12 SMITHSONIAN" MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. Sj 



is lit it is again pointed to the four directions. After the pipe is 

 emptied the priest calls the pledger to come before him. The priest 

 holds the pipe in his right hand ; he spits on the outstretched right 

 hand. The pledger then grasps the stem of the pipe held by the priest 

 with the bowl towards the ground. The pledger clasps the hand of 

 the priest, and both hold the stem of the pipe. The pledger gently 

 pulls the pipe towards himself four times. The fourth time the priest 

 lets go. The pledger takes the pipe, tirst placing it on his right breast, 

 then on the left, then right, then left ; he hands the pipe back to the 

 priest. He makes drawing motions over his limbs as before, and 

 then proceeds to touch the holy ground exactly as with the drawing 

 motions. After this, all may touch the holy ground. This terminates 

 the ceremony in the tipi. 



All this time the Sacrifice Offering cloth and the stick leaned against 

 the breast of the tipi, and green timbers leaned against the back of 

 the tipi. The women now take charge of the timbers, and proceed 

 to build a sweat lodge.^ The first two timbers are planted on the 

 east and the two on the west ; these sets are about 2 feet apart. Then 

 the remaining timbers, about 13, are put in the ground, forming a 

 circle about 8 feet in circumference. This will accommodate about 

 15 persons. A round hole is made in the center of the sweat lodge. 

 This is a place for hot stones ; it is about 2 feet in circumference and 

 I foot deep. The dirt taken from the excavation is placed about 20 

 feet towards the east of the entrance, and is made into a small 

 mound. ^ This mound and the sweat lodge are connected by a trail. 

 Then a young cottonwood tree ^ is placed in the ground in an upright 

 position near, but east of, the mound. A buffalo skull * is then placed 

 against the mound ; it is on the west slope ° and faces the sweat lodge. 

 The skull is painted with black and red paint : the horns are black- 

 ened, and the region around the nose is painted red ; a black streak 

 runs from the back of the head to the tip of the nose.° 



' See especially Petter, loc. cit., article " sweat lodge " ; for the use of sweat 

 lodges in religious ceremonies see also Lowie, Primitive religion, p. 195, New- 

 York, 1924. 



" Compare Grinnell, loc cit., vol. 2, p. 103. 



^ For the ceremonial use of cottonwood trees, see Grinnell, loc. cit., vol. i, 

 P- 95 ; vol. 2, pp. 229-232, 259, 287. 



* For the use of a buflfalo skull in combination with a sweat lodge, see Grin- 

 nell, loc. cit., vol. 2, p. 103. 



^For the localization of the. buffalo skull on the west slope, compare Grinnell, 

 loc. cit., vol. 2, p. 294. 



® The buffalo skull is painted nearly as in the Sun Dance ; compare Dorsey, 

 G. A., loc. cit., vol. 2, pp. 96, 97 : in part compare Grinnell, loc. cit., vol. 2, p. 33. 



