68 THE OSAGE TRIBE. [kth. ann. 39 



land actually occupied by the tribe. The particular act of this class 

 of military honors may be either a blow given with some weapon or 

 the cutting of the head of an enemy, but this act must be one that 

 had not been put into doubt by controversy. The honors of this 

 class are ranked as higher than the others because the acts were 

 performed when defending the village or the women who were work- 

 ing in the cornfields, for it is at such times that the courage of the 

 warrior was often put to the severest test. 



The chances of winning military honors of the class above referred 

 to were very rare, not only because the village and the fields were 

 always well guarded but also because the occasion for the defense of 

 the village and the fields must arise within a year of a decree issued 

 by the No"'-ho"-zhi"-ga of the Wa-fa'-be (Black Bear) gens. The 

 decree was issued when a member of that gens was initiated into 

 the No'''-zhi"-zho" or the Wa-xo'-be degree of the war rites. At the 

 close of the initiation the head of the gens would say: "If the village 

 or the fields are invaded and attacked within a year from this time, 

 the honors won in the defense shall be counted as U-^;ko"'-fka I 

 Ga-pa-gi." In the early days initiations into the war rites were 

 infrequent, therefore the chances were rare for a warrior to win an 

 honor of this class. 



0-do"' is the name of all classes of the prescribed nailitary honors 

 which can be counted by a warrior chosen for the office of Wa'-do"-be 

 at the initiatory ceremonies of the tribal war rites. The name may 

 be freely translated as: a valorous act by which a warrior can win 

 rank and become honored by the people. 



If the camlidate belongs to the Ho°'-ga division he must nominate 

 for the office of Wa'-do^-be a warrior of the Tsi-'zhu division, but if 

 to the Tsi'-zhu division he must name for the office a warrior of the 

 Ho"'-ga division. 



When the candidate has chosen his Wa'-do°-be the No^'-ho"- 

 zhi"-ga adjourn to meet again at sundown for the Ho° Wa-tho", or 

 Night-singing. 



The Night-singing. 



At simset the No"'-ho"-zhi"-ga who are members of the gens to 

 wliich the candidate belongs gather, informally, at his house, where 

 the A'-ki-ho" Xo'-ka, assisted by the Xo'-ka, and together with 

 certain chosen singers, rehearse the songs of the ceremony which 

 actually begins on the following morning. The No"'-ho"-zlu"-ga 

 naembers occupy the back part of the eastern end of the house wliile, 

 in a row in front of them, sit the A'-ki-ho" Xo'-ka, the Xo'-ka, the 

 candidate, and the chosen singers. Members of other gentes also 

 attend, but more as a matter of courtesy to the initiating gens and 

 for social pleasure than to form a formal assemblage. The A'-ki-ho° 

 Xo'-ka has at his side a bundle of consecrated tally sticks (PI. 2, C) 



