136 Anthropological Papers American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XXI, 



sing four Tobacco songs 1 and attending whatever dances may be cele- 

 brated by his chapter, and is publicly adopted during the week of the 

 Fourth of July festivities. In former times the initiation took place 

 earlier in the year, that is, immediately after the spring planting of the 

 Tobacco. 



In describing the adoption ceremonial I think it best to premise two 

 connected accounts by trustworthy informants and to supplement these 

 with personal observations and statements gathered from other natives. 



A generalized account of the proper order of events was furnished 

 by Plenty-hawk of the Pine chapter. 



Sometimes a man who has fasted and dreamt in his day and enjoys a high reputa- 

 tion in the tribe is approached by a remote relative, accompanied by his wife if he is 

 married, and asked to adopt the visitors into the Tobacco society. 2 The medicine- 

 man then takes the couple to his lodge, and teaches them the Tobacco song. After 

 these songs some isk root is put on hot ashes, and the couple bend over to smoke them- 

 selves with the incense. Then the ' father ' says, " You had better stay here to- 

 night," and has a bed arranged for them. When they have gone to bed and the light 

 has been extinguished, he says, " Now, listen until you fall asleep and dream." They 

 listen to his rattling and singing until they fall asleep. The ' father ' tries to make 

 them dream. He sings four times, smoking during the periods of intermission, then 

 he retires for the night. Early in the morning he bids his ' children ' take a swim, 

 preparing a breakfast while they are in the water. After the meal he says, " Tell me 

 what you dreamt last night." The young man replies, " I had a dream last night, I 

 saw the Tobacco dance and heard a song." Then the old man questions the woman, 

 who replies, " I dreamt of the Tobacco dance and learned a song." The ' father ' 

 says, " Very well, I will make medicines for you. Now go and bring me two willows, 

 one for each of you." When the willows have been brought, he sharpens them at one 

 end, and plants them in front of his ' children.' Some Tobacco, wrapped in buckskin 

 decorated with beadwork, is suspended from the husband's neck, and another piece 

 of buckskin with Tobacco is pinned over the wife's heart. Then the ' father ' bids 

 the couple go home. Thereafter, when a Tobacco dance is celebrated, he calJs his 

 ' children.' He has prepared a good drum for the man, gives it to him, and takes him 

 to the Tobacco dance. When they have arrived at the site, the old man takes back 

 his drum, makes isk incense, smokes the drum, strikes it four times, and then returns 

 it to his ' son.' All the singers are seated in a circle in one part of the lodge. The 

 ' father ' says to the young man, " Take the drum over there, and help the singers." 

 The 'son' sits down and does as he has been told, while the girls dance. 



Sometimes a sick person says, " If I do not die but recover, I will join the Tobacco 

 dance and have someone adopt me." After his recovery the people send him food, 

 which he accepts and distributes among his relatives. He is not taken in immediately, 

 but from time to time his ' father ' gives him food and property. After a considerable 

 period of time has elapsed, the ' father ' dispatches a messenger to the candidate, 

 saying to him, " Go to So-and-so; we are going to have a Tobacco dance and will take 



x lf he is married, he learns two, and his wife two. 



2 Here, then, the initiative is taken by the candidate, apparently without a vow. 



