Bowers] HIDATSA SOCIAL AND CEREMONIAL ORGANIZATION 125 



he was once brave but now that there were no enemies around, he was 

 even afraid of the snakes. On one occasion he and a number of his 

 Hidatsa inlaws were returning from visiting the Sioux on the Cannon- 

 ball River. They stopped in the shade along the river to eat and rest. 

 While the men were sitting there he looked around and his joking 

 relative asked him if he was afraid of snakes. While they were dozing, 

 a bullsnake crawled over his arm. His joking relative saw the snake 

 and waited for Crows Heart to jump away so that he could tease him 

 but Crows Heart, pretending to be sleeping, waited until the snake 

 had crawled half way through his hand and then threw it at his joking 

 relative, striking him on the chest. Not being prepared for this sudden 

 turn in events, his joking relative jumped away. Crows Heart then 

 said, "Now I see that my joking relative is not very brave. He went 

 out to war all the time but he never won many honors. When there 

 were enemies to strike, he must have been somewhere sleeping." 



The most severe criticism was leveled at one who had been cowardly. 

 A joking relative was expected to save another in danger and failure 

 to do so would have brought down upon the person such criticism that 

 he would have been ashamed to appear in council or to offer advice on 

 village matters. If one was angry at a joking relative and was the 

 possessor of greater war honors, he could say "That is how I strike my 

 enemies" and administer a severe blow to the other who could not, on 

 penalty of loss of face, strike back. Often brothers returning from a 

 successful war expedition with scalps would search out a joking relative 

 who had not shown much interest in warfare or had not struck the 

 enemy when out. Seizing him, they would hold him and cut his hair 

 off, telling him that it was a man who looked just like him that they 

 had scalped. Then it was the right of the victim to demand a good 

 horse in return. 



It was the duty of the joking relatives to criticize one who made 

 imjust claims of bravery or industry and to set him aright. As a rule, 

 the severity of criticism and teasingwas influenced by age. Individuals 

 with a great difference in age criticized and teased each other less 

 severely even though they were children of men of the same clan, for 

 one was supposed to show due respect for age. The degree of teasing 

 was also affected by residence. Those living in the same lodge were 

 supposed to live together harmoniously; therefore, the more distant 

 "joking relatives" were the ones who were most active. 



The importance of the joking relative cannot be overemphasized. 

 No one, from the highest chief to the lowHest orphan, was exempt from 

 these relatives. If criticism and teasing were not taken in good 

 grace, one was certain to lose prestige. If one resorted to force, public 

 opinion and, if necessary, the Black Mouths could interfere. How- 



