48 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 195 



final smoking represents tlie locus of the individual who is praying, 

 and completes the ritual number, seven. 



Peyote {Lophophora wllliamsi), a spineless cactus plant contain- 

 ing narcotic alkaloids, is consumed by members of the "Native Ameri- 

 can Church" or Peyote religion at their ceremonies. It is usually 

 eaten in the form of dried "buttons" cut from that portion of the 

 cactus which grows above the ground. Occasionally several of the 

 buttons are boiled in water to make "peyote tea." This is the form 

 in which peyote is taken by people who are ill. From 1 to 50 buttons 

 are consumed by a member in one night. Sometimes auditory and 

 visual hallucinations are produced by the peyote. These "visions" 

 are cherished experiences which older Ponca love to recount and 

 interpret in terms of religious symbolism. Occasionally, however, the 

 first experience with peyote is so frightening as to dissuade the user 

 from further experimentation. PLC, for example, experienced such 

 vivid visual hallucinations at the first meeting he attended that he has 

 never returned. He stated, "The people's faces got long, then real 

 short and wide — just like those mirrors they have at carnivals." 



Before the introduction of the horse, the dog was the only domes- 

 ticated animal known to the Ponca. At that time the dog was cer- 

 tainly the Ponca man's best friend. It guarded his camp; pulled 

 his travois and carried his packs on the march; aided him in the 

 hunt; and even provided hair which could be used, together with 

 bison wool, to make finger- woven sashes, turbans, and garters. When 

 other meat was not available or a special feast called for it, the faith- 

 ful animal might be called upon to make the supreme sacrifice and 

 to furnish the principal ingredient for dog soup. 



JLK and AMC described a special breed of dog, now extinct, which 

 was used to carry packs and pull the travois. This dog was large, 

 with pointed ears. JLR said that of the "modern dogs" it most 

 nearly resembled the Great Dane in appearance. It never barked, 

 but whined when strangers approached. LMD and WBB both men- 

 tioned a time when the Ponca were traveling in the Rocky Moun- 

 tains and found it necessary to make crude moccasins for the travois 

 dogs' feet because of the rocky terrain. 



A type of dog said to be of an aboriginal strain used as hunting 

 dogs is now found on many Ponca farms. This dog resembles a 

 small collie. It is black on its back and on the top of its head and 

 neck, and tan below. Just above the eyes it has two tan spots, from 

 which it gets its name, Istd-duba or "Four-eyes." A similar breed, 

 also named "Four-eyes" is common to several other tribes, including 

 the Omaha, Mandan, Hidatsa, and Yanktonai Dakota ; hence the dog 

 may well be an ancient and widespread aboriginal breed. 



AliC mentioned a third type of dog which he said was raised chiefly 

 for its hair and flesh. Of the "modern" breeds it most closely resem- 



