114 (BUREAU OP AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 61 



(Second rendition) 



sui)ka''ke horses 



owa'le I seek 



<5a he^<^amor) therefore I have done this 



Analysis. — This melody comprises the tones of the fourth five- 

 toned scale. In two instances the sixth is lowered a semitone. A 

 dotted eighth note either preceded or followed by a sixteenth note is 

 a count division which characterizes the song, though it contains no 

 rhythmic unit. This song begins on the third above the tonic and 

 ends on the third in the lower octave. A beginning and ending on 

 the dominant is of more frequent occurrence than on the third of the 

 scale. A majority of both Sioux and Chippewa songs end on the 

 tonic, which is also the lowest tone in the song. (See Table 3A, p. 27.) 



Throughout this part of the ceremony the tree was regarded as 

 an enemy, and a shout of victory arose as it swayed and fell. Care 

 was taken that it should not touch the ground. The medicine men, 

 some of whom usually accompanied the party, burned sweiet grass, 

 and offerings were presented. The branches of the tree were cut 

 off close to the trunk except one branch about one-fourth of the 

 distance from the top, which was left a few inches long in order 

 that the crossbar of the pole might be fastened to it. In some 

 cases a small branch with leaves on it was also left at the top of 

 the pole. From this time the pole was regarded as sacred and no 

 one was allowed to step over it, or over any of the branches which 

 had been cut from it. Jealousy frequently arose among the women 

 in regard to the privilege of cutting the tree, and it is said that on 

 one occasion a woman was so angry because she was not chosen for 

 the purpose that she stepped over the pole. Half an hour later she 

 was thrown from her horse, dragged some distance, and killed. The 

 horse was known to be a gentle animal, and the event was considered 

 a punishment justly visited on the woman. 



Between 20 and 40 men were required to carry the sacred pole to 

 the camp. These walked two abreast, each pair carrying between 

 them a stick about 2 feet long on which the pole rested as on a litter. 

 The pole was carried with the top in advance, and the Intercessor or 

 his representative walked behind the bearers. No one was allowed 

 to walk before the sacred pole. 



The songs of carrying home the pole were songs of victory. The 

 following song could be used at any time after the pole had been cut 

 and was frequently sung as it was carried to the camp: 



