18S4.J An account of the War Customs of the Osagcs. 125 



the Hafika side, and one by a member of the Lock-wearer gens 

 for the Cheezhoo mourner. 



They dance as on the preceding days. The Hanka m.ourner 

 tells the Cheezhoo that on the morrow they will take the first step. 

 On the fourth day the Cheezhoo men lead in every rite, as 

 they did on the second day. Two narrow strips of buffido hide 

 are prepared by an old woman of a Buffalo gens on the Hanka 

 side of the circle. These strips are placed side by side on the 

 ground, and about two feet apart. The Cheezhoo men place 

 their left feet on the rear one, and their right feet on the front one. 

 The Hanka men have their right feet on the rear one and advance 

 with their left feet on the front one. This is the first step taken 

 on the war path. 



The warriors now mount their horses, forming in two columns, 

 in each of which they go two abreast. The standard-bearers ride 

 in advance. The Cheezhoo column goes once around the vil- 

 lage, in the usual course from the west to the north, thence by 

 the east and south to the west again. The Hanka column pro- 

 ceeds in the opposite direction. They approach one another 

 again at the west, and depart westward in parallel columns (Fig. 

 7). Their course on the war path is o o f> €1 



supposed to be towards the west. |^ J^ f^ ^l 



When they have gone a certain dis- 

 tance from the village a member of * 

 the Dhu-khe sub-gens of the Buffalo * 

 bull gens is taken to the front, where ♦ 

 he performs a rite. At its conclusion ^ 

 the march is resumed, and they con- 

 tinue on their journey for about four 

 days, at the end of which period a ♦ 

 small tent is erected for each captain 

 or mourner, the door facing the west. 

 Each eagle is removed from the sa- * 

 • cred bag and placed on top of the 

 small tent (on its proper side), facing 

 the west. Each captain goes through * 

 his tent from east to west, knocking 

 down the tent, and causing the eagle 

 to fall to the ground. The eagle is re- home, 

 stored to its bag. Then all the warriors except the captains, 



W 



Pio. 7. — Order of march towards 



