248 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 53 



cloth remain (pi. 40), but from the newer ones fly banners bearing 

 strange figures outlined in red antl blue. Symbols of the sun, moon, 

 and stars are easily recognized and there are also crude drawings 

 of birds. High up on many of the poles are tied bundles of faded 

 rags that flutter in the breeze and suggest mystery. 



Inquiry as to the significance of the poles will probably be met 

 with evasive answers. The writer heard a white person ask an 

 Indian whether the fluttering rags were "supposed to frighten away 

 evil spirits." One who had lived in the vicinity many years said, 

 "The Intlians put up a new pole when anyone dies; there is always 

 a new pole after a death at the village." Such is the superficial 

 impression regarding the medicine poles, showing how well the Indian 

 has guarded the things which concern his deeper nature. 



If the entire story of one of these medicine poles could be written, 

 it would be the history of a man's life — his boyhood dream, his failure 

 to fulfill that dream, and his struggle against sickness and death. 



It is said that the custom of erecting a medicine pole beside a house 

 had its origin many generations ago, and was as follows: A young 

 man blackened his face and went away to fast, according to the cus- 

 tom of the tribe (see pp. 83, 204). He dreamed a dream, in which he 

 saw the thunderbirds and the tall tree on which they lived. Return- 

 ing to his home, he cut down a tall straight tree and trimmed off the 

 branches, making a pole, which he placed in the ground at liis door. 

 He pictured on a deerskin the birds he had seen in his dream. Tliis 

 he stretched on a frame and fastened at the top of the pole, complet- 

 ing the representation of liis dream. The later custom differed, in 

 that the young man did not erect the medicine pole as soon as he 

 returned from his fasting vigil, but waited to see whether his dream 

 would come true. The dream usually concerned war and promised 

 success on the warpath. If he went to war and "fulfilled his dream," 

 he did not erect a pole, but while on the warpath he sang for the first 

 time the song which came to him in Iris dreanr (see p. 71). The 

 words had reference to the birds, the sun, or the stars which he saw 

 in his dream. If he lacked the opportunity to go to war, he pictured 

 these objects on a deerskin or a cloth, but the sorrg was never sung. 

 Such a man was supposed to have special power to cure the sick. 

 To one who understands its symbolism the pole beside a house says: 

 "Here lives a marr who dreamed a dream arrd the mysterious strength 

 of his vision is in him. He never used it against human foe, but 

 more than other men he has power against that greater enemy — 

 death." 



In the springtime the owner of a pole frequently takes it down, 

 lays it on the ground, arrd makes a feast. He asks his frierrds to 

 come and "preaches about the pole." If some oirc "wishes to secure 



