368 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 194 



hard to find. We had one that was nearly worn out and I am glad that we found 

 this new one. I am glad that you are a leader and that after you made your 

 pledge, you went up to Fort Buford where your brothers struck the enemy. 

 Now they call you a chief; you are successful and have a good name. I am 

 supposed to have these 60 robes but in the beginning I asked Smells to come over 

 and help me. I am giving him 10 of them." I thought I would keep 40 of them, 

 and I did.»8 



SmeUs began to sing the holy songs while Hard Horn and his brothers passed 

 the meat around on sticks for the old men. Each man would pray for them before 

 handing the stick back. Then Smells sent the holy men to the buffalo skull, 

 saying, "There are many articles in front of the skull; go there and pray for Hard 

 Horn." Each prayed and then took the article that Hard Horn gave him. 



Smells announced that he was going into the sweat lodge and invited those who 

 wished to do so also. He wore a robe that was painted red and a cap down over 

 his eyes like Packs Antelope wore his, for he also belonged to the Low Cap clan. 



He sang this song four times, "He almost reached the sky." 



As he approached the sweat lodge, singing this song. Hard Horn and his 

 relatives put down a robe, then another at the entrance where he stood. He sang 

 the same song again while facing the west. While he was singing the fourth time, 

 he turned toward the entrance to the sweat lodge but he did not take his rattles 

 with him. He had something in his hand; it was covered with sage. In those 

 days they carried a flint knife which was the sign of an eagle claw. That was 

 what he had concealed in the sage. There were many corn balls in front of the 

 sweat lodge, for the family had worked hard. He sang the same song and said, 

 "hoo hoo" and stuck the flint knife into the corn balls four times. 



The sweat lodge was covered and he went in saying, "You old men have some of 

 your number come in here." 



The older men went in around the side with their clothing on. Smells said, 

 "Bring that skull, otter, snake, and all the other holy things and put them on top 

 of the sweat lodge." 



Then he asked me to bring sage and I did. He put it in my mouth and pulled 

 it out again, directing me to spit onto the stones. We repeated that four times. 

 Then he directed me to call Hard Horn and his brothers with their wives and the 

 three sisters. I called them to come into the sweat lodge. He dipped the sage 

 into the water and sprinkled the sacred objects and all of the buyers. He said to 

 them, "Now you will feel as though you have new life. You will have good homes. 

 This is a rule that was estabhshed a long time ago and it holds now." 



At this time they were sitting before the sweat lodge while some of the old men 

 were inside. He sprinkled all those attending the ceremony if they requested it. 



Then Smells said to me, "Take those sacred objects back and call your son. 

 Hard Horn; tell him to keep these things. He must always keep them in good 

 order." 



I took the skull back to its place. Then I put the otter, the pipe given me by 

 Smells, the ferret, the eagle feathers, and the other things in their places, saying to 

 them, "I am poor myself and have no powers except what my gods have given me. 

 I hope that when I give you to Hard Horn you will take good care of him and obey 

 what I am now asking of you." 



Then I called Hard Horn over and handed them to him. After I had finished 

 the transfer, Smells called from the sweat lodge, "Come over, all you men and sit 



•« This was a selfish act that brought down severe criticism from Wolf Chiefs elders, including his own 

 parents. He afterward employed these articles to buy back good will by inviting in various old men and 

 providing them with robes and food. It would have been more appropriate to have disposed of them 

 publicly at the ceremony. 



