1920.] Lowie, Crow Tobacco Society. 137 



this boy in." The messenger goes, and returns with the boy's answer. The ' father ' 

 then takes the candidate to the dance, the novice walking behind the rest and entering 

 last of all. A great medicineman is asked to sit by the novice, who neither sings nor 

 dances, but watches the actions of the members. He is not permitted to fall asleep. 

 Food is brought in and distributed, the largest portion falling to the candidate's share. 

 After the performance is over, the members go home. 



Whenever the ' father ' again hears of a dance, he sends for the boy, telling him, 

 " We wish to take you in again." The messenger brings the boy, who is once more 

 taken to the performance. He walks in the rear, and is again made to sit next to the 

 medicineman. A tobacco pipe is filled and passed round. 1 Food is distributed at the 

 close of the dance, the boy again receiving the largest share. Then all the members go 

 home. A week or a month later there is another Tobacco dance. There is a repeti- 

 tion of the same procedure, except that the medicineman is absent and some other 

 distinguished man is hired to sit by the novice. 



Finally the adopter says, " I will give my son some songs." He prepares a great 

 meal and sends for the boy once more. 1st is smoked for incense, and the pipe is 

 passed round. The man who sets the pipe circulating is the first to sing some of his 

 songs. Certain women rise and dance. After two or three songs they sit down. Then 

 everyone is asked to keep still and listen. The ' father ' has four distinct pieces of 

 property prepared, and gives one to the first singer, who is known as the Tobacco- 

 lighter. The rest of the property is given to others. After the Tobacco-lighter has 

 again sung four different songs, a second man does the same, followed by a third and a 

 fourth singer, who do likewise. The Tobacco-lighter says to the novice, " I have sung 

 four different songs; pick out the one you like best." Then the 'father' chooses 

 one of the songs for the novice. In the same fashion a song is selected from the three 

 other sets. Then the Tobacco-lighter rises, and stands by the door, facing the center 

 of the tent. The candidate stands beside him. The second singer takes the place on 

 the other side of the novice. The Tobacco-lighter takes a rattle, and sings the selected 

 song. All the singers take up the tune, chanting at firsi^ in a low tone of voice. They 

 teach the novice to make the proper motions. He sings himself. The second time the 

 song is chanted in a louder voice; this time they mean something by their song. The 

 same song is sung three times. Then the second singer sings the song selected from 

 his set. When this song has been sung, the two remaining singers take the candidate 

 between them. First the singer to the left, and then the singer to the right, sings the 

 song selected from his set. When the novice has learned the songs, all of them resume 

 their seats. The candidate receives a rattle and takes part in the singing. At the 

 close of the dance, the novice again receives the largest share of the food. They say, 

 " We will let this boy be born." Then they have certain wise men erect an adoption 

 lodge. 



The Lodge-builder (Owner) orders the people to get four wagons for transporting 

 the requisite poles. They get to a proper place, and look for straight trees. When 

 they have found a suitable tree, they stand under it, and mash charcoal. The Builder 

 puts some of the charcoal on his hands, rubs it on the tree, takes a rattle, and sings at 

 the foot of the tree. Another man stands ready with an ax. As soon as the song is 

 ended, this man touches the tree with his ax. A second song is sung. The same man 

 again moves his ax and touches the tree with it. A third song is sung in the same way. 



!At this point Plenty-hawk explained that this is also done at the boy's first visit to the lodge. 



