54 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 194 



formerly received supernatural experiences. When the buffalo ap- 

 peared in great numbers, the leader, with the advice of the council 

 and the information supplied him by the scouts, selected the camp- 

 ing place where the hunt would be held. The camp was always 

 placed near good water, either a large spring or a creek, and a supply 

 of wood from which to construct the drying frames. 



The final organization of the hunt was not completed until the camp 

 had been set up. Then the leader of the summer hunt selected the 

 "leader of the hunters" whose duty it was to organize the surround 

 and direct the rites of taking the buffaloes. In the selection of this 

 man, the camp leader always named a person of a younger age-grade 

 group, one who had formerly shown skill in hunting buffaloes and had 

 the right to pray to them. Generally, the one selected had just 

 recently obtained or had made the pledge to obtain his sacred bundle. 

 Thus he was given an opportunity to test the bundle's supernatural 

 powers. Except for the camp leader, who always remained in camp, 

 and those Black Mouths who were selected to protect the party, all 

 other males were given definite assignments. The younger boys 

 herded the horses while the old men assisted by hauling poles into 

 camp and setting up the drying frames. Young men acted as scouts 

 watching from the hills to prevent attack. All men not otherwise 

 assigned were expected to assist in the surround. 



The surround was a group activity and anyone hunting alone 

 was severely punished by the Black Mouths. The "leader of the 

 hunters" planned the attack and arranged the riders. Before the 

 hunters made the attack, all dismounted and stood around their 

 leader while he prayed to his bundle for good luck and to the buffaloes, 

 who were given a small offering placed on a buffalo skull or a stick, 

 asking them not to send him bad luck or to gore the hunters. In 

 return for good luck, a feast was promised the buffaloes at a later date. 

 Without the rites, it was believed that the buffaloes would break up 

 into small groups and run out between the hunters. All manners of 

 misfortunes are said to have befallen those who did not fast properly 

 or who, in other ways, violated the rules relating to the buffalo rites. 

 When the hunters had good luck and everything went well, the "leader 

 of the hunters" was acclaimed as a future leader of the village. On 

 other occasions, when their horses stepped into badger or gopher 

 holes, or the buffaloes were difficult to handle, people talked of his bad 

 luck and sought to explain it in terms of improper fasting or ritual 

 performances. The leader would then ask to be reheved of his re- 

 sponsibility to his hunters, and would ask the camp leader to select 

 another to complete the surround. 



As soon as the surround was completed, word went back to the 

 camp for the people to come out and help with the butchering. At 



