DENSMOUL] TETON SIOUX MUSIC 213 



should understand tlio native religious ideas wtiich had governed his 

 life, and that the white man might better know the mind of the Sioux, 

 But misfortune followed his action. After a few weeks the writer on 

 returning to the i*eservation was informed that Chased-by-Bears had 

 suffered a stroke of paralysis,' which was attributed to his sale of the 

 sacred stone and its song. Mr. Higheagle was requested to visit 

 Chasod-by-Bears and ascertain whether the report were correct. It 

 was found that Chased-by-Bears seemed to be in danger of death. 

 Mr. Higheagle was then instructed to tell him that the stone would 

 be returned to him as soon as it had been measured, weighed, and 

 photographed. Every effort was made to allay the nervous tension 

 under which the aged man was suffering. After a time Chased-by- 

 Bears was well enough to come and camp near the agency. He walked 

 heavily, leaning on his cane. Food was sent to his camp, and when he 

 was able to come to the writer's office she played for him the phono- 

 graph records of sacred-stone songs w^hich others had sung, endeavor- 

 ing to impress him with the idea that he had not transgressed more 

 than they. At length the subject of the herb used with the stone was 

 broached, and it was suggested that if the stone were to be returned 

 perhaps he would be willing to loan a portion of the herb for identifi- 

 oation, which, together with the stone, would subsequently be given 

 him by Mr. Higheagle. After several conferences Chased-by-Bears 

 brought the plant, w^hich was identified at Washington as Aster sp. 

 With this he had in his medicine bag a root which, he said, he pow- 

 dered and mixed w4th the root of the first plant. It was a pithy root, 

 but as none of the upper part of the plant was available it could not be 

 identified. Chased-by-Bears was encouraged to be present when other 

 Indians w^ere recording songs, and it was observed that his liealth 

 steadily improved. When the writer left the reservation a fow weeks 

 later he had almost regained his strength, and a year afterwards he 

 appeared to be in his usual health.^ Both the stone and the herbs 

 were returned at the earliest opportunity, but it is interesting to note 

 that the man's physical recovery began before tliese were actually 

 restored to his possession. Chased-by-Bears' misfortune did not seem 

 to arouse any antagonism toward the A^Titer or her w^ork. In conver- 

 sation with those who were considered authorities on the subject it was 

 said that he "should have know^n better than to sell a stone w^hen he 

 had only one." A medicine-man could sell the ''helpers " of his special 

 stone, but even a medicine-man would not part with the stone which 

 was the center of his power. 



1 It is the belief of the Chippewa that those who offend the "manido" are punished by paralysis. Thus 

 the wTiter saw at a remote Chippewa village on the northern shore of Lake Superior a man who had suffered 

 paralysis of one side of his face and body, and whose personal record was not good. It is said by the Chip- 

 pewa that many offending members of the MIdg'wIwIn become paralyzed. 



2 Chased-by-Bears died in February, 1915, more than two years after the paralytic stroke. 



4S40°— Bull. 61—18 16 



