128 An account of the War Customs of the Osagcs. [February, 



ploits. Then the drum beats, and the women dance. All start 

 together, the women of the Cheezhoo gcntes moving in one direc- 

 tion, and those of the Hanka gentes in the other, around the pole. 

 The successful warriors who are mounted, come in their war 

 dress, and gallop around the pole, close to the women, telling of 

 their deeds. This dance is continued for about half an hour. 

 The trial or ordeal of the sacred bags must follow on the next 

 day, unless a captain wishes to have the captive dance, in which 

 event it follows. 



The captive dance. — A war captain gives another horse to his 

 chief kettle-bearer, who sells it for the food required for feasting 

 the guests before the dance. The standard-bearers and captains 

 go around the village, as on the preceding day, and the women 

 come, as before. The drummers sit around the pole. The dancers 

 are led by two men abreast. These used to be men that had gone 

 to war afoot. They arc followed by two women, then two men, 

 then two women ; and so on. Those who went to war mounted 

 come to the dance on their horses. One of the principal men 

 tells his story first ; and the horsemen tell their deeds as they 

 gallop around the dancers. The dance lasts for about half an 

 hour. 'But if the captain prefers, he may substitute the standard 

 dance for the captive dance. But if the latter is chosen for the 

 second day, and the captain wishes to gain more honor, he gives 

 another horse to his chief kettle-bearer, to be sold for food for the 

 feast that is held before the Standard dance on the third da\-. 



The Standard dance. — The standards are made like those used 

 at the beginning of the e.Kpedition, and they are given to the 

 standard-bearers, who dance around the village, two abreast, all 

 going in the same direction, followed by the other warriors. 

 Having gone around the village, they assemble at a short dis- 

 tance from it Awd have the circle dance and bra\er\' dance, as at 

 the first. This ends the dancing for that day. 



'J'he J rial over the sacred dags. — The old men assemble in the war 

 tvnt, C. The sacred bags are brought in to test the warriors, who 

 are watched very closely by the old men. All the old men who 

 have been distinguished in war are painted with the tiecorations of 

 their respective gentes. Tiiat of the Cheezhoo peace- maker gens 

 is as follows: The face is first whitened all over with clay ; then 

 a red spot is matle on the forehead, and the lower part of the face 

 is reddened. Willi his fingers, the man scrapes off the white clayi 



