446 BURKAU OF AMERICAN KTHNOLOGY [bull, ci 



xinahjsls. — All the ''verses" of this song were recorded, the repe- 

 titions of the melody showing no diffeix^nces except in note values 

 aiTiH'tiHl by the words. It is not a rhythmic, melody. In structure 

 the song is melodic. The tonality is minor, and all the tones of the 

 octave arc present except the second. Two-thirds of the progrc^ssions 

 are downward, and about 57 per cent of the intervals are major 

 seconds. 



A white buffalo is said to have been particularly swift and wary; 

 for this reason^ as well as because of its rarity, it was very difficult to 

 secure. It was a handsome animal, the rougher parts of the fur be- 

 ing soft and line, and the smooth parts shiny and glossy. The horns 

 were black and the hoofs pinkish, the end of its nose, too, being 

 pink. The last white buffalo seen on the Standing Rock Reserva- 

 tion was killed near the Missouri River, in th<' vicinity of the present 

 town of Pollock. 



If a white buffalo were killed in a hunt the fatal arrow was purified 

 in the smokt> of burning sweet grass. A knife was similarly purified 

 before the animal was skinned, and the hide was removed in such 

 manner that no blood was shed on it. Only men who had dreamed 

 of animals were allow<'d to eat any portion of the flesh of a white 

 buffalo. 



Although a large prize was offered for the killing of this animal, 

 the hide was not disposed of while the tribe was on the hunt, but was 

 held until the people reached home, so that all the requirements could 

 be fulfilled. The skin w^as not treated like an ordinary buffalo hide. 

 Oidy women noted for purity of life could touch or tan it, and after 

 the tanning was finished certain important ceremonies were required. 

 It was the custom for a medicine-man to purify the hide with sweet 

 grass. 



The tanned robe was always kept in a rawhide case. The owner 

 of such a robe usually retained it to be buried with him. If, however, 

 he was. willing to dispose of it, he might call togeth(>r men who had 

 owned similar robes and make tliis knowTi to them. Great honor was 

 given a man who was willing to dispose of a white buffalo robe. A 

 small piece was worth a horse; even the sniidlest portion of the 

 robe was a "sacred article" to the person who secured it, and could 

 be taken only by one who had owned part or all of a similar robe. 



Jaw said that he killed a white buffalo when his band of the tribe 

 were in Canada. He was only 13 years of age at the time, and the 

 buffalo which he killed was the only white one in a herd of about 

 a hundred. Not caring for the others, he killed only this one. It was 

 a beautiful animal, only its horns being black. Jaw killed it in the 

 fall and kept the hide all winter, selling it in the spring to a man 

 named Bone Club (llohu'-caij'lipi) for two horses, a big buffalo-hide 



