DEXSMORE] TETOX SIOUX MUSIC 11 



writer therefore sought more definite information on this point, con- 

 sulting Used-as-a-Shield and other old-time singers. They said 

 there were two ways, one being "to stop short" and the other 'Ho 

 let the tone die away gradually." On being asked which kinds of 

 songs were ended in each of these ways they could not give a definite 

 answer at once, and requested time to consider it. After several 

 days they said that they had ''tried over many old songs and found 

 that they always stopped short when they sang such songs as the 

 grass-dance, buffalo-dance, and Crow-owner's society songs,'.' and 

 that they "trailed ofl' the tone" when singing war songs and similar 

 songs. 



Among the Sioux were found many songs which could be used on 

 difi'erent occasions. Tlius the songs in honor of a warrior could be 

 sung when begging for food before his lodge, as well as at the victory 

 dances and at meetmgs of societies. The songs of those who went 

 to seek a suitable pole for the sun dance were used also by those who 

 went to look for buffalo or for the enemy. Hence it did not seem 

 appropriate to base a comparative study of these songs on their use, 

 as was done with the Chippewa songs. A better basis for comparison 

 seemed to be the age of the song, and accordmgly the songs were 

 divided into two groups, the first and larger comprising songs believed 

 to be from 50 to 100 years old and the second those less than 50 years 

 old. In addition to these comparative tables (pp. 12-21) the anal- 

 yses at the close of each section are continued, for convenience of 

 observation. 



It is not so difficult to judge the age of a song as might be imagined. 

 For instance, the last Sun dance was held more than 30 years ago, 

 and a man who sang the ceremonial songs at that time said that he 

 learned them when a young man from an aged man who was taught 

 them in his youth. Such songs are undoubtedly more than a century 

 old. In like manner, if a man about 70 years of age sings a song which 

 he says that his father received in a dream when a youth and which he 

 used in treating the sick, the song is evidently to be classed among 

 the older songs. On the other hand, it is known that the Strong 

 Heart society was organized among the Standing Rock Sioux only 

 about 50 years ago, and that the White Horse Riders is a modern 

 organization. The songs of both these societies are therefore com- 

 paratively modern songs, but the songs of the Miwa'tani are placed 

 in the older group, as there was a certain ceremony connected with 

 their initiation of new members, one of the ceremonial songs being 

 preserved. The songs of the Crow-o^vnel•s are also included with the 

 older songs, as this was shown to be a society of more than 50 years 

 standing, and only a few of its songs were remembered. Songs con- 

 taining mention of a recent custom are manifestly modern. 



