Bowers] HIDATSA SOCIAL AND CEREMONIAL ORGANIZATION 277 



about way, crossed the river unobserved by the enemy. The head 

 chief and council seemingly were in no way held responsible for losses 

 suffered in defensive warfare to the extent of extreme personal torture 

 such as the leader of an offensive war party inflicted on himself. 

 Such loss of prestige as did occur was individual in character; a father 

 would urge his son to go out with those pursuing the enemy and pray 

 for his son's success. If his son was killed or severely injured, the 

 prestige the father enjoyed, by virtue of the possession of presumed 

 important bundles, was lowered. 



Alien groups frequently were visiting at the Hidatsa villages when 

 an attack was made on the village by one of their own bands. On 

 such occasions, visiting groups invariably assisted in the defense of 

 the village, even against their own poeple. In recent years, the 

 Sioux conducted warfare against all of the other tribal groups who 

 normally came to the Hidatsa to trade and visit or to assist in ritual 

 practices. Keen rivalry often developed between the Hidasta and 

 their visitors for principal war honors in battles fought near Fishhook 

 VUlage. They fought together and afterward danced together when 

 war honors were won ; they even mourned for each other's dead, made 

 offerings to the mourners, and exchanged names. 



CANNIBALISM 



Although the Hidatsa claim never to have eaten the flesh of their 

 enemies, they did mutUate them, and they carried scalps, hands, 

 feet, and skulls during the Sun Dance. By contrast, informants 

 frequently mentioned the practice of cannibalism by the Chippewa 

 and Cree after assisting them in warfare near the village. Palliser 

 (1853, p. 286) wrote of cannibalism at Fishhook VUlage: 



The skirmish now terminated; the Sioux retired, and the Minitarees returned 

 to their village in triumph, dragging the body of their unfortunate victim along 

 with them. Then commenced a truly disgusting sight; the boys shot arrows into 

 the carcass of their fallen enemy while their women with knives cut out pieces of 

 the flesh, which they broiled and ate. 



The Hidatsa claim that this battle occurred during a visit of the 

 Chippewa. 



Several informants referred to cannibalistic practices by the Chip- 

 pewa and Cree although they had no knowledge of its practice by 

 other Plains groups. Concerning an incident that occurred at Fish- 

 hook Village a few years before Crows Heart's birth, and was related 

 to him by his relatives, he said: 



The Sioux attacked the village and the men went out to chase the Sioux away. 



Some Chippewas were at the village visiting and their men came out to help. 



Some of the Sioux were killed near the present Nishu School and the others jumped 



into the river. Our men took their clothes off, held their knives in their mouths; 



710-195—65 19 



