May, 1905. 



The Cheyenne — Dorsey, 



163 



sides. With the beginning of a new song the dancers formed in a long 

 single line facing the east (see Fig. 100), dancing and whistling. 

 At the end of the second song they moved forward one step. 

 Thus they danced through the third and fourth songs, moving 

 forward at the end of each song. At the end of the fourth 

 song they ran, led by the Chief Priest, outside of the lodge, 

 turned sharply, and rushed toward the center-pole, still led by 

 the Chief Priest, who waved in their faces a breath-feather fastened 

 to the end of a stick which represented flying birds. They raced 

 around the center-pole twice, then out again through the eastern door- 

 way. Then they rushed back toward the center-pole and made a 

 dash toward the south entrance, turned again and ran around the 

 center-pole twice, rushed out toward the west entrance, rushed back, 

 circled around the cen- 

 ter-pole twice and rushed 

 toward the north en- 

 trance. Again they re- 

 turned, circled around 

 the center-pole twice, 

 still being led by the 

 Chief Priest. By this 

 time the dancers were 

 fairly reeling and stag- 

 gering and panting for 

 breath. (See Fig. loi.) 

 They turned back and 

 rushed toward the altar, 

 in front of which they 

 stopped and the dance 



was at an end. By this rite they march out to the four medicine- 

 spirits of the four directions; thus also they represent the people 

 going to their homes, full of life and animation. During this 

 exciting performance the musicians sang and shouted to a degree not 

 hitherto noted during the ceremony, while all the spectators, except 

 the priests and chiefs, shouted and encouraged the dancers. 



BREAKING THE FAST. 



The dancers took their places by the grandfathers who removed 

 their wreaths, which the dancers placed in a heap at the foot of the 

 center-pole. Then the grandfathers touched the symbols of the 

 dancers with sage dipped in water, and the dancers washed as before. 

 While Sage-Woman, the Chief Priest's wife, was preparing water for 



Fig. ioi. Final dance, led by Chief Priest. 



