318 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 194 



When the pledger was properly painted and decorated, he approached 

 the central post. This was the signal for all fasters to stand and 

 blow their whistles. This provided the fasters with an opportunity 

 to observe the pledger dressed and painted as Spring Boy had been 

 prepared according to tradition when he was taken into the shelter 

 to suffer during the first performance of the ceremony in the sky. 

 The ceremony was directed by the Long Arm impersonator just as 

 the original ceremony in the sky was supervised by Long Arm. The 

 pledger danced back and forth between the two mounds and the 

 central post where the buffalo head and hide hung. The hide and head 

 also represented Spring Boy. In the mythology, Buffalo volunteered 

 to take the place of Spring Boy who was tied to the forks of the post 

 during the original ceremony at which time Lodge Boy came to free 

 him.*^ 



The parents of those fasting during the ceremony were expected to 

 feed the singers. Whenever relatives observed that one of their 

 young men was tired from dancing, it was customary to bring food 

 for the singers who would then halt the rites to eat. Fasters were 

 required to get up and dance each time the singing commenced, but 

 the pledger was expected to dance more energetically than the others. 

 It was customary for a clan brother fasting during the ceremony to 

 assist the pledger, whenever the latter appeared exhausted, by as- 

 suming his place. Then the Long Arm impersonator painted and 

 dressed the assisting clan brother in the pledger's outfit for several 

 dances. Dancing and singing ended shortly before sunset. 



Second day. — The preliminaries to the dancing were essentially the 

 same as for the preceding day. Usually most of the young boys who 

 had not terminated their fasts the preceding evening were no longer 

 able to endure hunger and left during the forenoon of the second day, 

 leaving only those who seriously sought visions. The Long Arm 

 impersonator painted and dressed the pledger as on the previous day. 

 Then the singers arrived and the dancing began. One wishing to 

 endure the torture feature would go to his parents and announce his 

 desire. They would say, "That is the way to be successful and prom- 

 inent. If you do that you will have a good reputation and the people 

 will listen when you have something to say. Perhaps you will be 

 lucky and get the many fine horses and other things that you want. 

 In warfare you will be lucky and strike the enemy." 



In other cases an older brother discussed the matter of "running 

 around the post" prior to the ceremony and urged him to take these 

 steps to become lucky. In a few instances older brothers had been 

 known to be exceedingly abusive with one showing little inclination 



<* Tlie word for buffalo is miiE an abbreviation of mrtEc meaning 'I die.' It was believed that the buf- 

 falo was called mifE, because he volunteered his body for use in the ceremony. 



