Howard] THE PONCA TRIBE 119 



and squirted water on the wound. They would dance in imitation of the buffalo, 

 wearing robes, buffalo horn caps, and tails. They painted only with clay which 

 is the buffalo's pigment. They painted only the upper or lower halves of their 

 faces. The buffalo dancers were very xoaxiXhe or powerful. 



I was unable to secure much additional information concerning 

 this group. PLC, who wears a buffalo headdress similar to that of 

 the Buffalo Doctors society when he dances the Heduska, stated 

 that only red, yellow, and black face paint should be worn with 

 this headdress. He criticized a Dakota buffalo dancer who used 

 white paint for not respecting the "old buffalo ways." 



The largest and most important of the Ponca medicine societies 

 was the Wasiska-aSe or Medicine Lodge. This group, which is the 

 Ponca equivalent of the well-known Ojibwa Midemmn and similar 

 organizations of other tribes, was apparently a shamans' organi- 

 zation originally. In later years, however, like the Midewiwin and 

 the Omaha Shell society, it became a sort of "service club" as well. 

 Though the leaders were still usually shamans, and practically all of 

 the members of the Bear and Buffalo societies were Wasiska-ade 

 members as well, there were also many Medicine Lodge members who 

 were not shamans at all. Even women and children, in fact, could 

 and did belong. The professed goals of the society were the mutual 

 benefit and prolongation of the life of the membership. 



The name Wasiska-ade may be translated 'White-shell-owners.' 

 It refers to the "medicine arrows" (or better "medicine projectiles") 

 used during a part of the ceremony known as the "medicine shoot." 

 In historic times these were usually cowrie (Cyprea moneta) sheUs. 

 Other items were also used as medicine arrows, however, one being 

 a small, round stone. For this reason the group was sometimes 

 called the Pebble society. Other projectiles, such as rooster spurs, 

 fishbones, or mescal beans were sometimes used as weU. 



The Ponca believed that sorcerors could magically "shoot" or pro- 

 ject these objects into the bodies of their enemies with their "medicine 

 bows." *° These medicine bows, which were one of the badges of 

 membership in the society, were usually the decorated skins of small 

 animals, such as mink, otter, weasel, or raccoon. Occasionally, how- 

 ever, an eagle's wing was used, and one account mentions a black silk 

 handkerchief. 



At meetings of the society, which were held in the type of structure 

 called diuddpu-snede, members were lectured on morality, taught the 

 legendary history of the order, and instructed in the use of various 

 herbal medicines. There were also singing and dancing and magical 

 performances by the Buffalo and Bear shaman contingents of the 

 organization. However, the highlight of each meeting was the medi- 



co tms belief was very common throughout Northern Europe, Northern Asia, and North America. 

 The German term Hexenschuss (lit. "witch's shot"), used in reference to a sudden sharp pain, usually 

 In the back, seems to be a linguistic survival of this belief. 



