CHAPTER XV 



MISCELLANEOUS DANCES 

 The Hok'ixe're Dance 



Informant, member of the Thunderbird clan: This is the way in 

 which people used to bring scalps to one another. When a man 

 returns from the warpath with a scalp he leaves it outside of the 

 village and the warriors run out with their clubs and strike it and 

 ccunt coup (just as on the battlefield). As they count coup they 

 call out their names Then they are told what ceremonial dress 

 they are to wear. They then send a messenger to the person to 

 whom the scalp is to be presented to tell him to select a pole (for 

 the victory dance). He thanks them and says, "It is good." Then 

 the warriors who are returning arrange themselves in a circle around 

 this pole and dance around it. He who has obtained the first war 

 honor leads. 



The one to whom they present the scalp thanks the spirits who 

 are in control of war powers and then raising his hand prays to the 

 Sun. Then he sings a song and when that is finished sits down,, 

 beats the drum, and sings a dancing song, whUe the others dance. 



Then the owner of the scalp, turning toward the spirits who are 

 in control of war, gives the victory whoop four times. After each 

 whoop all the other people in the lodge strike their mouths with 

 their hands and yell. After the victory whoops have been given 

 all dance the victory dance. 



Tlien the man who has received the scalp lets his sisters, his aunts,, 

 and his nieces select the war presents which are always bestowed 

 upon them. With these tied around their necks they dance. Toward 

 evening they finish the victory dance and then aU enter the (danc- 

 ing) lodge. He to whom the scalp is given is the host and he sits 

 down first. Then comes the donor and then in a row the four who 

 have counted coup. 



The ceremony begins with songs sung by the host. He first sings 

 two war-bundle songs (waruxa'p na^wa") and then two night songs 

 (ha'^lie' na'^wa^). Wlien these are finished the meal is eaten. Before 

 eating, all the animal heads are placed in front of the donor of the 

 scalp and he selects those men with whom he wishes to share them. 



Then the host rises and says, "War-bundle owners who are seated 

 here, I greet you all. Our warrior (the donor) will eat together with 



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