1920.] Lowie, Crow Tobacco Society. 141 



on the points. Thus people who had not known before discovered that the owners of 

 the sticks had established a reputation as warriors. As Medicine-crow was a Lump- 

 wood, the L.umpwood society gave away property in his behalf. The adoption lasted 

 all day into the night. Each person present sang one or two songs, that is why the 

 ceremony lasted so long. The property was divided among those present. When the 

 time for eating had arrived, fill held up some plant that was still green and sang the 

 hira 1 song usually terminating the Tobacco ritual: " What ground am I going to 

 plant it in?" Then four pieces of red calico were picked out, and given to four 

 members, who were requested ta use it on the next day in building a sweatlodge. 

 This calico is attached to a pole behind the sweatlodge and offered to the Sun. 



On the next day the sweatlodge is built; the number of willows which may be 

 used includes all the numbers containing four in the units' place, from 14 to 94, as 

 well as 100. Stones are brought and heated. Before the stones are put in, the lodge is 

 covered. The stones are passed in through the door, and ashes are sprinkled within. 

 Only certain men have the right to manage the sweatlodge ceremonies. Before the 

 stones are brought, coals are passed in, and the ist root, which bears fatten on in the 

 summer, is smoked for incense. The people in the lodge smoke four times. No other 

 kind of incense may be used. The Crow use this root as a kind of panacea. For a 

 cold, it is chewed and swallowed. For sores it is chewed and rubbed on as a liniment. 

 For a toothache it is placed on the tooth, for a headache it is kept in the mouth. The 

 stones are then handed in, one after another. No one is permitted to speak. The rite 

 is considered an offering to the Sun. When the fourth stone has been brought in, 

 they cry, "aho!" Each one then voices a prayer, such as, "I wish to have horses!" 

 They undress. Water is handed in, and finally a cup is slid in along the ground to the 

 man at the left of the door, who slides it on to the man in charge of the lodge. This 

 headman then takes some water, and sprinkles it over the stones. The novice is 

 inside. Everyone sings. The headman sprinkles four cupfuls. The people inside 

 sweat. Then the door is lifted at the order of the headman, and one man prays as 

 follows: " Sun, we are doing this for you! Let us live until the next winter." All 

 the people, inside as well as outdoors, cry, " ah6! Let us live to that point!" The door 

 cover is lowered. At this point Medicine-crow was washed with a mixture of isk 

 and water by his adoptive ' grandfather,' who prayed as follows : "I want him to be 

 an old man. All you above, let him live to be an old man." The sprinkler then 

 poured seven cupfuls on the stones. Four songs were sung; then the door was raised 

 again by request. Some one says : " You in heaven, you had us make these offerings ! 

 It is in your honor that we are making them!" The door is lowered, and the man 

 next to the last sprinkler pours ten cupfuls on the stones, after the third man's song 

 has been sung. When the door is raised again, prayers similar to those previously 

 uttered are recited When the lodge is closed once more, the fourth man pours 

 ' uncounted ' cupfuls on the rocks. Then the watchers outside are requested to re- 

 move the sacred Tobacco bags that have been placed on the top of the lodge. These 

 bags are laid on quilts o;n the ground, and made to face the mountains. After the 

 sweaters have been informed that the bags have been taken off, they scourge them- 

 selves, and each one recites a prayer. Then the manager cried, "Throw off the door! 

 We want to live until the next winter!" " aho!" The door is not lifted but thrown 

 aside, and the sweaters go to the river, where any sickness that may be on them is 

 washed away. 



"This is said to be the way one woman friend calls another. 



