1920.] Lowie, Crow Tobacco Society. 169 



After this, according to Gray-bull, the female members used to 

 chop long cotton wood trees, while the young men dressed in finery, 

 mounted horses, rode double with the girls and dragged the trees 

 with ropes to the site of the lodge. First three or four poles were lied 

 together with willows and set up, then the other poles were put into place. 

 Two tipi covers were used for this lodge. The military societies painted 

 and dressed up and danced in this lodge, then they received food from 

 the women of the Tobacco organization. On the following day the 

 members all entered the lodge and the Owner stood up with a brave 

 warrior before him, on some juniper twigs, holding him by the back and 

 singing. After the fourth song the Owner pushed the warrior, who held 

 a bucket and ran to the river with it as fast as possible, dipped up water, 

 and returned. When he got back to the lodge, the Owner's wife put a 

 big piece of pemmican into his mouth, which he ate, whereupon he 

 uttered a wish and reported to the Owner in the fashion noted above, i.e., 

 he told of going on a war party, killing and striking an enemy, and seeing 

 a plentiful crop of Tobacco and cherries on his return, with buffalo 

 near by. Since he ran fast, there was usually not much water left in 

 the bucket, and that was given to the old people to drink. Then the 

 people sang and danced. In the middle of the big lodge a fire was built 

 and tongues were boiled by the Owner's wife. Warriors of distinction 

 would stick into the lodge long poles with scalps or a wolf tail at the end. 

 The women would first see who did this, then take out a tongue with a 

 stick decorated at the handle with a scalp, and hand it to the brave, 

 who would take it out and give it to his sweetheart. Sometimes young 

 boys would come to steal it from him or his girl and run off with their 

 prey. 



Pretty-tail describes the lodge as quite similar to the one now put 

 up at an adoption, with a central oblong cleared of grass and spread with 

 juniper leaves made into an altar. The Tobacco bundles are put down 

 in a row on the west side of the altar, while the weasel, otter and other 

 skins are laid along the long sides of the altar. The faces of the members 

 are painted according to dream revelations. They dance until evening. 

 Finally a certain song is intoned to which no one dances, but all rise, 

 put the Tobacco bags on their backs and take other medicines into their 

 arms. At the fourth song they all run home. 



To revert to Gray-bull's account. On the day after the adoption 

 lodge ceremonial the people moved a short distance and the Mixers 

 again built sweatlodges for the members. This was repeated with 

 short journeys every day until the fourth time. In the old days people 



