happiness 

 prevailed throughout the camp. 



Final Preparation of the Dancers. 



Each of the dancers arose (see Fig. 85), led by the Lodge-maker, 

 went to the fireplace and removed from it, by means of a stick, a live 

 coal which he placed in front ^ 

 of his grandfather. Each 

 grandfather took a pinch of 

 sweet-grass, motioned it tow- 

 ard the four directions and 

 directly overhead, and dropped 

 it upon the coal. In the smoke 

 thereupon rising he bathed his 

 hands, and touched each sym- 

 bol upon the body of the dancer 

 whom he had painted, begin- 

 ning with the right wrist, and 

 continuing with the right ankle, 

 left wrist, left ankle, the sym- 

 bol on the breast, the symbol on 

 the face, and finally the moon 

 symbol on the back. The dancer turned his back to the painter 

 and the latter took a stem of sweet-grass upon which he spat saliva 

 from a medicine root and drew it across the dancer's mouth from 

 left to right. He next took up the left foot of the dancer, shook it 

 and struck it with the grass stem, and repeated the performance with 

 the dancer's right foot; he repeated the performance on his left 

 hand, and then on his right hand. He repeated the performance and 

 struck his buttocks, the hollow of his back, the middle of his back, 

 and each shoulder, generally shaking him each time by grasping the 

 sides of his body. The grandfather then with four passes thrust the 

 grass stem in the scalplock of the dancer. By this rite, called the 

 " black-medicine " or " to-make-alive-again," the dancers are 

 strengthened and refreshed. Often, later in the ceremony, the 

 grandfathers spat upon the dancers' heels to revive them, "for 

 the grandfathers have medicine in their mouths." Formerly the 

 dancers chewed the scrapings of cottonwood bark. The dancers 



♦Much ear-piercing in recent times, however, is simply a formality; that is, the priest takes 

 the child's ear and gives it a gentle squeeeze; for the Cheyenne have been made to believe that the 

 piercing of the ears is contrary to the law of the Indian department. 



Fig. 85. Costumed dancers, 1901. 



