DOR9ET.] BUSHOTTER ON THE SUN DANCE. 457 



pheiualia of the sun dauce, and one of them, Capt. John G. Bonrke. 

 U. 8. Army, showed him the figures of the man and buffalo used at the 

 sun dauce at Eed Cloud Agency, in 1882. In the former figure, the 

 lingam is of abnormal size. The connection between the phallic cult 

 and the sun is obvious to the student. (See §§ 19,132,14:6,155,169,170, 

 176). 



THE TREE TAKEN TO CAMP. 



§ 165. No on? of the company dare to touch the sun pole as they take 

 it to the camp. Before wagons w ere available, they made a horse carry 

 most of the weight of the pole, part of it being on one side of him and 

 part on the other, while the wakaij men chosen for the purjjose walked 

 on both sides of the horse in order to support the ends of the pole. (See 

 §317.) At the present day, a wagon is used for transporting the sun 

 pole to the camp.' While they are on the way no person dares to go 

 in advance of the pole, for whoever violates the law is in danger of be- 

 ing thrown from his horse and having his neck broken. 



The married men and youths carry leaf shields on their backs, and 

 some of the riders make their horses race as far as they are able. Any 

 member of the party can appropriate the small branches which have 

 been cut from the mystery tree. 



When they reach the camp circle, all of the party who carry branches 

 and leaves drop them in the places where they intend erecting their 

 respective tents. 



§166. Judging from Mr. Bushotter's first text, the tents are not 

 pitched when the people return with the sun pole. But as soon as they 

 lay the pole in the place where it is to be erected, the tents are pitched 

 again. Then all the objects that are to be attached to the sun pole are 

 tied to it, and some of the men take leather straps, such as the women 

 use when they carry wood and other burdens, and fasten them to the 

 sun pole ill order to raise it into position. 



HAISIXG THE SUX I'OLE. 



§ 167. This raising of the sun pole seems to be symbolic of the four 

 winds, the tatiiye topa, or "the four quarters of the heavens," as Dr. 

 Eiggs translates the Dakota term. Those who assist in raising the 

 sun pole must be men who have distinguished themselves. They raise 

 the pole a short distance from the ground, and then they shout, making 

 an indistinct sound; they rest awhile and inill it a little higher, shout- 

 ing again; resting a second time, they renew their efforts, pulling it 

 higher still. They shout the third time, rest again, and at the fourth 

 ])ull the pole is perpendicular. Then the men around the camping cir- 

 cle tire gnus, making the horses flee. Those who raised the pole have 

 a new spade, and they use it one after another in throwing a sufScieut 

 quantity of earth around the base of the pole, pressing the earth down 

 firmly in order to steady the ijole. 



iMiss Fletcher states that the sun pole is carried to the camp oa a litt«r of sticks, aud mast nut be 

 handled or stepped over. Op. cit., p. 582. 



