KADiN] MISCELLANEOUS DANCES 381 



head eating. Then the donor selected his partners. The host then 

 began to sing. The scalp was taken down from the post and placed 

 in a dish near the door. The soul of the scalp still remained within 

 it, so they tried again to make it less powerful and to conquer it, 

 for they knew that if they succeeded in concjuering it all the life 

 that was still coming to the possessor of the scalp at his death would 

 be obtained for themselves. Then the dancers and the feasters, 

 indeed all who had counted coup, tried to obtain some of the dead 

 enemy's residuary life. All tried to add some new life to their own. 



When the meal was over, then the host offered tobacco to the 

 spirits, and all those present prayed for war to the spirits to whom 

 offerings had been made. They asked that if it be their good fortime 

 to kill a number of people on the warpath, when they returned home 

 they would be as thankful as they are now. All these warriors who 

 were taking part in this dance liked it very much. 



Then the host struck the drum that had been placed in front of 

 him and sang. When he finished, he had the drum placed in front 

 of the man who had counted first coup. Then this man sang and 

 the drum was passed to the next man, and so on imtil each man had 

 sung. After all had sung and spoken the men and women together 

 danced around the lodge. The woman who had received the pres- 

 ents led the dance, carrying the scalp. The people believed that 

 the scalp was dancing with them. All night they danced the ho¥~ 

 ixe're dance without resting at any time, and when the sun appeared 

 they took the drum outside to the post and danced the victory 

 dance. Then when the sun was high in the heavens they stopped 

 and went to sleep. In the evening when the sun was low they 

 danced the victory dance again, and then when it was pretty dark, 

 singing slow songs, they slowly entered the lodge again. Then they 

 made a circuit of the lodge and placed the drum in the middle of 

 the lodge. 



The feast was now ready. All that they were to eat — deer, bear, 

 dog — were placed in front of the feasters. Food was brought to 

 the donor and all those who were sitting together with him, as well 

 as all those who had counted coup and all the women who had 

 received presents. Head eating is holy, and if one eats part of the 

 head it is thought that it will help him greatly. 



Then the host rose and spoke as follows : 



" The servants who are carrying the food aroimd here wiU probably 

 not have enough to go around, but you must remember that not 

 the men but the women are furnishing the food. . Although it is little, 

 I hope you will eat it. We will now sing foiu- songs." Then he 

 sang two war-bundle songs' and two night songs. Before they ate 

 the host rose and spoke, "This is a small feast and we will try to 

 give food to our grandfather (some spirit) who is in charge of this 



