EADiN] THE CIAN WAR-BUNDLE FEASTS 533 



ticular kettle assigned to him. Then he pours out tobacco. Now one 

 of the attendants goes around the lodge and scatters small swan 

 feathers in every direction, even putting some near the kettles. 



The host then prepares to sing night songs, but before doing so he 

 takes down the buckskin assigned to the Nights, blackens his face 

 with the ember used for marking that buckskin, and puts swan 

 feathers upon liis head. It is said that those who during their 

 fasting time visited the land of the Night Spirits saw swan feathers 

 scattered all over the land, and that is why they use them now. The 

 host now has the pipe turned toward the east and before singing the 

 night songs tells the origin of these songs. He asks all the other 

 invited guests present to help him with his songs and apologizes for 

 asking so much of them. He now uses two sets of songs. Wlien 

 the dancing songs are simg all the men who so desire may come 

 around the war bundle and dance, and some may even dance near 

 the places where they sit. When he has finished his songs he passes 

 the drum, gourds, flute, and tobacco to the invited guest opposite 

 him. This one now arises, pours out tobacco, and tells the origin of 

 his particular war bundle and sings the night song connected with it 

 for the benefit of the host. He then repeats the same actions that the 

 host has done. The drum, etc., are now passed to the next man, and 

 so on until daylight. Some one especially selected is given the honor 

 of singing those songs that are connected with the taking down of 

 the buckskins, and when this one starts his song all the invited 

 guests in whose honor kettles have been put on the fireplace take 

 down their buckskins and, holding them in their hands, walk around 

 the lodge four times. An attendant precedes them, walking back- 

 ward and purif3'ing the path. The buckskin with the cross marked 

 on it is generally earned first. The fourth time they make the 

 circuit all those in the lodge first hold their hands over the cedar 

 incense and then touch the buckskin, because Earthmaker is going to 

 use it for moccasins, so that, by touching it, they might become 

 strengthened. After they had made the circuit for the fourth time 

 they rolled up the buckskins and threw them through the openings in 

 the roof of the lodge, so that the spirits for whom they were intended 

 might receive them. 



After the buckskins have been thrown out tobacco is poured into 

 the fireplace and all the people take their places and dance. When 

 the drum has made the entire circuit of the lodge — that is, when it has 

 again returned to the host — the latter rises and sings the so-called 

 paint songs. A short time before that a number of kettles had been 

 put on the fireplace for the so-called lower spirits. The host then 

 declares that the feast is ready and that whenever they wish to 

 the guests may begin to eat. The rites of the preceding feast are 

 now repeated. Toward the end of the feast the host takes his bundle, 



