130 An account of the War Customs of the Osages. [February, 



captains and other men. He who struck the second blow, says 

 as follows, on laying down his first stick : " Ho, O grandfather ! 

 I place this on you because I was the next one to strike and stun 

 a man !" The other petitions follow, as given abo\e. The first 

 petition of each of the remaining warriors is as follows: " Ho, O 

 grandfather! I lay this on you as a token that I have aided in 

 overcoming the foe ! (A provisional translation, as the writer is 

 uncertain as to the exact rendering of " wa-yii-khpe," which, judg- 

 ing from the meaning of the root khpa and khpe in cognate lan- 

 guages, implies pulling dai<.'n a foe.) 



At the conclusion of this trial, the warriors rub the paint off, 

 and wash their faces, thus ending the war party. 



II. Sacred Bag War Partv. 



A man mourns alone, putting mud on his face. He comes into 

 the village, and selects a man for his first kettle-bearer, who builds 

 for him a small lodge apart from the village. The mourner re- 

 tires to this lodge, and keeps away from the women. He sends 

 his servant, the kettle-bearer, for two men, one on the Hanka side 

 of the tribe, the other on the Cheezhoo side, to act as standard- 

 bearers. When they come to him, he informs them whither he 

 wishes to go, and for what purpose. The three dejiart to invite 

 the warriors. Those who are willing can join the party. The 

 mourner has a pipe and tobacco, also a sacred bag made of the 

 skin and feathers of a bird, given him by his teacher, one of the 

 old men belonging to the secret order. 



The servant cleans out the pipe bowl, whicli is filled by the 

 mourner. The latter hands the pipe around the circle of guests, 

 beginning with two standard-bearers. Last of all the mourner 

 smokes. As he hands the pipe to each man, he says. " Grand- 

 father, I ask an animal of you." The repl}' is, " Captain, you shall 

 have your desire." 



All march a short distance from the villai^c. A small fire is 

 made. The tcaclur pcrfornis a ccronioii)- o\cr the mourner, 

 and then makes him take the first step on the war path, as has 

 been shown in the account of a large war party. Then the old 

 teacher departs to the village. The warriors march on. When they 

 meet a foe, he who strikes him has the first honor, the second 

 who hits him, cuts off his liead. The honor of killing him be- 

 longs to the captain or mourner, whether he is the actual slayer 



