[WILSON] THE SACRIFICIAL RITE OF THE BLACKFOOT 9 



During all the time that Scarface was at the Sun's lodge he had 

 been receiving instruction on many religious ceremonies, the most im- 

 portant of which was Okan, tlie " Sun-dance." 



The Sun had said to him '"'Let no foolish (immoral) woman make 

 Okan, I will not pay any attention to her prayers. I will only hear the 

 prayers of wise (virtuous) women. Eemember the things I like best. 

 Beaver hair buffalo robes, white buffalo robes, war clotliing, eagle tail 

 feaitliers, and all good and pretty things. Tell the people that when 

 prayers are accompanied by these things, they will be granted. Also 

 remember that my favourite food is the tongue of the buffalo." 



The time came when the Indian was to return home, so one day the 

 Sun lifted a big stone near the lodge, and called to Scarface, " Come 

 and look into this hole." 



The boy looked into the liole which the stone had covered and saw 

 far, far below him an Indian camp. 



Said the Sun " You are going to descend." 



Scarface with regret parted with his friend the Morning Star, who 

 gave him a whistle telling him to blow it whenever he wished his wife 

 to come to him. 



" Now, my son," said tlie Sun, "you are going down to your home, 

 but you must close your eyes and not open them until you arrive at the 

 bottom." 



Scarface entered the hole, closed his eyes and went down, down so 

 far that he thought something must be wrong, so opened his eyes to see, 

 and at once found himself back at the Sun's lodge. 



They started him down again after telling him that it was because 

 he opened his eyes that he did not reach tlie earth. 



Scarface did better that time and descended nearer to the earth, 

 but became curious as before and found himself above again. 



Again the Sun started him through the hole and Scarface kept his 

 eyes closed for a long, long time and had almost reach3d the ground, 

 but feeling sure that he must be tliere, he looked, only to find himself 

 back once more with the Sun. 



" You have only one more chance, young man," said the Sun. " Four 

 times only are you allowed to try. You have blundered three times 

 and have only one chance more. If you now look before you touch the 

 ground you will never again see your people." 



Scarface was frightened co much that he held his eyes closed with 

 his hands. They pushed him through the hole for the last time and 

 down he went for a very long time. He much wanted to look, but as 

 he thought of the handsome wife he was going to have, he succeeded in 

 beeping his eyes closed long enough. 



