KADiN] THE CLAN WAR-BUNDLE FEASTS 519 



Feast to the Night Spirits 



Those wko were called on for kettles now took the pieces of meat 

 that had been counted for them (by the attendants). The attendants 

 divided the pieces evenly for all those who did not eat heads. As 

 soon as the distribution was finished then the host started playing 

 his flute and all began to eat at the same time. The feasters are 

 careful that they spill nothing and that the utmost precautions are 

 taken. It is not proper to scatter the bones. They are afterwards 

 gathered up and thrown in a consecrated place. Never do they talk 

 frivolously throughout the night. Those who had obtained war 

 honore as they sat near the fire would now tell of then" war exploits — 

 how many warpaths they had been on and how many fights they 

 had been in. All night do they talk in this way. All night would 

 the boys listen, it is said. They are asking for war powers; that war 

 might come their way — that is why they do this (recount their war 

 exploits). 



Rite of Those Who Have Been Crazed by the Night Spirits 



As they do this some become crazed by the Night Spirits."^ A 

 religious frenzy comes over them."' All their clothes would be cast off, 

 it is said. All naked, without any apparel, would the man dance 

 around the lodge. All would sit waiting. They (these crazed ones) 

 would not be in ignorance about the place where food was being 

 boiled for the Night Spirits, and they would go to-ward it. Even if 

 the kettle was boiling over the crazed ones would stick their hand in it. 

 Similarly, as soon as the head was taken out from the place where 

 it was being boiled, then these men would make a rush for it and 

 try to get the first bite. Whoever was able to get the first bite 

 would surely, at some later time, receive war honors. Wlien they 

 are finished with the rush for the head, then the feaster (i. e.,' the 

 successful one) takes the pipe placed in the center of the lodge and 

 smokes it. When he has finished he would tell of his war exploits 

 and also tell them what offerings had been accepted by the spirits. 

 That the one who has just come out of his trance would tell them. 

 They (the spirits) told the feaster (i. e., the crazed one) that they 

 had accepted all the things that had been offered — the tobacco, the 

 food, and the buckskins; that the feasters had done well."" How- 

 ever, not at every feast would a man become crazed, it is said. A 

 holy person he would have to be. When the feasting is over and all have 

 finished their meal, then the first one to whom a head had been ap- 

 portioned and for whom a kettle had been placed rises and speaks. 



1" I.e., they get into a state of religious ecstasy through worship of the Night Spirits. 

 i<8 Literally. *'holiness.comes over him." 



"» Apparently the one supposed to be crazed by the Night Spirits sees them in his ecstatic vbion and 

 finds out whether they are satisfied or not with the ofTerings. 



