Bowers] HIDATSA SOCIAL AND CEREMONIAL ORGANIZATION 51 



villages to learn the disposition of enemy camps as well as the location 

 of the herds. From this information they determined the region 

 where the hunt would be held. The principal problem was that of 

 transporting the cured meat and hides. 



The summer herds generally were largest to the southwest of Knife 

 River between the KjUdeer Mountains and the Black Hills, but the 

 problem of transportation overland was greater than when the hunt 

 was held upstream from the summer villages, for then the hides 

 could be used for boats and the cured meat could be floated down to 

 the villages. If the reports indicated an abundance of buffaloes 

 adjacent to the Missouri or its larger tributaries, the Hidatsa preferred 

 to go in that direction. However, the buffaloes usually — especially 

 after a severe winter — left the river valleys, which had been stripped 

 of all grass, to summer on the higher lands away from the principal 

 streams. 



Some time before the village group was to leave on the hunt, the 

 council of older men selected a hunt leader. Although all men aspired 

 to be selected as leader once, many never received that distinction 

 chiefly because there were too many eligible for the honor. The 

 selection was made on the basis of one's personal record; he should 

 first of all be one who had been a successful "leader of the hunters" on 

 a former summer hunt, have the buffalo represented in his sacred 

 bundle, and have the confidence of the group. This leadership was 

 an outlet for those who had not been previously afforded the distinc- 

 tion of serving as leader of the whole group. As a rule, former winter 

 camp leaders were not selected or, if they were considered, they usually 

 declined in favor of one who had not as yet been so recognized. The 

 principal war leader was rarely selected and his role was a subordinate 

 one during the period of the hunt. 



The council considered different men until one could be selected 

 with unanimous agreement of the group. Rarely did a minority 

 group hold out, for it was believed that when the people quarreled 

 over the selection of the leader, bad luck would surely follow. The 

 fear of responsibility for prolonged debate was sufficient to quickly 

 break down most opposition. As soon as the leader was selected, the 

 council's announcer called the name of the leader and the time of 

 departure. Although the council delegated authority to direct the 

 group, the wise leader solicited the assistance of the council as repre- 

 sentatives of the various households in order that he could keep in 

 close contact with his group, learn their difficulties of travel, and 

 know of their wishes. Once the leader was selected, and before the 

 party left for the hunt, his lodge became headquarters for the council. 

 The old men would drop in through the day to eat and discuss details 

 of the contemplated hunt. Some would tell of a household with no 



