March, 1905. The Cheyenne — Dorsey. 33 



sticks, representing the Cheyenne, and on the other ten black 

 and white sticks, representing other tribes. The red sticks have 

 downy feathers stuck to them. While the altar is being completed 

 all the men who are to paint the dancers take them to the chief priest, 

 that he may put medicine upon them, so that they may succeed in 

 their work. The Lodge-maker and his wife are painted red. All 

 the children go to the river and fetch mud to the front of the lodge, 

 where they mold it into pairs of mud animals, which, when com- 

 pleted, they set about the base of the center-pole, thus representing 

 the animals which the ceremony is expected to attract. 



The number of days of dancing is determined by the experience 

 of the chief priest, who must conduct the lodge as he has been in- 

 structed. 



On the afternoon of the fourth or last day of the dance those who 

 so desire have their breasts pierced and dance tied by a lariat to the 

 center-pole until the skin of the breast breaks from the weight of 

 their bodies. 



In the closing ceremonies, at evening, several short rites are 

 performed by the dancers. The tipi cloth of the lodge is raised, and 

 four entrances are made. Then a scalp, or the downy feather of an 

 eagle, is tied to a stick four feet in length, which is placed in the 

 hands of an old-time warrior, who is leader. Then there occurs a 

 race around the center-pole. The leader runs in advance, swinging 

 his stick to the right and left, up and down, as he runs. The racers 

 run out to the south and back, then to the west and back, then to 

 the north and back, then return to their places, drink, and wash off 

 their paint. * 



