RADiN] WARFARE AND THE COUNCIL LODGE 161 



always kept on hand and offers it to the spirit who controls this particular war party. 

 The others do the same. Then he would cross the river. Whenever he drank any 

 water the others would also do so, and if he refrained so would the others. If at any 

 time during the night when they are camping the war leader should wake up and sing 

 some songs, be they grizzly bear, black root paint, or night songs, all those others who 

 knew similar songs would likewise begin to sing. 



Miscellaneous war customs. — There were, in former times, many 

 miscellaneous customs connected with warfare, most of which have 

 now been forgotten. However, in myths and accounts of war parties 

 a number of them are still mentioned. 



When a war party surprised a lodge, all the occupants were killed 

 or captured and the poles that were spliced together to form the 

 arches were released so that they sprang back to either side and 

 assumed a vertical position. 



When a war party surprised a lodge in which there were children 

 they generally killed them, cut off their heads, pried open their 

 mouths so as to give them the appearance of laughing, and then 

 placed the heads on their bodies again and arranged them against the 

 door, so that when their father came home he would find them greet- 

 ing him as usual. A brave warrior would never flinch at such a 

 sight, but would prepare a meal as usual and speak to the children as 

 if they were alive and offer them something to eat. Only then would 

 he bury them. Immediately after they had been buried he would 

 go on the warpath to revenge them. 



Frequently the skulls of slain enemies are used as lodge weights and 

 their skin is taken off and used as mats, door-flaps, etc. 



War honors. — "It is the ideal of every Winnebago youth," says an 

 informant, "to kill an enemy in full sight of his friends and thus to 

 gain for himself a headdress and an eagle feather." Most deeds con- 

 sidered valorous, according to Winnebago ideas, have associated with 

 them certain insignia which are always worn in public, giving evi- 

 dence to all that so-and-so has performed such and such a valorous 

 deed. 



These insignia consist of the following: 



Headdress and feather. — Denote that an individual has scalped and 

 killed a man and torn off his scalp still bleeding. He is entitled to a 

 red headdress and eagle feather. This also includes the man who 

 has counted first coup (sarinigv:ahi'na). 



Bed lieaddress. — If he has killed the enemy and not scalped him 

 {tcasi'ntc icak'e're.) 



Eagle feather. — Worn by one who has counted second coup. 



Hanging eagle feather. — Worn by one who has counted third coup. 



Eagle feather stuck cnsswise in hair. — Worn by one who has counted 

 fourth coup. 



Watjgirusgitc. — Consists of a rope worn around the neck. It is 

 worn by the leader of that warpath who has captured an enemy. 



