THE BLACKFOOT WAR-DANCE. 233 



camp calling upon the people to attend the ceremonies. In a lodce 

 near at hand, a medicine man was decorating the persons who were 

 to undergo the rite of torture. I noticed tliat in arranging the head- 

 dress, before placing it on the head of each individual he passed his 

 hand around it four times as he prayed. This was peculiarly signifi- 

 cant, as it showed that these people in common with the Sioux and 

 many other Indians regard the number four as a sacred number. 

 This can be easily traced through their mythology, religious, social 

 and political customs. In the Sun-lodge the sacred fire was burning, 

 and this was used by the people for lighting their pipes. No child or 

 woman was allowed to supply the fuel, but young men who had i)er- 

 formed some valorous deed, especially the stealing of horses from a 

 hostile tribe felt it to be an honor to attend to this duty, and none 

 but the brave were qualified for this work. On the sacred pole was 

 placed in the form of a cross X two bundles of small brushwood taken 

 from the birch-tree. The pole was decorated with sacrifices of cloth- 

 ing and various kinds of Indian goods to Natos. The cross evidently 

 refers to the four winds, from its four points, and is not borrowed 

 from the Christian religion, as these people used this symbol before 

 they came in contact with the wiiite men, or had any knowledge of 

 Christianity, besides being very superstitious about adopting any of 

 the lites or symbols of the religion of the pale-face, and incorporating 

 it with their own. In the bower made of light brushwood sat the 

 woman who organized the lodge, her husband and a medicine man. 

 These persons were fasting and praying, and during the full term of 

 the continuance of the ceremonies, very little food was partaken. In 

 the mornings they were allowed a short smoke, and a little water, 

 and in the evenings a few of their friends brought a small quantity of 

 food hidden under their blankets, and without exposing it to view, it 

 was eaten in silence. The medicine man had a crown of leaves ujjon 

 his head, his body painted, and without any clothing, save a long 

 strip around his loins. At short intervals he arose and danced keep- 

 ing time to the motions of his body, with a small bone whistle, which 

 he blew upon incessantly, producing a series of monotonous sounds. 

 In the evening the woman prayed to ISTatos for good health for the 

 people, protection in danger, good crops and a bountiful harvest of 

 wild fruits. The virgins came in the evening and prayed for a long 

 time for blessings from Natos. During the day, the ceremonies con- 



