Bowers] HID ATS A SOCIAL AND CEREMONIAL ORGANIZATION 405 



When evening came, we took the meat in. There were already many people 

 there who owned the different bundles such as Wolf and Buffalo Skulls. Even 

 some old women had the right for they had put up feasts to the bundles although 

 they had not put on the big feasts or ceremonies to buy the whole rights. By 

 that time Lying Chicken, our ceremonial father, came in with a buffalo skull and 

 put it at the head of the lodge. 



My father, Small Ankles, said to us, "Hairy Coat was supposed to sing the 

 holy songs but he forgot one place where he was to instruct you young men for he 

 is young.35 When they take the skull in, you are supposed to put the pipe and 

 an article in front of the skull. Hairy Coat is supposed to call an old man to take 

 the pipe and article, and pray for you but he forgot to tell you that for he is young 

 and has not gone through the ceremonies many times." 



When we came in, the buffalo skull was in its place. Hairy Coat said, "You 

 are to bring me some articles and I will begin the holy songs. Bring me a little 

 fire." 



My brother took some. Hairy Coat smoked the skull and rattles with sweet- 

 grass. He began to sing a holy song of Woman Above. While he was singing 

 we distributed food to the older men. He sang a song that I do not remember, 

 something about 'calling the enemy.' When he finished he said, "Whoever has 

 the rites of the Sunrise Wolf should take the pipe before the BufiFalo Skull. 



Kidney (Bull Buffalo is his other name) went over and sat by the skull. He 

 called me and my two brothers to come to him and he said, "Buffalo Skull, these 

 are your sons; they want long lives. You can see what they have done for you, 

 bringing all these fine articles. They wish to be successful and have plenty of 

 food for all the people." We brought articles and placed them before the skull 

 for Kidney. 



Hairy Coat called for some more articles and another small fire to burn sweet- 

 grass, and then he sang. Again the pipe was placed in front of the skull and we 

 carried articles there. Another man prayed and asked the buffalo skull to send 

 their "sons" good luck. 



We passed the food around then, feeding all those who had the right to attend. 

 Even the old women with Wolf Woman bundles and rights, by virtue of feasts 

 they had given, were fed. 



When the people had eaten. Hairy Coat called for more coals and the filled 

 pipe to be placed before Buffalo Skull with some articles. He asked if there was 

 any food left and we told him that it was all gone. He said that it would be all 

 right for it was nearly daybreak by that time. He told the old men to get up 

 and pretend to be holy men, impersonating their gods, and to go back to their 

 lodges. 



So ended the practice performance. 



During the day we prepared for the final performance. We took all the articles 

 and the sticks to represent the horses to the Mandan Okipa lodge and hung them 

 up. Our "fathers" were in one of the lodges and they came out with their sacred 

 bundles. We had had the lodge swept out and cleaned out nicely by the Holy 

 Women owners, and a new sweat lodge was built inside ready for use. 



Small Ankles had instructed us how we were to do, saying, "Before they peek 

 in the door, have the articles and horses they are to get ready for them. These 

 men will leave their lodge and sing the holy songs at four different stations on 

 the way to the lodge. When they sing the fourth time they will come in and 

 distribute the articles among themselves. Before they come in, you are ex- 



's Note how one bundle owner checks up on another to see that performances are conducted strictly 

 according to custom. 



'710-195— «5—— 27 



