18 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



When all are painted red, — which is merely the ground work for 

 the distinctive facial decoration of this ceremony, — the priest changes 

 the colour by cleaning the red from his hands and substituting pul- 

 verized charcoal and grease. 'This is ceremonially mixed, with the 

 assistance of the host, as before. Beginning with the host, all who have 

 had their faces painted red now receive tlie decoration in black. Fire 

 black spots are lirst made on the face in the following positions and 

 ordier, viz : — bridge of the nose, centre of the forehead, left cheek, chin 

 and right cheek. A broad black circle is then made on the face fol- 

 lowing the same order and covering all of the spots except the one on 

 the nose. As the person being painted Ivueiels or sits to the south of 

 the priest and facing liim, the latter's movements, in applying the 

 paint, are always " sun-wise." Each person also receives a ring of black 

 around each wrist and, when clothing permits, each ankle. All of the 

 rings are explained as being symbols of the path of the Sun. 



The priest takes up the offering, when he has finished painting 

 each individual, and touches it to the latter's head and shouldiers, mak- 

 ing that individual a participator in the sacrifice. The kneeling person 

 turns, without rising, and the offering is then touched to the back, at 

 which he or she departs, making room for the next who may desire to 

 be painted. 



Ceremonial decoration of the face and body, in this as in all other 

 sacred customs of the Blackfoot, is supposed to protect the subject from 

 evil. The ideas of the Indians respecting sacred face painting, some- 

 what resemble tliose entertained by some white people regarding the 

 Christian rite of baptism; the principal difference being that thoughts 

 Off material benefits occupy the minds of the former, instead of the 

 spiritual wielfare which is the greater concern of tlie latter. 



Upon one occasion while the jDainting was in progress in this 

 ceremony, a woman entered and stated that her father, a brother of 

 t(he host, who was lymg ill in a neighbouring lodge, desired to be 

 painted. As the man was in an advanced stage of consumption, — he 

 died within a week, — the priest at first made no reply to tlie woman, 

 but grumbled in an undertone that he was not a doctor and that people 

 must foolishly consider him possessed of supernatural powers. After 

 a moment's hesitation he gave a reluctant consent and the sick man 

 eintered and was painted. While decorating the people's faces the 

 priest either sings or prays for a continuation of good liealth and pros- 

 perity on behalf of the adults and that the children painted may live 

 to maturity. In the case of the sick man mentioned it was noticed that 

 tihe priest varied tlie wording of the blessing and made it refer more 

 to the man's family than to himself. He afterwards explained to the 



