1920.] Lowie, Crow Tobacco Society. 135 



society by him. However, the warrior was slain in battle and the man 

 who had initiated him brought Cuts-the-picketed-mule food, dresses, 

 blankets, and asked her consent for the daughter's initiation, which was 

 granted. Old-woman had been very sick and her father announced that 

 any one who cured her might adopt her into the Tobacco society; 

 Pretty-enemy's father succeeded and accordingly initiated her into his 

 chapter. Crazy-head had been imprisoned in an eastern jail as a con- 

 sequence of his part in Wraps-up-his-tail's uprising and vowed that if 

 he regained his freedom he would enter the Tobacco society. 



Gray-bull's case is interesting, being essentially an anomalous case 

 of the first type. He had joined a war party led by White-stripe-across- 

 the-face. The leader ordered him to bring a horse from the Dakota 

 camp but refused to accept it when brought, saying, "I want to adopt 

 you." After returning to the Crow camp White-stripe-across-the-face 

 invited Gray-bull to a feast and again announced his intention of adopt- 

 ing him. Gray-bull was eager to get the leader's war-medicine and asked 

 whether he would give it to him if he allowed himself to be adopted. 

 White-stripe-across-the-face answered affirmatively and accordingly 

 Gray-bull was adopted that summer together with his wife. Aided by 

 their relatives, they paid the adopter thirty-three horses, of which 

 Gray-bull alone contributed ten. 



There is a quite general consensus of opinion among the older in- 

 formants that in early times the membership of the society was small 

 and that older people predominated. A prairie-dog appearing to a vision- 

 ary is believed to have made this prophecy: "When all of you join the 

 Tobacco society, you will be poor!" In spite of this admonition more 

 and more people joined, so that about 1910 perhaps a majority of the 

 Indians, even young people, were members. The explanation in my 

 opinion lies in the increased importance of the social at the expense of the 

 religious factor. The pattern in vogue for increasing membership in the 

 secular clubs was applied to the Tobacco organization, and the number 

 of vows for the attainment of serious ends decreased in proportion. 



After an adoption has been decided upon, the proceedings may be 

 divided into (a) the candidate's preparation; (b) the public initiation 

 in a specially constructed lodge; (c) the sweatlodge ritual; (d) the 

 selection of medicines by the novice. The last three stages occupy only 

 about twenty-four hours, but between the preparatory period and the 

 initiation several months may intervene. The normal thing seems to 

 be that a candidate is instructed during the winter, being taught to 



