560 TRIBES OF THE UPPER MISSOURI [HTH. ANN. « 



'"Also that in battle he took an enemy's horse " [one tap]. " That 

 he fired fifteen shots " [one tap] . " Four years since, being near 

 the Blackfeet camp with six others in quest of horses, they were 

 discovered and pursued but succeeded in making their escape " [one 

 tap on the drum]. "Alone and on foot he, three years since [naming 

 the place] killed and brought to camp a full-grown grizzly bear" [one 

 tap on the drum]. " Behold where one of the balls of the Blackfeet 

 broke my arm" [one tap]. "Here an arrow pierced my thigh" 

 [another sound of the drum], etc., until he has run through the 

 catalogue of his meritorious acts, when he is honored with a general 

 shout of approbation, the music strikes up, the song commences, and 

 another round or two being performed, another warrior recounts his 

 coups in the same manner. In this way they continue until all who 

 wish have had an opportunity of renewing the remembrance of their 

 past deeds, and reestablishing their importance as braves in the eyes 

 of their countrymen. It takes some hours to prepare for and per- 

 form this dance and it is only done twice or thrice a year. Although 

 the performers are naked, yet there is no idea of indecency 2e attached 

 to this fact. They are in a manner obliged to appear in this state so 

 that they may publicly expose and point out any wound they may 

 have received in battle. 



Wounds behind are fully as honorable as those before. Running 

 away where success is impossible is more commended than death or 

 defeat by remaining. The number of shots a man has fired during 

 the fight, if over 10, counts a coup, inasmuch as it shows he has 

 stood his ground long enough to fire that many. 



Killing an enemy counts nothing unless his person is touched or 

 struck. The first who strikes the dead foe counts the best coup, 

 although each succeeding one counts as far as the fourth. 



Scalping does not count more than striking. Taking an enemy's 

 gun or horse or bow by any means counts a coup, likewise killing a 

 grizzly bear alone and on foot. Scalps are very little valued by him 

 who takes them. They are mostly cut up in small pieces and sent to 

 the different camps. The hair seen on the warrior's leggings is some- 

 times really the hair of the enemies slain by him, and at others his 

 own, or horsehair. In either case it is the symbol of having killed. 



If he has struck even one enemy he is entitled to wear hair on his 

 shirt and leggings, but it is not absolutely necessary that it should be 

 the same hair as that which he took from his enemy's head. Any 

 human hair or black horsehair will answer the purpose fully as well 

 if he has a right to wear it. 



™ This viewing of the nude human figure without a feeling of a sense of indecency 

 is confirmed by the Swiss artist, Frederick Kurz, in his Journal, already cited in the 

 preface. 



