Bowers] HIDATSA SOCIAL AND CEREMONIAL ORGANIZATION 403 



to the north and they shot me in the back but it did not go through. Another 

 time near Knife River the enemy attacked and went ahead. Before I got to them 

 they shot me in the flesh of the arm. That was why I held up my arm. But 

 these, my friends, must stand a long ways back from the enemy for they never 

 get hit. But I go up close and that is why I was wounded four times. Another 

 time nine enemies made a fort and I got wounded for I was up close to the fort 

 but this man here must have been far back for he never got any wounds. I had 

 used all my bullets so I had only my ax. I jumped into the fort and they shot 

 into my hand between my fingers. Still my friends here did not get any wounds. 

 I am old and my horse is old too but you can get something out of him. The horse 

 is my donation." 



All the people laughed but some of them felt a little hurt, for he criticized 

 them in pubhc where they had to sit and listen. 



In all there were four horses donated to us in addition to dry goods, blankets, 

 guns, and eagle feathers. We called our wives to help us take the things back 

 to our father's lodge and put them away there for the future. 



Two days later we heard that another society, the Big Grass society, was 

 going to have a feast and dance to help us. We saved the best foods, as much 

 as we could, for our use in the ceremony when the time came so this time we 

 mixed the dried meat, cut into pieces, and corn which together made enough to 

 feed all. 



When we heard the drums beating, I told my wife and my brother's wife to 

 take the food over. They left it on the floor. Then I said, "I need help of this 

 society; I would like some things to help me as I am trying to own a god." 



This time Wolf Eyes who was leader of the society said, "It is for your benefit. 

 What Wolf Chief is doing is for all the people." 



Then Lucky stood up and said, "It is a good thing for all of us and we should 

 all help him; it is a great thing that he is looking to our future and the increase 

 of our numbers. It may be hard for some to give anything but give a little 

 dry meat or goods, even a pair or two of moccasins. All this will help him out." 



At that time I did not dance with them but sat between two older men who 

 were my clan brothers and belonged to the society. Representatives of the 

 society came together to talk the matter over and then they went back to their 

 seats. 



Spotted Horn stood up and said, "There is no way for us to get buffalo hides 

 for we are poor. We should trj^ to do the best we can for he is looking to our 

 benefit. My son. White Bird, will give Wolf Chief a war bonnet." Spotted 

 Horn was the announcer for the group. 



They started a barrel on each end of the line. The drums were beaten. The 

 older people were dressed in headdresses and feathers to show their war records. 

 Others wore scalps on their leggings or other signs of success in warfare. Big 

 Coat's wife '^ had her husband give a stick to indicate that she was donating a 

 horse. In all there were only three valuable things, a war bonnet and two horses. 

 Others gave moccasins, shirts, and many knives. 



These were not the only times we got donations as my age-grade group helped 

 me and individuals came in with things. 



We kept all the goods at my father's lodge and my wives could not give any of 

 them away for the things were given to use in the ceremony. My father told 

 Two Teeth that he could help us, his brothers, in getting goods and participate 

 in the ceremony to get some of the rights. 



33 A member of the Maxoxati clan, the same clan as Small Ankles' first wife and Wolf Chief's half brothers 

 and sisters. 



