78 BUREAU OF AMEEICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull, ei 



to represent the spirit of a relative, and also his share of food and 

 gifts for the final feast. 



The Ceremony of Spirit-keeping, like the AloVaqpi, had its inspira- 

 tion in the Coming of the White Buffalo Maiden, and everything was 

 done in accordance with her instructions. The manner of studying 

 this subject was similar to that used in connection with the two pre- 

 ceding chapters. The spirit of a child was "kept" more frequently 

 than that of a grown person, and the writer's first work on this cere- 

 mony consisted in taking down a narrative by Weasel Bear (inter- 

 preted by Mrs. McLauglilin) , in which he told of keeping the spirit 

 of a little daughter. A year later this narrative was discussed by 

 Bear Face^ and other old nijen (Mr. Higheagle interpreting), and 

 many points were added. In its final form the first part is based on 

 a narrative by Bear Face, while in the latter part the information 

 given by Weasel Bear has been incorporated, together with details 

 supplied by other reliable informants. 



Concerning this ceremony Bear Face (Mato'-ite') said: 



It is one of the great undertakings of the tribe, not simply in the honor which sur- 

 rounds it, but because of the work and obligation it involves, so that a man who can 

 carry this through successfully is recognized by the tribe as a man who is qualified 

 to fulfill large responsibilities. 



Bear Face said that his first spirit keeping was for a son who died 

 at the age of 15. The body of the boy was placed on a scaffold, and 

 his best horse was killed beneath it. Before this was done the father 

 decided to keep the boy's spirit and so announced to the tribe. 

 He requested a man whose record was without blemish to cut a lock 

 of the boy's hair to be put in the spirit bundle. The man came at 

 his request, and before going near the body of the boy he purified his 

 hands and also his knife with the smoke of sweet grass. When 

 about to cut the hair he made three motions as if to do so and then 

 cut it with the fourth motion. (See references on p. 74.) The lock 

 cut was over one eye. When the hair had been cut it was wrapped 

 in red cloth. (The remainder of the narrative is a compilation from 

 several informants.) If desired, some article which had been worn 

 next the body of the child could be used instead of a lock of hair. 

 Thus Weasel Bear said that when keeping the spirit of his little girl, 

 he used the ornaments which she had worn on her hair as the central 

 article in the spirit bundle. 



After wrapping this selected article in red cloth the proposed 

 spirit-keeper took the little packet in his arms as if it were the body 

 of a child and rode around the camp circle, lamenting the child's 

 death. This was his announcement to the tribe that he had taken 

 upon himself the responsibilities of a spirit-keeper {wana'gi yulia'pi) 

 and wished to be considered as such. Afterwards a decorated case was 



1 Bear Face died in December, 1914. 



