DENSMOHE] TETON SIOUX MUSIC 95 



singing the first song the aged man bowed his head and made the 

 following prayer/ which was recorded by the phonograph: 



Ho Wakaij'taijka nama'lion wo. Aqpe'tu le el ni'oie wagi^i' obla^kig ktelo'. Tka 

 ta'ku wo'wahtaiu waniK ya obla'kiij ktolo^. Oya^te wica^iii ktolo^ Huku^ciyela 

 waoij^ taijyaij' ama^bleza yo. MVaijkapataijhaij waijyaijg^ nama^jiij yo. Wica^yaka 

 ede kiij on taijyaij^ ho ana'magoptaij ye. Le mita'kuye yaijka'pi kiij ol) taijyai}' 

 to^ka eVaciij i^myaij waoij^ ktelo^ He<5e<5a kig toka^ta oi^iiajig way oijyeglepi kiij 

 ekta'' hountatjiij pi kta niujwe''. 



( Translation) 



Wakag'tagka, hear me. Tliis day I am to tell yoiir word. But without sin I shall 

 speak. The tribe shall live. Behold me for I am liunible. From above watch me. 

 You are always the truth, listen to me. Aly friends and relatives, sitting here, and I 

 shall be at peace. May om- voices be heard at the future goal you have prepared for us. 



The foregoing prayer was uttered in so low a voice that the phono- 

 gram was read with difficulty. It is uncertain whether the aged man 

 intended that it should be recorded, but as he had seated himself 

 before the phonograph preparatory to singing, it was possible to put 

 the machme in motion without attracting his attention. He began 

 the prayer with head bowed and right hand extended, later raising 

 his face and using the same geS'tures which he would have used when 

 filfing his ceremonial office. 



The final work on this material was done with Chased-by-Bears, 

 (pi. 13), a man who had twice acted as Leader of the Dancers, 

 had "spoken the Sun-dance vow" of a war party (see p. 97), and had 

 frequently inflicted the tortures at the ceremony. He was a particu- 

 larly thoughtful man, remaining steadfast in the ancient befiefs of liis 

 people. Few details were added to the description of the ceremony 

 at this time, but its teachings received special attention. Chased- 

 by-Bears' recital of his understanding of the Sun dance was not given 

 consecutively, though it is herewith presented in connected form. 

 This material represents several conferences with the writer, and also 

 talks between Mr. Higheagle and Chased-by-Bears which took place 

 during long drives across the prairie. In order to give opportunity 

 for these conversations the interpreter brought Chased-by-Bears to 

 the agency every day in his own conveyance. Thus the information 

 was gradually secured. When it 'had been put in its present form, it 

 was translated into Sioux for Chased-by-Bears, who said that it was 

 correct in every particular. 



The statement of Ciiased-by-Bears concerning the Sun dance Vv^as 

 as f oUows : 



The Sun dance is so sacred to us that we do not talk of it often. Before talking of 

 holy things we prepare ourselves by offerings. If only two are to talk together, one 



1 other prayers, either incorporated in narratives or made before songs and recorded by phonograph, are 

 as follows: By Chased-by-Bears (p. 97); by Lone Man (pp. 160, 163, 216); by Eagle Shield (p. 266); by 

 White-paw Bear (p. 268); by Jaw (p. 389). 



