DORSEV.] BUSHOTTER ON THE SUN DANCE. 455 



as many as liave flutes — made of tlie bomis of eagles' wings, oiu amen ted 

 with porcupine quills, and huug around their necks, with cords similarly 

 ornamented, with some eagle down at the tip ends of the flutes — lilow 



Fio. r.iO— EaglewiDg flute. (Fnim original, loaued by Cajit. J. G. Bourke, U. S. A.) 



them often and forcibly as they dance. While the drum is beaten 

 three times in succession (kpaijkpaijyela, as has been described), all 

 the candidates cry aloud (ceya), but when it is beaten the fourth time, 

 they cry or wail no longer, but dance and blow their flutes or whistles. 



§ 159. When the candidates take their seats in the tent of prepara- 

 tion, they select a man to fill the pipe with tobacco. When they wish 

 to smoke, this man passes along the line of candidates. He holds the 

 pipe witli the mouthpiece toward each man, who smokes without 

 grasping the pipe stem.' 



When the candidates are allowed to eat, the attendant feeds them. 

 No one can be loquacious within the tent of preparation. If a dog or 

 person approaches the tent, the oft'ender is (;hased away before he can 

 reach it. No spectators are allowed to enter the tent. And this regula- 

 tion is enforced by blows, whenever anyone attempts to violate it. 



EXPEDITIOX TO THE JIYSTERY TREE. 



§ 160. The next morning, which is that of the fifth day, they j)repare 

 to go after the tree that is to serve as the sun pole.^ The married and 

 single men, the boys, and even the women, are all ordered to go horse- 

 back. Whoever is able to move rapidly accomjjanies the ijarty. 

 When the chosen persons go to fell the mystery tree they rush on it 

 as they would upon a real enemy, just as tradition relates that the 

 Omaha and Ponka rushed on their sacred tree. (See § 42,)^ Then 

 they turn quickly and run from it iintil they arrive at the other side of 

 the hill (nearest to the mystery tree), after which they return to the 

 tree.^ They tie leaves together very tightly, making a mark of the 

 bundle, assaulting it in turn as a foe. 



§ 161. The tree is reached by noon. The persons chosen to fell it 

 whisper to one another as they assemble around it. They approach 

 some one who has a child, and take hold of him. Then they bring 

 robes and other goods which they spread on the ground, and on the pile 

 they seat the child, who is sometimes a small girl, or even a large one. 



'With this ciimpare tlie Oiuaba act, ui(fa", in llie liilve-sabe daure after the sham tight, Oiu. 

 Soc, in 3d. Ann. Kept, Bur. Ethn., p. 295. 



-See Miss Fletcher, Proc. Am. Assoc. Adv. Sci.. 1883, p, 582. 



'See ^ 28, the Kansa ceremony of the waqpele gaxe, and Om. Soc, in 3d An. Kept. Bur. Ethn., pp. 

 234, 297. 



«Contr. N. A. Ethn., vol. vi, 470, 12-15; and Om. Soc, p. 296. 



