DBNgMORE] TETON SIOUX MUSIC 359 



The latter, however, is so short a phrase, and is used so diversely, 

 that it can not be said to constitute a unit of rhythm. A triple 

 measure followed by a double measure is an interesting peculiarity 

 of this song. 



The purpose of a man in going to war was to gain honor and to 

 capture horses. The honor could come to him either from loyalty 

 to his comrades or from conquering the enemy. If a man carried 

 either a wounded fricMid or a captive on his back, on his return he 

 could place a certain decoration on his tobacco bag or on his blanket. 

 (Fig. 31.) By this sign everyone knew of his act. If two relatives 

 were together on a war party, and one was wounded and deserted 

 by his kinsman, a stranger who saved him was accorded special 

 honor. Thenceforth he was called Tlawo'Hi/crpi, 'Helper of the help- 

 less.' To desert a wounded friend on the warpath was considered 

 the greatest perfidy. (See song No. 167.) 



The custom of wearing feathers and painting the face, as well 

 as that of '^counting coup," probably differs among various tribes 

 or bands. The following was given by the writer's informants as 

 the custom of the Teton Sioux on that reservation. It was said 

 that if a party of warriors attacked the enemy 

 and killed several men, the first warrior who killed 

 an enemy had the right to wear the "black face 

 paint"; thus many of the war songs contain the 

 words -the black face paint I seek." (See songs ^eoS'^gtrr 

 Nos. 8, 11, 27, 171.) This paint was worn by 

 the man in the dances which followed his return from war. Usually 

 it covered only the face, although a man might paint his entire body 

 if he so desired. The second warrior to kill an enemy might ''strike 

 the enemy," for doing which he might, on his return, let his hair hang 

 loose, but not paint his face. The time for continuing this practice 

 varied according to the individual, but was usually about a month. 

 If a war party defeated the enemy without loss to themselves, it 

 was permitted to the first four who killed enemies, and also to their 

 women relatives, to use the black face paint. In such an event 

 special songs would be sung, and at any large gathering these four 

 men would appear, the tribe considering them all to be equally 

 entitled to the honor of using the black paint. 



If a man had killed an enemy without injury to himself he was 

 entitled to wear a feather erect at the back of his head. If he killed 

 two or more he could wear a corresponding number of feathers, but 

 the enemies must all have been killed in the same battle. If he 

 succeeded in striking an enemy he could wear a feather horizontally 

 at the back of his head. Four men could "count coup" by strikmg 

 the same enemy. (See an instance of striking an enemy, p. 376.) 



