64 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull, ei 



what to do, there appeared from the west a solitary object advancing toward them. 

 It did not look like a buffalo; it looked more like a human being than anything else. 

 They could not make out what it was, but it was coming rapidly. Both considered 

 themselves brave, so they concluded that they would face whatever it might be. 

 They stood still and gazed at it very eagerly. At last they saw that it was a beautiful 

 young maiden. She wore a beautiful fringed buckskin dress, leggings, and moccasins. 

 Her hair was hanging loose except at the left side, where was tied a tuft of shedded 

 buffalo hair. [See pp. 126, 458.] In her right hand she carried a fan made of flat sage. 

 Her face was painted with red vertical stripes. Not knowing what to do or say, they 

 hesitated, saying nothing to her. 



She spoke first, thus: "I am sent by the Buffalo tribe to visit the people you repre- 

 sent. You have been chosen to perform a difhcult task. It is right that you should 

 try to carry out the wishes of your people, and you must try to accomplish your purpose. 

 Go home and tell the chief and headmen to put up a special lodge in the middle of the 

 camp circle, with the door of the lodge and the entrance into the camp toward the 

 direction where the sun rolls off the earth. Let them spread sage at the place of honor, 

 and back of the fireplace let a small square place ^ be prepared. Back of this and the 

 sage let a certain frame, or rack, be made. Right in front of the rack a buffalo 

 skull should be placed. I have something of importance to present to the tribe, 

 which will have a great deal to do with their future welfare. I shall be in the camp 

 about sumise." 



Wliile she was thus speaking to the young men one of them had impure thoughts. 

 A cloud came down and enveloped this young man. When the cloud left the earth 

 the young man was left there — only a skeleton. The Maiden commanded the other 

 young man to turn his back toward her and face in the direction of the camp, then to 

 start for home. He was ordered not to look back. 



When the young man came in sight of the camp he ran in a zigzag course, this being 

 a signal required of such parties on returning home from a searching or scouting expe- 

 dition. The people in the camp were on the alert for the signal, and preparations were 

 begun at once to escort the party home. Just outside the council lodge, in front of 

 the door, an old man qualified to perform the ceremony was waiting anxiously for the 

 party. He knelt in the direction of the coming of the party to receive the report of 

 the expedition. [See p. 441.] A row of old men were kneeling behind him. The 

 young man arrived at the lodge. Great curiosity was shown by the people on account 

 of the missing member of the party. The report was made, and the people received 

 it with enthusiasm. 



The special lodge was made, and the other reqiiirements were carried out. The 

 crier announced in the whole camp what was to take place on the following morning. 

 Great preparations were made for the occasion. Early the next morning, at daybreak, 

 men, women, and children assembled around the special lodge. Young men who were 

 known to bear unblemished characters were chosen to escort the Maiden into the camp. 

 [See pp. 72, 103, 111.] Promptly at sunrise she was in sight. Everybody was anxious. 

 All eyes were fixed on the Maiden. Slowly she walked into the camp. She was 

 dressed as when she first appeared to the two young men except that instead of the 

 sage fan she carried a pipe — the stem was carried with her right hand and the bowl 

 with the left. 



The chief, who was qualified and authorized to receive the guest in behalf of the 

 Sioux tribe, sat outside, right in front of the door of the lodge, facing the direction of 

 the coming of the Maiden. When she was at the door the chief stepped aside and 

 made room for her to enter. She entered the lodge, went to the left of the door, and 

 was seated at the place of honor. 



1 The square space of mellowed earth, the spread sage, the Iniffalo skull, and pipe rack are frequently 

 mentioned in this work. Among other instances the following are cited: pp. 71, 122, 229, 232, 235,328. 

 The earth space in the spirit-keeping lodge was round instead of square (p. 82). 



