94 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull.6i 



and their jackets of deerskin with the long fringes. (PL 12.) How 

 bright were the porcupine quills on the tobacco bags! "Yes, it 

 is good that wo came here today." Pass the pipe from hand to 

 hand in the old way. Jest a little. Yonder man tells too fine a 

 story of his part in the Sun dance — let him show his scars! Yet 

 the memories, how they return! One old man said with trembling 

 lips: "I was young then. My wife and my children were with me.. 

 They went away many years ago. I wish I could have gone with 

 them." 



The sky was blue above the little gathering, and all around the 

 vast silent prairie seemed waiting, listening. The Indians were 

 its children — would the white man understand them aright ? 



A few weeks later the material was again discussed point by point 

 with men who came 40 miles for the purpose. Chief among these 

 was Red Bird, who was under instruction for the office of Inter- 

 cessor when the Sun dance was discontinued. He was present at 

 the first council, but some facts had come to his mind in the mean- 

 time, and he wished to have them included in the narrative. These 

 men met four times for the discussion of the subject, the phonograph 

 records being played for them and approved, and some ceremonial 

 songs being added to the series. A few days later a conference was 

 held with five other men, most of whom were present at the council 

 of August 28 and 29. The session lasted an entire day, the narrative 

 which had been prepared being translated into Sioux and the phono- 

 graph records played for them, as for the previous group of men. 

 With one exception all the men present were chiefs. 



Throughout this series of conferences the principal points of the 

 account remained unchanged. Each session added information, 

 placed events in the proper order, furnished detail of description, and 

 gave reasons for various ceremonial acts. The councils were not 

 marked by controversy, a spirit of cordiality prevailing, but the open 

 discussion assisted in recallmg facts and nothing was recorded which 

 was not pronounced correct by the council as a whole. 



A message was then sent to Ituq'kasaij-lu'ta (Red Weasel), an 

 aged man who acted as Intercessor at the last Sun dance, asking 

 him to come and give his opinion on the material. He came and 

 with three others went over the subject in another all-day council. 

 His training and experience enabled him to recall details concerning 

 the special duties of the Intercessor, and he also sang four songs 

 which he received from Wi-ihaq'bla (Dreamer-of-the-Sun) together 

 with the instructions concerning the duties of his office. These 

 songs are Nos. 14, 15, 16, and 18 in the present memoir. Before 



