DOBSET.) BUSHOTTER ON THE SUN DANCE. 453 



all are expected to pitcli their tents. The overseers or masters of 

 ceremonies have guns, and their orders are obeyed; for if one diso- 

 beys his horses and dogs aa'e killed by the policemen. This punish- 

 ment is called akicita •wicaktepi, oi, in common parlance, "soldier- 

 killing." 



All who join the camp must erect the upright (or conicalj tents, 

 as no low rush or mat tents, such as are found among the Osage 

 and Winnebago, are allowed in the camp circle. 



CAMPING CIRCLE FORMED. 



§ 152. At length orders are given for all the people to pitch their 

 tents in the form of a tribal circle, with an o])ening to the north.' 

 (See ri. XLV.) It takes several days to accomiilish this, and then all 

 the men and youths are required to take spades and go carefully over 

 the whole area within the circle and fill up all the holes and uneven 

 places which might cause the horses to stumble and fall. 



MEN SEI.ECTKII TO SEEK THE MYSTERY TREE. 



§ 153. Though Jjushotter has written that this work requires several 

 days, it is probable, judging from what follows in his manuscript, 

 that only two days are required for such work. For he continues 

 thus : 



On the third day some men are selected to go in seareh of the Oan-->vakan or 

 Mystery Tree, out of which tliey are to form the sun-pole. ■ These men must he se- 

 lected from those who are known to be brave, men ac<iuainted with the war path, 

 men who have overcome difficulties, men who have been wounded in battle, men of 

 considerable experience. 



§ 1 54. The men selected to fell the mystery tree ride very swift horses, 

 and they decorate their horses and attire themselves just as if they 

 were going to battle. They put on tlieir feather war bonnets. They 

 race their horses to a hill and then back again. In former days it 

 was customary on such occasions for any women who had lost children 

 during some previous attack on the camp, to wail often as they ran 

 towards the mounted men, and to sing at intervals as they went. But 

 that is not the custom at the present day. Three times do the mounted 

 men tell of their brave deeds in imitation of the warriors of the olden 

 times, and then they undertake to represent their own deeds in panto- 

 mime. 



§ 155. On the fourth day, the selected men go to search for the mys- 

 tery tree. They return to camp together, and if they have found a 

 suitable tree, they cut out pieces of the soil within the camping cii-cle, 

 going down to virgin earth. (See § 14G.) This exposed earth extends 

 over a considerable area. On it they place a species of sweet-smelling 



1 Miss Fletcher says, in Proc. Am. Assoc. Adv. Sci., 1882. p. 580, "Xlio people camp in a circle, with 

 a large opening at the east. In 1882 over 9.000 Indians were so camped, the dinmeter of the circle he. 

 ing over three-quarters of a mile wide." 



^Miss Fletcher'.s account (Proc. Am. Assoc. Adv. Sci., p. 5S2) nanics the foiirth day as that on 

 which they sought for the sun-pole. 



