Bowers] HIDATSA SOCIAL AND CEREMONIAL ORGANIZATION 251 



which Bobtail Bull had previously received from the old men, proved 

 timely. We j&nd him referring to the Creation Myth in which most 

 of the tribe was once destroyed by fire because Hungry Wolf and 

 High Bird, brothers having the same mother and father, once 

 quarreled.^^ 



The establishment of an Army post at Fort Buford provided a 

 ready outlet and easy solution to the problem. Since 1837, the com- 

 bined numbers of the three villages had barely been able to defend 

 themselves from the Sioux. Now it was possible for a faction to 

 break away much as must have been the case in earher times, if I 

 correctly interpret the archeological evidence of the numerous small 

 village settlements in their traditional territory, and without the 

 danger of destruction by overwhelming attacks from their nomadic 

 neighbors. Bobtail Bull agrees to be their leader provided there is 

 no bloodshed, for he was unwilling to assume the responsibihty for 

 the group if brothers fought. So he walked through the village 

 throughout the night in his peace role, just as Poor Wolf as owner 

 of the other bundle did, to see that no quarrels occurred. It is signifi- 

 cant to note that when a crisis arose, these two bundle owners 

 stood as the top authority and the customary police authority was 

 missing. 



The division was a peaceful one ; most families had made a decision 

 long before the final crisis occurred. Those who were remaining 

 behind assisted their relatives who were leaving, even providing 

 them with extra horses for the trip. Arrangements were made for 

 the use of abandoned lodges by relatives and clan members. There 

 was never a thought of continuing the conflict once the issue was 

 decided and the separation was completed. The two populations 

 visited back and forth even though they lived 150 miles apart; each 

 group assisted the other in the performance of ceremonies and rejoiced 

 when the other had won military honors; individuals moved from 

 one group to the other to live without discrimination. Fewer tribal 

 bundle rites were owned by those moving away, and the ceremonial 

 life suffered by comparison with the Fishhook Village group. In 

 time, the Fort Buford group came to look to Crow-Flies-High as 

 the leader and less was heard of Bobtail Bull, chiefly because of the 

 shift in emphasis from the formal ceremonies to individual fasting. 

 With these comments we close the Four Dancers' narrative. 



It was customary for one to enumerate his miUtary honors and 

 the details of his various mihtary exploits on numerous social and 

 ceremonial occasions and to depict them by dress and painting. 

 For many individuals, and on most public occasions, one's status 



M See "The Legendary Period" (pp. 297-308) for details of this incident. 



