CUSTOAIS OF THE DAKOTAS. 251 



ninsi(;ians, (Irummer.s, juul singers, scjimt upon tlie ;;ioun(l near by. 

 The men eoniinencc the war song, sometimes forniin.^- a- circle, diince 

 around the women holdiuj^' the scalps, who join in the refrain, as it were, 

 I hen again forming in two lines lacing each other, all dance forwards 

 and backwards. If tiie scalps luive been captured during the winter 

 the dance is kept up at intcvvals until the leaves grow in the spring. 

 If taken in the summer, they dance and rejoice over them until the 

 leaves fall oft". Painted red four times, then they are buried. Each 

 time the scalps are painted the warriors are expected to give away 

 their blankets and their clothes, as their hearts are strong. 



Cc-ldti-in. — The riryins^ lodge. — This feast or ceremony is only |»artic- 

 ipated in by those who are virgins. If rei)orts are circulated in ilu; 

 camp derogatory the girl immediately gets up a " Virgins' Lodge." An 

 old man is selected, who arranges the tipi or lodge, in which the feast is 

 to take place, by smoothing the ground two or three yards in diameter 

 in the center of the lodge. In the middle of the cleared space is placed a 

 round stone, near it a knife is planted, blade up. The crier goes through 

 the camp, specifying where and when the feast will be held. When all 

 are assembled the girl enters, places her hand on the point of the knife 

 blade, typical of the god of war, that he may pierce her througli with 

 this sharp blade if she is not pure; then on the stone, typical of the 

 god of the mountains, that he may crush her; then placing her head 

 against the earth, typical of the god of the earth, that he may o[)en the 

 earth and ingulf her if she is not truthful ; she then takes lier seat, her 

 accuser is brought forward and goes through the same ceremony, ami 

 then openly accuses her ; if his accusation is not substantiated, he is led 

 from the lodge amid the jeers and laughter of the spectators. After 

 the trial the feast commences, and the girl goes forth with unblemished 

 character. This feast excites a beneficial effect morally upon the In- 

 dian women, and serves to make an extremely immoral nation very cir- 

 cumspect in their actions. 



The Dakotas have several ceremonies of adulation or praise. 



A-do-ican, to sing in praise of the Great Spirit, as the Dakotas do be- 

 fore going into battle, or upon a raid into the enemy's country, that he 

 may render the hearts of the enemy weak, so they may be killed and 

 their scalps captured without danger to themselves. 



Wi-cas-ta a-do-ican. — (To sing the praises of a man.) — The singer, tak- 

 ing the heads of several wood[)eckers, goes to the lodge or tipi of some 

 particular individual, will sing over these heads in his praise, reciting 

 his deeds in war and at the council fire, or ex[)loits of the chase, re- 

 ceiving in return a valuable present. 



Ado-wan. — The pipe or praise dance. — Two persons, the singer and 

 dancer, go to a mourning lodge, and taking the bundle of cloth in which 

 the hair or the medicine of the deceased is kept, hang it on four 

 sticks driven into the ground. Tiic singer then takes the pipe, the stem 

 elaborately decorated with feathers, beads, and quills, invites the spec- 



