3a Fiki-d Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. IX 



woman and the chief priest raise the pipe upwards toward the center- 

 pole, the chief priest makes a prayer, and then the center-pole is 

 partly raised. Three times again the center-pole is' raised, with the 

 same accompaniments, and is placed erect in its proper position. The 

 cross-bars are then placed in the crotches of the encircling forked 

 poles. The warriors go to the camp and bring back tipis to cover 

 the sacred lodge. When the cover is in place the warriors go to 

 their societies to feast and prepare for the dedication of the lodge. 

 Toward evening the wife of the Lodge-maker brings a bed through 

 the right side of the lodge, and places it at the back of the lodge, 

 behind the altar. All the chiefs are invited, and at this time come 

 to the lodge. 



All of the warrior societies take part in the dedication ceremony . 

 which lasts for two hours. Eight brave men are selected to help 

 and protect their people, and two of the chiefs make speeches. All 

 of the priests return and sit around the chief priest, the Lodge-maker, 

 and his wife. They prepare to drill those who are to take part in 

 the coming dance, in the hand-and-arm exercise. In this exercise 

 the right arm is raised twice, then the left arm is raised twice, then 

 both arms twice. In each exercise they turn first to the right, and 

 then to the left side. This lasts half of the night. After singing 

 the sacred pipe song four times, and smoking, the chief priest and 

 the woman go out. Before they go out incense is burned over each, 

 which is repeated on their return. While they are out the four 

 pipe songs are sung, and they smoke. Now they dance till morning. 



On the fourth day, or the first day of the dance, the altar is built 

 around the skull. The Lodge-maker's wife goes out in front of the 

 lodge and procures earth, which is cut into strips about one and a 

 half feet long and four inches wide, five pieces in all, and each piece 

 having grass upon it. These pieces of sod the woman brings in one 

 at a time, and places them in order, two at the right, and two at the 

 left; the fifth piece occupies a position at the back of the skull. 

 Then the brush about the altar is set up, one willow on the right 

 side, then a plum bush, then small bushes, as they proceed backward 

 in a circle. On the left, in front of the altar, is a willow and 

 a plum bush, the same as on the opposite side. Directly in front 

 of the skull is dug a ditch four inches deep and two feet long, 

 and from eight to ten inches wide. In the bottom of the ditch 

 is a layer of sand, upon which are drawn from seven to nine red 

 and black lines representing roads. Arched over the ditch, from 

 side to side, are four painted rainbow sticks, with eagle breath- 

 feathers stuck to them. On one side of the ditch stand ten red 



