No. 8 SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS, I913 69 
The coloring matter employed in tattooing is made of charcoal 
mixed with kettle black and water. The charcoal is made from 
certain trees that serve as symbols of long life in the war ceremonies. 
Tail feathers of the pileated woodpecker are used for putting on the 
ink and drawing the lines. 
On November 17, 1910, Wa-cé-ton-zhin-ga, one of the prominent 
men of the Pa-ci-u-gthin band (Hiull-top Dwellers) died. It was 
learned that he had a Wa-xo-be-tom-ga, a Great Wa-x0o-be. This 
is a white pelican, the bird which 1s supposed to have revealed, 
through a dream, the mysteries of tattooing and to have supplied the 
implements. On February 16, 1911, Wa-ce-ton-zhin-ga’s widow 
after much persuasion reluctantly consented to part with this sacred 
object (the Great Wa-xo-be), together with its buffalo hair and rush 
mat cases. It was thus secured by the writer, and now has a place 
in the United States National Museum. 
A STUDY OF SIOUX MUSIC 
The field-work of Miss Frances Densmore during the season of 
1913 was concentrated on the southern portion of the Standing Rock 
Fic. 66.—Indians dancing the Grass Dance at Bull Head. 
Photograph by Miss Densmore. 
reservation, which lies in the State of South Dakota. Many acquaint- 
ances had been made on a previous visit to the locality, and the earlier 
knowledge gained of the Indians opened the way for intensive work 
along the lines which had been selected, 7. ¢., songs of war, songs con- 
nected with the use of medicinal herbs, and songs of tribal social 
