248 PAPERS RELATING TO ANTHROPOLOGY. 



liis medicine-bag: describes the course of the sun, bowing to the four 

 quarters, says to the candidate, "Now prepare yourself, I am g'oinfj to 

 transfer to you what I have in my medicine-bag," and thrusting his 

 bag torward the candidate, says, "There goes the spirit." At these 

 words the candidate, kneeling on a blanket, falls upon the ground. 

 All those that wish now come forward and, as oflerings, throw over the 

 prostrate figure robes, blankets, skins, and ornaments. By the power of 

 the high-priest the candidate recovers, as described before, is presented 

 with a medicine-bag, and is a recognized member of the order. He 

 nuist attend the three following meetings in the same costume, painted 

 black, after which he appears as he may wish, Women are members 

 of this order. Dead Indians, men and women, are initiated into this 

 order, through the same jierformance over a lock of hair of the deceased, 

 wrapi)cd in skin or cloth, laid upon the ground, with robes, blankets, etc., 

 piled as an offering upon it, and afterwards distributed among the mem- 

 bers. They say the spirit by this initiation is set on the right road, 

 straight to his or her destination. After the ceremonies the soldiers 

 distribute the food, and the feast commences, constituting the primripal 

 attraction to the multitude. The dance, commencing at daylight, lasts 

 until daylight the following morning, and as these dances are given, 

 even in mid-winter, many degrees below zero, one can readily imagine 

 the agony the candidates must undergo, clotheii only in a coat of paint. 

 It is generally supposed that the members of the order have secrets 

 and signs, but the penalty is so sure and swift that no exposures have 

 ever been made. Well-known instances have occurred, where indiscre- 

 tion of members have been punished by their mysterious disappear- 

 ance, attributed to the medicine men. 



Fa <jimlhina-la- \Va-ci-2ri. — The circling crow dance, also called the 

 straw or grass dance, is controlled by three men, the most influential of 

 the tribe, who wear a peculiar insignia, a tunic of crow and eagle feath- 

 ers attached to a belt ornamented with beads and quills; over the small 

 of the back project two sticks several inches long; at the ends are jin- 

 gling bells, every motion of the wearer causing the sticks to vibrate and 

 the bells to jingle. These tunics are held sacred, and no profane hand 

 allowed to touch them. The next officers of the order are the four 

 drummers, each provided with a baton of office, a stick wrapped with 

 porcupine (inills and strings of beads, the four sticks being used to sus- 

 pend the drum, and a large wash-tub or cheese-box, covered with skin, 

 the sides draped with fine cloth, ornamented with feathers, beads, and 

 quills. The duties of the drummers are to strike the drum with full 

 force and to keep up an incessant singing. Stewards are api)ointed to 

 collect provisions, which are rarely refused. When sufficient is collected 

 to last several days the three leading men are notified, who, calling the 

 lodge, make arrangements for the dance. The crier then goes through 

 the camp announcing when and where the dance will be held. 



The three chiefs appear in their feathered tunics and the uietubers 



