DKxisMOKE] TETON SIOUX MUSIC 247 



this had been done, the conjuror rinsed his mouth, put a piece of root in his mouth, 

 and chewed it. Removing a coal from the fire with a stick, he took it up in his hands 

 and put it in his mouth. He then dropped on all fours and began to tear up the ground 

 with his fingers and toes, as though they were claws, lie made a cry like an animal 

 and approached the boy as though he were a wild beast. With the coal still in his 

 mouth he stooped over the boy's chest and sucked so violently that the blood came 

 to the surface. Then he gave a whistling, puffing sound [see p. 254] and spit into a 

 dish which wa.s partly filled with water. WTien this performance was completed 

 he sat down in a dripping perspiration and immediately the boy had a hemorrhage 

 from the lungs. 



The same performance was enacted four times and after each time the boy had a 

 hemorrhage. Then the boy complained that the treatment was making him worse, 

 and the boy's father asked the conjuror not to work over the boy any longer. The 

 boy's father gave the conjuror a horse, as it is the belief of the San tee that sickness 

 will return if the "doctor" is not paid. 



The foUownng is an account of a somewhat similar treatment, 

 which included the administering of medicine. This account was 

 given by Used-as-a-Sliield, a reliable informant, who sang a number 

 of songs in the present work and took part in several discussions 

 of serious topics by the old men. He described his own experience in 

 receiving treatment by a conjurer, saying: 



The first thing done in summoning a medicine-man to treat a sick person was to put 

 black paint on the stem of a pipe. Charcoal was ordinarily used in making this paint, 

 which was smeared on the stem of the pipe, an eagle feather being tied next the mouth- 

 piece. A messenger took this painted pipe to the medicine-man's lodge, carrying it 

 with the bowl next him. If the medicine-man were at home, the messenger entered 

 the lodge, turning toward the left. Without speaking he handed the pipe to the medi- 

 cine-man, who smoked it in token of his assent. A request to visit a sick person was 

 never refused unless the medicine-man were physically unable to go. If the man 

 were not at home the messenger left the pipe in the place of honor, with the bowl 

 toward the door.['] The relatives of the medicine-man then made an effort to find 

 him soon as possible. 



It was in tlais manner that many years ago, I sent for a medicine-man to treat me. 

 WTien he entered my lodge he seated liimself back of the fire. After a time he came 

 and sat by my head, looking me over. Ke then took up a lock of hair on my forehead 

 and tied a wisp of grass around it, letting the rest of my hair hang loose. Then he had 

 me placed so that I lay facing the east and he began his preparations for the treatment. 

 Opening a bundle, he took from it a whistle [si^yotayka], a small drum [cay^cega], and a 

 rattle [wagmu^ha] which he used in beating the drum. He also took out a black 

 cloth, which he tied over his eyes. Then he dropped on one knee, facing me, holding 

 tlie drum in his right hand and the rattle in his left hand. Beating the drum rapidly 

 with the rattle, he said: "Young man, try to rememlier what I tell you. You shall 

 see the power from wliich I have the right to cure sicknesses, and this power shall be 

 used on you this day." Then he told the dream by which he received his power as a 

 medicine-man. When he rose to his feet I noticed that a horse's tail hung at his side, 

 being fastened to his belt. Standing, he offered his drum to the cardinal points, then 

 beat it as hard as he could, sometimes louder, sometimes softer. A wooden bowl which 

 he carried was placed next my head. Then he came toward me, still beating his 

 drum. As he came near me his breath was so forcible it seemed as if it would blow 

 me before it. Just before he reached me, and while blowing his breath so strongly, he 

 struck his body on the right side and on the left side. He was still telling his dream 



' [Of. position of the pipe, pp. 72, 127, 185.] 



