[WILSON] THE SACRIFICIAL RITE OF THE BLACKFOOT 11 



and in order to ascertain the extent and meaning of those sacred teach- 

 ings we must examine those portions of the various rites practised, and 

 beliefs professed by the people, in connection with Avhich Scarface is 

 mentioned, as the founder or otherwise. 



It must not be understood that were this task completed the whole 

 story of the Blackfoot religion would be told. Although the above 

 myth is responsible for some of the most prominent ceremonies and 

 most deep seated beliefs, there are other rites and superstitions which 

 occupy a large portion of the religious Blackfoot's time and thought and 

 which plainly show that they are of diiïerent and distinct origin. 



The Ceremony. 



Sacrificial offerings are the immediate results of various circum- 

 stances. A man may lose his horses, and, having unsuccessfully resorted 

 to every means of finding them, becomes alarmed at their continued 

 absence, and while praying to the Sun for the return of his animals, 

 promises to make a sacrifice. Sometimes he makes the sacrifice con- 

 ditional upon the granting of the specific request,— in which case he 

 awaits the issue of events, — but usually the promise is free of condi- 

 tions and the ceremony is held without such delay. In the old days 

 of almost constant warfare the sacrifice would commonly follow a 

 prayer for success against the enemy, or be the result of a war expedition 

 in which one of the party found himself in a critical situation and 

 promised to make an offering if he escaped. Sickness, however, has 

 been the most frequent cause of the practice in late years. It is an 

 act of propitiation which may arise from almost any trouble with which 

 the Indian has to contend. Although the Blackfoot Indians worship 

 many gods, these offerings are made to the celestial deities alone, viz: — 

 the Sun, his wife the IMoon, and their son the Morning Star. 



An Indian, having promised in a prayer, to make a gift to the Sun, 

 and the time being convenient for the fulfilment of his vow, sends a 

 message to one of the men called " atsimaps '' or " prayerful," request- 

 ing him to conduct the ceremony, and stating what payment will be 

 made, the consideration usually being a horse. 



The tribal religious ceremonies of the Blackfoot are directed by men 

 who have made a special study of matters sacred, but who, as such, 

 are not members of a common society or organization of any kind. 



Each of them, known to the writer, is simply an individual of an 

 extremely religious temperament, gifted with a memory capable of 

 retaining the coimtless sacred tunes which are almost as essential» as 

 prayers to the various rites, and who by close attention and practice 

 has become proficient in ceremonial affairs. 



