March, 1905. The Cheyenne — Dorsey. 9 



these sticks number several hundred, or even a thousand. Each one 

 of these sticks represents a Cheyenne family. Even those who are 

 not present are represented by these sticks. See Fig. 2. They do 

 not keep these sticks; they are only prepared to count with, and are 

 thrown away after the ceremony. In front, and on each side of the 

 altar, an incense fire is kept continually burning to the Great Med- 

 icine, to bless every Cheyenne family represented in the ceremony, 

 and each stick is held over the burning incense. This continues all 

 day of the third day and night, and part of the fourth day. While 

 this incense is burning all the medicine-men in the whole camp pre- 

 pare and improve their med- 

 icines in their tipis. All of 

 their medicines are of herbs. 

 Three or four medicine-men 

 come together to arrange 

 these medicines, and they 

 also go through their own 

 ceremonies. 



Fourth Day. — When the 

 family sticks are finished, 

 usually in the afternoon, the 

 man who has pledged the 

 ceremony sends one of the 

 warriors to get a pole from 

 one of the camps. This pole 

 is forked, about five feet 



long, by three inches through, and is pointed at the other end, so 

 it may be thrust into the ground. The warrior brings this pole, 

 and takes it to the medicine-men. The assistant Arrow-Keepers 

 take the four sacred arrows and tie them together against the pole 

 so that they point upward and downward. The two original med- 

 icine-arrows have their points up towards the sky, while the imitation 

 arrows have their points directed downwards. After they are tied 

 on this pole, the pledger takes the pole and comes out from the 

 medicine-lodge, holding it and the arrows vertically. He goes for- 

 ward to a distance of one hundred yards from the great Medicine- 

 Arrow lodge, and halts and puts the pointed end of the pole in the 

 ground. (See Fig. 3.) He wails as he comes from the lodge. After he 

 puts the pole into the ground so that it will stand firmly, he returns 

 to the lodge and brings out the red fox-skin wrapper, and lays it down 

 beside the pole. He goes very slowly, and wails all the time. 

 When he returns to the lodge the medicine-men come out and bring 



Fig. 3. Diagram of Arrows, Offerings, etc. 



