268 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 194 



against the powerful Sioux, and the estabhshment of reservations. 

 Here and there in the narrative he refers to the older pattern and new 

 interpretations that were creeping in. No longer was fasting endured 

 or bundles purchased to lend supernatural assistance in overcoming 

 the enemy or capturing horses. The buffaloes were gone and concern 

 for the future was emphasized. So, we find his dreams later inter- 

 preted as assurances from the supernatural that he would have plenty 

 of food and a good home. 



In the narrative he begins with an enumeration of his vision and 

 military experiences by referring affectionately to his step-grandfather, 

 Big Cloud, who had been kind to him and had awed him with numerous 

 marks of bravery on chest and arms. Big Cloud, being too old to 

 hunt, sets the stage for Wolf Chief's fasting by providing the appro- 

 priate atmosphere : he tells of his people's misfortunes from smallpox; 

 how the people feared the supernatural and closed their tipis; and how 

 the big bird came during a shower. Wolf Chief reviews his experi- 

 ences with the supernatiu-al when Big Cloud made up a bundle 

 representing this bird, tied a clamshell to it, and gave it to him to 

 wear as assurance of a long life. 



The indifference to death shown by Big Cloud was characteristic 

 of a brave man, but his death, as related by Wolf Chief, was not taken 

 lightly by his relatives. We see that at the age of 15, Wolf Chief 

 had not, yet, taken fasting seriously. Small Anldes reminds Wolf 

 Chief of the promises Big Cloud had made to him. This is a rather 

 extreme measure for a father to take, but he had been teased by his 

 joking relatives, other informants told me, because Wolf Chief's 

 training had been neglected.'^ There was a saying that a chief's sons 

 were often spoiled. It was the clan's duty, and particularly that of 

 the older brothers, to attend to such matters and to see that the 

 fasting was conducted faithfully. So we find Wolf Chief, at the 

 request of his father, undertaking to fast near the grandfather's grave. 

 What he does not tell us is that during this time he met various girls 

 whom he took into the brush when his father presumed that he was 

 crying to the gods; that Wolf Chief's clansmen discovered him and 

 whipped him for deceiving his father; and that Small Ankles' joking 

 relatives teased him for staying in his lodge singing his sacred songs 

 to bring a good dream to his son presumed to be fasting. These are 

 the things that Wolf Chief's joking relatives told me at the time this 

 study was made. So we find that when Wolf Chief went out during 

 the succeeding spring to fast near his grandfather's grave. Small 

 Ankles was prompted to say to his son, "If you go out again, you 



3» Wolf Chief's earlier Indiflerence must have been the subject of widespread comment, for old people 

 mentioned the matter often when I made this study and would Inquire whether Wolf Chief had mentioned 

 it to me. 



