152 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. IX. 



now received their head-dress and wrist, ankle, and waist bands of 

 willow, adjusted their loin-cloth and sat down in their accustomed 

 place. (See Fig. 86.) 



Thurifying the Rawhide. 



While the assistant Chief Priest refolded the rawhide (see PI. LL, 

 Fig. a), which since its use on the night before had been lying near 



the center-pole, the Lodge-maker 

 got a live coal in the fire-spoon (see 

 Fig. LL, Fig. b), placed it under the 

 tip of the skull, and took a pinch 

 of sweet-grass from the bag lying by 

 the side of the skull. He moved it 

 toward the coal slowly, halting four 

 times, and placed it upon the coal. 

 He took up the rawhide, grasping 

 ^''^^ ^ if^^^^T^ ^' 4B0fe^MI ^^ along the folded edge near one 

 Sr^f ^ '*i»*^^^^H V'^^^H^^^I end, and barely lifting it from the 



ground, carried it from the east 

 toward the west (see PI. LL, Fig. c), 

 north of the skull and center-pole, 

 and continued toward the musicians. 

 There he motioned it toward them 

 four times and threw it among them, 

 whereupon they beat upon it with 

 the drumstick rattles. 

 The crowd within and without the lodge was now denser than 

 before. Women were singing, men were shouting, and an atmosphere 

 of religious fervor pervaded to a marked degree the entire camp. 

 The Lodge-maker having returned to his place remained standing 

 while the painters completed costuming and otherwise prepar- 

 ing their subjects. During this time the musicians about the 

 drum rehearsed dance songs. When all were ready the dancers 

 arose, as also the grandfathers, who stood in line behind the 

 dancers. 



Fig. 



Costumed dancer. 



The First Dance. 



At the beginning of the first Sun Dance song proper, the painters 

 raised first their right, then their left arm. Thus they continued for 

 a few moments, then the grandfathers sat down. The dancers now 

 placed their whistles in their mouths and began whistling and dancing. 



