82 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull.61 



represent the one used when the spirit of liis Uttle girl was released. 

 The features of the face are worked with beads on buckskin, and the 

 lines of the paint are those which would be used for a girl who had been 

 through the Alo'war)pi ceremony. The feather is that worn by 

 Weasel Bear's daughter when she was "sung over" in that ceremony. 

 Both the Unes and feather belonged to a daughter somewhat older than 

 the one whose spirit he kept. When the features had been deline- 

 ated on the posts each itag'dai) opened the case {pay) containing 

 the articles of clothing to be placed on the posts. These, which had 

 been previously exhibited outside the lodge, were garments worn by 

 the person whose spirit was to be released. After the ceremony 

 these garments were given to the man who painted the post. 



After the di-essing of the posts the woman in charge of the cooking 

 brought food, a plate of which she put in front of each spirit post, 

 after purifying the food in the smoke of sweet grass. Taking- a 

 round piece of pounded meat, each itai]'6ai] held it to the painted 

 mouth on a spirit post. At this time any orphan in need of help 

 might appear and ask in the name of the spirit to be released, that 

 it be fed and cared for. Such a request was never refused. Any 

 others in need of help might make an appeal at this time, four oppor- 

 tunities being given during the "feeding of the spirits." 



When this was finished within the spirit lodge there was a distri- 

 bution of gifts to the people in the camp. These gifts had been 

 accumulated by the family of the spirit-keeper and already had 

 been exhibited to the people. Weasel Bear said that his wife put 

 up frames for tliis purpose, laying poles across forked stakes and 

 hanging belts, moccasins, leggings, and other articles on the poles. 

 At this time the spirit-keeper sent gifts to the societies, who pre- 

 served order in the camp. A gift to a society was said to be some- 

 thing about equal in value to the gifts which the spirit-keeper had 

 received from that society, and to be something which could be 

 divided among the members. , Thus Weasel Bear said that he gave 

 a war bonnet to the Tokala society, and that the feathers were dis- 

 tributed among the men. There was much feasting in the camp and 

 this was an occasion on which prominent families announced pub- 

 licly the names which they had given their children, or had the ears 

 of their children pierced in the same manner as at the Sun dance. 

 (See p. 137.) 



The ceremony within the lodge was not studied in detail. Only 

 former spirit-keepers were allowed to enter, and the man selected 

 as a'taija itay'cay was "prepared with proper songs and prayers and 

 was also qualified to give lamentations for the dead." 



If a white buffalo robe were used, song No. 1 was sung. Mention 

 has been made of a filled pipe placed beside the round space of mel- 

 lowed earth in the spirit lodge. A man was appointed to light this 



