124 ^'^ account of the I Far Customs of the sages. [Februarx-, 



The Hanka says, " O war captains and ye lieutenants ! it is said, 

 O comrades, that you shall sleep !" The Cheezhoo replies, " It 

 is well, O grandfather!" Then he addresses the mourners and 

 lieutenants on both sides, " Ho, O comrades, ye war captains ! Ho, 

 O comrades, ye lieutenants ! it is said that ye shall sleep !" Then 

 the Hanka cries again, " Ho, O lieutenant!" The Cheezhoo says, 

 " O my grandchild ! to-morrow you shall cause them, it is said, 

 to attend to their duties." The Cheezhoo replies, " O grand- 

 father, it is well !" Then he says to all, " O comrades, to-mor- 

 row I will cause you to attend to your duties!" This ends the 

 ceremonies and proclamations for the night. 



On the second day the Cheezhoo men precede the Haiika men 

 in every rite, one of their number being the master of ceremo- 

 nies for the day. On the pre\-ious evening members of the Dhu'- 

 khe sub-gens of the Buffilo-bull gens brought in bunches of dried 

 willow, which were laid out of sight by some of the men on the 

 Hanka side. Before daylight, on the second day, all the men 

 arise, and the men of the Night gens (who are a sort of bear peo- 

 ple) set the willows afire; while the fire burns, long prayers are 

 made by the men of the Night and Elder Osage gentes. At the 

 end of a song they see who can get some of tjie fire. In the 

 struggle which ensues the pieces of willow are crushed to pieces. 

 This act has a special name. What charcoal each one gets is 

 saved till the return to camp. The charcoal symbolizes the ene- 

 my. On their return to camp each warrior goes to his place and 

 mixes the sacred charcoal with ordinary charcoal, after which he 

 paints himself Those who desire go and sing around the village. 

 After breakfast they dance around the village all the morning, as 

 on the first day. Then they have another feast at about noon. 

 They dance the circle and bravery dances, as on the prccetl- 

 ing day. At night, just before retiring, one of the Cheezhoo 

 lieutenants calls to those on the other side. A Hanka lieutenant 

 rcjjlies, "O my grandchild! what is the matter?" Then the 

 Cheezhoo says what the J lafika did on the previous night, and 

 the Hanka speaks the words used on that occasion by the Chee- 

 zhoo. 



On the third da)' the ilafika men precede the CluTzhoo men 

 in every rile, as they ditl on the first day, and one of their num- 

 ber acts as the officer of tlu- day. The sacred bags of a large 

 war parly arc brought in, one b\' a W'a zha-zhe or Osage man for 



