Bowers] HIDATSA SOCIAL AND CEREMONIAL ORGANIZATION 53 



buffalo herds. Each group of scouts under a leader selected by the 

 summer hunt leader was assigned an area to cover; these groups were 

 changed from time to time so that their horses were not tired ex- 

 cessively. Often these scouts were 40 miles or more in advance of 

 the main party. As the group moved along, the leader designated 

 the evening camping places for several days in advance. These 

 sites were selected because of water, fuel, and ease of defense ; a level 

 flat adjacent to a stream usually was selected because it provided 

 protection from the creek bank on one side and water for themselves 

 and their animals in case of attack. Since they frequently went to 

 the same general area to hunt each year, certain named camps were 

 used. 



The camp circle was always used. The leader's household set up 

 two tipis, one for the leader and his council and the other for his 

 household, at the head of the line. Those at the back end swung 

 in a circle so that the household at the rear of the line placed its tipi 

 to the left of the leader's council lodge. The Black Mouths moved 

 back and forth to see that the tipis were spaced properly to complete 

 the circle and yet leave sufficient room to bring in the horses. When 

 the tipis were set up, rawhide ropes were strung between each tipi 

 forming a corral into which the horses were driven for the night. 

 While the tipis were being set up, the horses were freed of their burdens 

 and taken to pastm'e by the younger men below the status of Black 

 Mouths. While some young men kept the horses together so they 

 would not stray, others rode out to serve as scouts in guarding the 

 group against surprise by enemy horse-raiding parties. Before dark, 

 the horses were brought into the enclosure and guarded during the 

 night. Special attention was given to the horse guard while the 

 Black Mouths kept scouts out in all directions near the camp to fore- 

 stall sudden attacks on the party. Young men were permitted — 

 in fact, they were encouraged — to go out to hunt small game such as 

 antelope, deer, and elk or even to surround a small herd of buffaloes. 

 Except for small quantities of dried corn and corn balls, no other 

 food was taken on the summer hunt; the party rehed on the game 

 brought to camp each day by the scouts and small hunting parties 

 sent out whenever animals were discovered at hand. They moved 

 along leisurely from one camping spot to the next, stopping to permit 

 the women to dig wild turnips or to pick Juneberries and choke- 

 cherries whenever the quantity of these foods warranted the delay. 



As the party approached the customary hunting grounds, they 

 stopped from time to time to permit those having sacred bundle rites 

 relating to certain buttes and sacred spots to make appropriate 

 offerings for the replenishment of the herds or for a distinguished 

 individual to pray at some traditional fasting spot where he had 



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