1920.1 Lowie, Crow Tobacco Society. 183 



these are found to be transferable according to a sort of apostolic suc- 

 cession, inasmuch as the visionary may adopt novices to participate in 

 the ceremonial possessions, while these in turn may pass on their privilege 

 to their ceremonial children. Independent lines of ceremonial descent 

 are traced back to independent dream revelations; so are all innovations 

 even within the old lines. So far as the history of new organizations is 

 known, it corresponds closely to the pattern laid down in Crane-bear's 

 narrative. In the second place may be mentioned the incidental state- 

 ment that in the old days only old people were members of the Tobacco 

 organization. This was confirmed by a variety of independent inform- 

 ants, all of whom contrasted the old with the new order of things, where 

 even young children are eligible for initiation. On such occa- 

 sions one may hear cited the prophetic warning of an ancient Crow: 

 "When all of us shall belong to the Tobacco society, we shall not be 

 much of a people" (cf. p. 135). Finally, the motive for joining coincides 

 with that given for the desire to secure almost any ceremonial preroga- 

 tives, viz., the quest of material benefits, suggested particularly by the 

 well-being and wealth of formerly poor people who had become members. 

 While Crane-bear's account lays emphasis on the gradual elabora- 

 tion of ceremonial detail with new revelations, Bull-all-the-tirne, whose 

 story follows, slurs over the development of the several chapters and 

 accounts for features of the present planting ceremony itself by pro- 

 jecting them into the past. 



An old man in mourning was roaming about, fasting. In a day dream one of the 

 stars appeared and gave him the Tobacco, which was the star itself. Handing the 

 man a small package, the star taught him this song: 



hirer ake wik; ftsi'tsia ake wik*. 



Of these the Owner I am; of the Tobacco plant the Owner I am. 



The mourner returned to camp and cast about for followers. He got three mar- 

 ried old men. "What shall we do?" "Wait, we'll get more followers, then we'll 

 see what we are to do." They did not know what kind of a song to sing. The vision- 

 ary made four rattles from the hide taken from the flanks of a buffalo. "With these 

 you'll keep time. A woman shall prepare a feast, and after the singing we'll eat." 

 He told one woman she was to have the office of cook and should afterwards get 

 property thereby. During the singing he distributed songs. The woman was to pass 

 eatables round. He told them to wait for the opening of the buds, then they were to 

 plant the Tobacco. When this time came, he distributed equal quantities of Tobacco 

 to all. They got all the ingredients necessary for mixing. They dug a hole in the 

 ground, made a wreath of grass round it, and placed \dxeruxpe underneath. They 

 sang four songs and threw in all the different ingredients except buffalo chips. Then 

 tobacco smoke was blown in. Next day buffalo chips were crushed fine between the 



