452 BUKKAU OF AMKHICAN KTllNOLOOV [bull. 6i 



Analysis. — This song contains a large variety of intervals, there 

 being seven kinds of upward, and six kinds of downward, progres- 

 sions. Of the intervals 75 per cent are minor thirds and major 

 seconds. The song is major in tonality, melodic in structure, and 

 lacks the seventh tone of the complete octave. Tliree rhythmic 

 units are found in the song, the second and third luudng one count 

 division in common. The manner in wliich these units are used is 

 particularly interesting. 



Chief Songs 



There appear to be two kinds of Chief songs: Those which 

 voice the thought of the chiefs, and those sung in honor of the chiefs. 

 Thus the second song in the Sun-dance group was said to be a Chief 

 SQjig. It contains the words, "Friends take courage; right here we 

 are coming; they see us." In explanation of this class of songs 

 a Sioux said, "The chiefs do not sing these songs; the people sing 

 them meaning 'the chief says so and so'." The following belongs 

 to the second class of Chief songs and is said to be an old and par- 

 ticularly good example. Two Bears was the head chief of the Lower 

 Yanktonais band of Sioux, the most numerous band on the Standing 

 Rock Reservation, and was prominent in tribal cbuncils. lie died 

 about the year 1886. An interesting record concerning this man is 

 preserved in the report of the Indian agent for the year 1874.^ This 

 record is as follows: 



On the 1st t)f July I was informed that a party of young men had left this agency 

 to make war on Indians up the river. I asked the principal ciiiefs to stop these pro- 

 ceedings. They promptly responded by sencUng their soldiers out, who overtook 

 the war party and brought them back. The conduct of Cliief Two Bears and Chief 

 Antelope on tliis occasion deserves particular crecUl. The defeat of the party is 

 mainly attributable to the energetic action of these two chiefs. 



1 Palmer, Edmond, in Indian Affairs Rep. for 1874, p. 248, Washington, 1874. 



