364 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 194 



sanctions for chipping flint and it is said that in former times those 

 who wished to make flint objects received their "authority" from 

 those having rights in the Big Bird ceremony. Doctoring authority 

 by cutting with a flint knife also came from these rites. The use of 

 black medicine root in curing came from Two Men and the sword 

 carried ceremonially in war was believed to have originated with the 

 female eagle. 



The bundles were of major status and differed only in rank accord- 

 ing to the presence or absence of Singer rights. In 1845, when Fish- 

 hook VUlage was built, Bobtail Wolf, owner of a Big Bird bundle, 

 took the western direction or that "from which the rains came." 

 During dry periods, it was customary for groups, individuals, or the 

 Goose society to pay a Big Bird bundle owner to perform Rain rites. 

 He would then take up his position on an earth lodge, there to sing 

 the sacred songs and perform such additional rites as appertained 

 to the bundle. 



A complete bundle contained these objects: "Sleep feather" of the 

 eagle; white feather from near the tail feathers of the eagle; feather 

 from the eagle's head; feather from left side of the eagle's claw; 12 bird 

 sticks painted red ; bullsnake skin representing the Grandfather in the 

 Missouri River; a turtle shell; an otter skin; a ferret skin; sage; a 

 wooden sword with an image of hghtning on each side; a flint knife; 

 rattles; and a wooden pipe. 



Wolf Chief, who served as instructor (ceremonial father) when 

 Hard Horn bought rights in ttie Big Bird ceremony, supplied the fol- 

 lowing account of a bundle purchase: 



I remembered that Wolf Eyes of the Prairie Chicken clan had put on the Big 

 Bird ceremony long before. His son, Hard Horn, was now going to put on the 

 ceremony because he had dreams of the Big Birds. He asked me to be his "father" 

 in preparing the articles for I was of the Prairie Chicken clan. After making the 

 vow he started to save goods for the ceremony and planned to go up to Fort 

 Buford to hunt for there were still many buffaloes and other large animals up there. 



I did not know the rules of this ceremony so I called on Smells who also owned 

 this ceremony. Because I did not know the rules I was afraid. So I was careful 

 to learn them correctly as Smells related them to me. He was a leader in the 

 ceremony for he had the big rattles and knew all of the songs, but he told me that 

 it was hard to remember all the parts even for one knowing and performing the 

 ceremony often. He volunteered to help me since, at that time, I had several 

 gods and had bought the buffalo skull and the right to paint it in two ceremonies. 

 He thought that I had made sufficient progress to show that I could learn things 

 correctly. 



He said, "When your son. Hard Horn, stands in front of you, you can promise 

 him that he will be successful in all that he does." 



When Hard Horn came to my lodge to ask me to be his "father" he brought a 

 pipe and left it in front of me while his relatives brought in goods. SmeUs told 

 me that I should give the pipe back to him when I talked to him during the feast. 



