1920.] Lowie, Crow Tobacco Society. 133 



So far as the ceremonial father-child relationship is concerned, its 

 consequences normally persist not only in nomenclature but in senti- 

 ment and action as well. This naturally applies less to the most recent 

 period than to earlier times. Still Gray-bull, while he no longer gives 

 horses to an adopted daughter, presents her with money whenever he 

 has any, and speaks with great veneration of Bell-rock, who, to be sure, 

 is not only his 'grandfather' but also the most famous warrior among the 

 Crow now living (1914). In former times Gray-bull would bring Bell- 

 rock and White-stripe-across-the-face a whole buffalo or beef as a gift, 

 and when returning from a successful raid he would give them some 

 horses, while they would make return gifts. 



Usually husband and wife are adopted together by the same indi- 

 vidual. Indeed throughout the ceremonial performance women play a 

 prominent part. It is certainly regarded as preferable for a couple to 

 belong to the same chapter, and I know of at least one instance where a 

 young man assisted his wife in a Tobacco planting although he was not 

 even a member of the society. In this regard, however, there are 

 individual variations. For example, while Littk -rump's former wife 

 joined the Yellow Tobacco ehapter in his company, his present wife 

 does not belong to the society, takes no part in the spring ceremony, 

 and refuses to be adopted on the plea that she is blind. If she were a 

 member of the Weasel chapter, her husband thinks she might sometimes 

 join his chapter and sometimes her own. 



Normally a member remains in the chapter into which he has been 

 adopted. In recent years a number of the chapters have become prac- 

 tically extinct and the survivors joined other subdivisions of the society. 

 A second reason may have been borrowed from the practices of the clubs 

 and military societies : a chapter desirous of securing the membership of 

 an individual might induce him to change his affiliations by a sub- 

 stantial gift. Thus, the Russell couple of Pryor. who entered as Egg 

 people, were later persuaded to become Otters. This procedure impresses 

 me as decidedly modern and not in consonance with the original spirit of 

 the society. Finally, there is the possibility of a man's having a personal 

 misunderstanding with his adopter. This might induce him to leave his 

 chapter and seek admission to another, but he would have to pay only 

 for the new songs he received. Two such instances were cited by Gray- 

 bull. A Weasel had been in the habit of borrowing horses from him, 

 and when refused on one occasion he left the chapter for another. An- 

 other man, whom my informant presented with an elk-tooth dress, gave 

 nothing in return; there was a misunderstanding in consequence and the 



