208 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 194 



singers for the women's societies, young girls selected to represent 

 the water birds in the Goose society, and the buffalo calf in the White 

 Buffalo Cow society. These societies cut across clan and moiety lines, 

 dividing the population of the village into a number of organized 

 groups. In earlier times, when the Hidatsa lived in three or more 

 villages, the societies were limited by village bounds and member- 

 ship in a society of a different village was unusual except in those 

 instances when one having rights in a particular society married 

 and moved to another village. In these instances the individual 

 sold out his rights with his own group and participated subsequently 

 with the society of his new residence. 



In organization, all societies followed a characteristic pattern. 

 There were officers who were distinguished from the rank and file 

 members by special paraphernalia, face painting, and duties. These 

 invariably had distinguished themselves in various socially approved 

 ways. Men were usually selected by the group for bravery or other 

 manifestations of military skill while women were selected for industry 

 and participation in specific rituahstic activities. Each society had 

 a male announcer or crier whose duty it was to inform the village at 

 large of the activities of the society. He could be one of the regular 

 membership or an older and respected person selected for his kindness 

 to certain members of the society. 



With regard to origin, the Hidatsa recognized two groups or so- 

 cieties; those for which no tribal origin myths were known, and which 

 are therefore presumed to be of foreign origin, and those having tribal 

 origin myths which they believed their ancestors founded. Each 

 society had prescribed rites and dances which in some way distin- 

 guished it from aU other societies, while those societies having simi- 

 larities were believed to be "related" to each other. Each group had 

 periodic meetings according to the traditional customs of the group 

 and extra meetings whenever one of its members had distinguished 

 himself in warfare. The men's societies all placed great emphasis on 

 warfare but had other functions as well. Certain societies had ritual- 

 istic aspects and conceptual ties with bundle rites. The Notched 

 Stick was related to Corn rites at Awaxawi and it was beheved that 

 whenever the young boys of this society danced, rains were certain 

 to fall. The Lumpwood society used staffs resembling those of the 

 Painted Red Stick and Thunder rites for buffalo calling and rainmaking 

 respectively. The Stone Hammer society was related to the Sun, 

 Moon, and Woman Above rites. The Dog societies were related to 

 Earthnaming rites due to the use of owl feathers by both groups. 

 The Bull society dances during the four seasons were symbolic of the 

 buffaloes of the four seasons and directions. 



