DENSMORE] TETON SIOUX MUSIC 207 



kuwa) had in his possession moro than 40 years a sacred stone, 

 which ho acquired by purchase. He appealed to it when in danger 

 and anxiety, but never attempted to secure through its use benefits 

 for others than his immediate family. Lone Man (Isna'la-wica') 

 possesses one stone, and beheves he has been greatly helped by 

 wearing it on his person. 



(^) A man who possesses a stone but does not use it. Charging 

 Thunder (Wakiij'yarj-wata'kpe) has had a sacred stone for many 

 years, but has not been able to command it as the medicine-men do. 

 He attributes this lack of efficiency to the fact that he "does not 

 place his faith wholly upon it, but believes in the help of many other 

 agencies." The stone was given him at a time when he was sick, 

 in the belief that it would restore him to health and also act as a 

 charm. His father was skilled in the use of the stones, and Charging 

 Thunder recorded songs which he said were composed by his father. 



(4) A man who has not used the sacred stones, but who was one of 

 the singers when Wliite Shield (Waha'caijka-ska) gave liis wonderful 

 demonstrations with them. It was customary for six or eight singers 

 to sit at the drum and sing with the man who was giving the demon- 

 stration. Two Sliields (Waha'cuijka-noq'pa) recorded two songs of 

 White Shields's which had been used on such occasions. Two Shields 

 is a close adherent of the the old beliefs, the missionaries having made 

 no impression on him (pi. 47). 



(5) Men who have witnessed demonstrations with the sacred stones 

 in the camp, on the hunt, and on the warpath and were familiar with 

 songs used at such times. Songs were recorded by Gray Whirlwind 

 (Wamni'yomni-ho'ta), Shooter (Oku'te), Teal Duck (Siya'ka), and 

 Bear Eagle (Mato'warjbli). Additional information, as well as cor- 

 roboration and personal reminiscence, was fm'nished by Buffalo Head 

 (Tatai)'ka-pa) and Standing Soldier (Aki'cita-na'zii)'). 



Among the above-mentioned informants the man whose usg of the 

 sacred stones is most open at the present time is Brave Buffalo, a 

 prominent medicine-man of the Standing Rock Reservation. He was 

 born near the present site of Pollock, N. Dak., and at the time of giving 

 his information was about 73 years of age. His father (see p. 250) was 

 a leading medicine-man of the tribe. In describing his dream of the 

 sacred stone Brave Buffalo said : 



WTien I was 10 years of age I looked at the land and the rivers, the sky above, and 

 the animals around me and could not fail to realize that they were made by some 

 great power. I was so anxious to understand this power that I questioned the trees 

 and the bushes. It seemed as though the flowers were staring at me, and I wanted 

 to ask them "Whc made you?" I looked at the moss-covered stones; some of them 

 seemed to have the features of a man, but they could not answer me. Then I had a 



I Died March, 1915. 



