224 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 194 



tions of one of the formal ceremonies or as a result of prolonged fasting; 

 but, more often, after pledging to purchase the father's ceremonial 

 rites when the young man had already distinguished himself in war- 

 fare and had consequently married. 



When a person signified his intentions of leading a war party, he 

 undertook to make up his expedition by invitation. As he went from 

 household to household, inviting various young men to accompany 

 him, approval or disapproval was given by the older men. If the 

 older people thought he was not ready to go out, they would dis- 

 courage their young men; if they thought the visions were genuine, 

 they would encourage their young men by providing sacred objects 

 to be worn during the trip, A young man leading his first military 

 expedition invariably endeavored to give the organization dignity by 

 inviting as coleaders individuals who had formerly distinguished 

 themselves in warfare so that the personnel of the party would be 

 composed of experienced persons as well as beginners. Theoretically, 

 the party was invited to meet at a place outside the village at a certain 

 time. In practice, however, it was not uncommon for others to go 

 along without invitation. Those who had already distinguished them- 

 selves were welcome additions to the party while beginners were 

 tolerated. Informants could not remember any instances when un- 

 welcome individuals were refused permission to go along. 



When the party had assembled at the predetermined meeting place, 

 usually a day's journey from the village, the leader selected the various 

 officers: the coleaders or Old Wolves were selected on the basis of 

 their ceremonial membership and previous military record; the Young 

 Wolves comprised the remainder of the party which was, in turn, 

 subdivided into scouts, warriors, and camp tenders, depending on 

 the size of the party. If the party was small and carefully selected, 

 the group consisted only of Old Wolves led by the military leader and 

 the scouts under a leader selected by the leader of the Old Wolves. 

 The position of leader of the scouts was given to one of wide military 

 experience, frequently one who had come up through the ranks and 

 had been a war party leader in charge of the rites on other occasions. 

 He organized and directed the other scouts working with him and 

 determined whether an attack should be made in the event the enemy 

 was found. Frequently the scouts were the only ones to meet the 

 enemy since, once having fulfilled the objectives of the expedition 

 without loss of men, the expedition was terminated and the party 

 returned to the village. The Hidatsa endeavored to find the horses 

 promised or the enemy as seen in the dream and, once these objectives 

 had been attained, the leader's mission was completed. He had 

 succeeded in establishing the potency of his sacred bundle. 



