466 A STUDY OF SIOUAN CULTS. 



movement being upon the tips of tlie toes. Tlie dancers kept looking at the sun, 

 and either dropped the hands to the sides in the military position of " attention," 

 with the palms to the front, or else held them upward and outward at an angle of 

 45 degrees, with the lingers spread apart, and inclined towards the sun. 



^ 208. When laid on the conch of sagebrush before spoken of, each young man 

 covered his face with his hands and wailed. I was careful to examine each one, 

 and saw that this wailing was a strictly ceremonial affair unaccompanied by tears. 



\S209. Before approaching the tree the victims were naked, with the exception of 

 blue cloth petticoats and buffalo robes worn with the fur outside, giving them the 

 appearance of monks of the olden time. The buffalo robes were, of course, thrown 

 oft' when the young men were laid on the sagebrush preparatory to the scarifica- 

 tion. One young man was unable to tear himself loose, and he remained tied up to 

 the tree for an hour and seven minutes by my watch. He fainted four times. The 

 medicine man put into his mouth some of the small red, bitter, salty seeds of the 

 IhiJi-mnara, while the women threw costly robes, blankets, articles of beadwork and 

 (luilhvork, and others of the skin of the elk and antelope upon the rope attaching 

 him to the tree, in the hope of breaking him loose. The articles thus attached to the 

 rope were taken away by the poor for whom they were given. There was any 

 amount of this giving of presents at all stages of the dance, but especially at this 

 time, and the criers were calling without ceasing, " So and so has done well. He is 

 not afraid to look thepoor women and children in the face! Come up some more of 

 you people ! Do not be ashamed to give ! Let all the people see how generous you 

 are !" or words to that effect. (I had to rely upon my interpreter, who was reputed 

 to be the best and most trustworthy at the agency). 



VS210. One of the prime movers in the organization of this particular dance, Kocky 

 Bear, at the last moment, for some particular reasou, decided not to go through the 

 terrible ordeal. He explained his reasons to the tribe, and was excused. He gave 

 presents with a lavish hand, aud it was understood that on some subsequent occasion 

 he would finish the dance. There was no sign of dissatisfaction withhis course, and 

 everyone seemed to be on the best of terms with him. All through the ceremony 

 there was much singing by the women and drumming by the medicine men, and a 

 feast of stewed dog, which tastes very much like young mutton, was served with 

 boiled wild turnips. 



§ 211. By a comparisou of the accounts of Miss Fletcher, Capt. 

 Bourke, and Bushotter it will be noticed that while there are .several 

 points of disagreement which, as Capt. Bourke remarks, are "due no 

 doubt to local causes, " the accounts are in substantial agreement. Mis.s 

 Fletcher says that the opening of the camp circle was toward the east; 

 but Bushotter gives it as toward the north. She states that the tent 

 of preparation was erected on the first day after sunset; but Bushotter 

 says it was set up on the fourth day. She represents the selection 

 of the men who go to seek the tree, the departure to fetch the tree, 

 the felling of the tree, the bringing it and setting it up within the 

 camp circle as all taking place on the fourth day. Bushotter states 

 that the men were selected on the third day; tliey Avent to seek the tree 

 on the fourth day; they went to fell the tree on the fifth day, aud on the 

 same day they brought it to the camp and set it in place. Capt. Bourke 

 saw four men and one girl employed in felling the tree. Miss Fletcher 

 mentions that five men and three girls did this in 1SS2; but Bushotter 

 recorded that several men and women took part in this performance. 

 The ears of the children were pieced on the fourth day after the raising 



