488 A STUDY OF SIOUAN CULTS. 



to encamp the ghost lodge is set upbefore any of the others. The articles 

 which are kept there remain for a specified time, perhaps foi' several 

 years, during which period certain ceremonies are performed. At the 

 end of the allotted time comes the ghost feast, the Waecuijpi or Waki- 

 cag.lpi, when the ghost pack is opened and the ghost taken out and 

 buried. Then all the people assemble, setting up their tents near the 

 ghost lodge. The kindred of the deceased weep and bring food to the 

 place. All this food has been boiled. They set up in the ground some 

 forked sticks, such as are used for digging wild turnips, and straight 

 poles are laid along the forked sticks. On tlie poles are hung mocca- 

 sins, and in the space between the forked sticks are piled blankets, 

 buffalo robes, calico, untanned skin bags, tanned bags, porcupine (luills, 

 wild turnips, and fruits.' These are distributed by women, and the peo- 

 ple spend the time pleasantly. They also give presents to the young- 

 women. If the deceased was a male and a member of an order of 

 young men, all who belong to it are invited to a feast (there was a simi- 

 lar custom among the Ponka, in 1872), where they sing songs. When 

 they stop singing they sit with bodies erect, but with bent head and 

 stooping shoulders. Then the parents of the dead youth enter the 

 lodge, weeping as they pass around the ciicle, and each one places 

 both hands on the head of each guest, because the son, who regarded 

 the men as his friends, is no longer present. If the deceased is a 

 female, only the women assemble, except some men who lead tlie sing- 

 ing. If horses take part in the ceremonies, their manes and tails 

 are shaved shoit, and tliey, too, receive gifts. Here and there (me of 

 the kindred of the deceased gives away all his property, and then the 

 bag is opened and the hair or ghost is taken out and buried. From this 

 time the parting with his parents is absolute. They think that, until 

 the hair is bui'ied, the deceased is really present with the household, 

 and that when this burial takes place he dies a second time. After 

 this burial the kindred put on their usual clothing, and while thej' weep 

 for the dead at intervals they are at liberty to anoint and decorate them- 

 selves according to fancy. 



Another account of Bushotter states that when they prepare for the 

 ghost feast they redden the sack containing the hair and hang the war 

 bonnet of feathers on the three poles at right angles with the ghost sack. 

 They wish to remember his deeds in war, so they also stick one end of 

 his war spe.ar in the ground, with its top leaning against the tops of the 

 three poles. His shield is suspended from one of the poles. The three 

 pipes on the shield in a colored sketch prepared by Bushotter denote that 

 on so many expeditions the deceased warrior carried a war pipe. The 

 red stripes declare how many of the enemy were wounded by him, and 

 the human heads show the number of foes that he killed. The half-moon 

 means that he shouted at his foes on a certain night. Once he threw 



' These things are probably given by tlie k indred of the deceased, but Bushotter has not so iuformed 



