436 A STUDY OF SIOUAN CULTS. 



dauce (§§141-211) carries with it the same idea; the wakai; wohaijpi oi- 

 sacred feast (feast of the first-fruits) is a practical embodiment of it; 

 aud haijmdeiii or godseekiug of the extreme western tribes is but a 

 form of self-sacrifice. No Dakota in his worshii) neglects this ceremony. 

 It enters into his religious thoughts at all times, even at the hour of 

 death. The sacrifices made upon recovery from sickness are Tiever 

 composed of anything very valuable, for the poverty of the Indian will 

 not permit this. Usually a small strii) of muslin, or a piece of red cloth, 

 a few skins of some animals, or other things of no great use or value are 

 employed. Sometimes a pan or kettle is laid up for a sacrifice. But 

 after a short time, the end for which the sacrifice was made is attained, 

 aud it is removed. Those in need of such things as they see oftered in 

 sacrifice may take them for their own use, being careful to substitute 

 some other articles. Perhaps the most common forms of sacrifice are 

 those which are made in the hunt. Particular portions of each animal 

 killed are held sacred to the god of the chase or some other deities. If 

 a deer is killed, the head, heart, or some other part of it is sacrifled by 

 the person who has slain it. The part sacrificed differs with dittei-ent 

 individuals. In ducks and fowls the most common sacrifice is of the 

 wing, though many sacrifice the heart, and a few the head. This cus- 

 tom is called wohduze, and is always constant with individuls, i. e., the 

 same part is always sacrificed. The other wohduze or taboo is con- 

 nected with the wotawe or armor,' and will be described hereafter 

 (§ 125). 



§102. Haymdepi or god-seeking. — Haijmdepi or god-seeking is a form 

 of religion among the Dakotas that points back to a remote antiquity. 

 The meaning of the word, in its common acceptation, appears to be 

 greatly misunderstood by some. Literally, it means only to dream, and 

 is but another form of haijma; but in its use it is api^lied almost wholly 

 to the custom of seeking for a dream or revelation, ])racticed by the 

 Sisitonwan, Ihauktonwanna, and Titonwan (Sioux), and by the Crow, 

 Minnetaree, Assiniboin, and other western Dakota. In this respect 

 it has no reference whatever to the common dreams of sleep, but means 

 simply the form of religion practiced. 



If a Dakota wishes to be particularly successful in any (to him) im- 

 portant undertaking, he first purifies himself by the Inipi or steam 

 bath, and by fasting for a term of three days. During the whole of 

 this time he avoids women and society, is secluded in his habits, and 

 endeavors in every way to be pure enough to receive a revelation from 

 the deity whom he invokes. When the period of fasting is passed he 

 is ready for the sacrifice, which is made in various ways. Some, pass- 

 ing a knife through the breast aud arms, attach thongs thereto, which 

 are fastened at the other end to the top of a tall pole raised for that jmr- 

 pose; and thus they hang, suspended only by these thongs, for two, 

 three, or even four days, gazing upon vacancy, their minds being iu- 



' Lynd, Minn. Hist. Soc. Cnll., Vol. ii, lit. 2, p. 72. 



