Bowers] HIDATSA SOCIAL AND CEREMONIAL ORGANIZATION 407 



what a difficult thing it is. I ask the Wolf, my father, that my 'sons' here have 

 good homes and become leaders among their people. May they have many 

 children to increase our population." 



Hairy Coat said to our ceremonial father, Lying Chicken, "You are the main 

 one who was going to give the bundles to your sons. There are many things 

 under the bundles, but you did not furnish all the articles. Small Ankles gave 

 the wolf hide and I furnished the scalp. You have to pay us for those things for 

 you have many articles. You do not have to worry about your pay." 



Lying Chicken came forward, picked up the bundles, and put them on the 

 buffalo skull. He put the articles in a heap saying, "l am glad our sons promised 

 to give the ceremony for, since they promised, there has been no bad luck. I 

 have listened to the old men praying to their gods and I can tell from this lack of 

 sickness and death among our people that it is because they promised to put on 

 this ceremony." He divided the goods into two piles and put two sticks on each 

 pile. 



He continued, "Hairy Coat is the singer and he took a greater part in singing 

 the songs. He can have one part of the articles and that stick which is the spotted 

 horse given by Old Dog, for it is a good horse. Small Ankles furnished a wolf hide. 

 I can see that it is very holy. We know he got good results from it and now his 

 sons want to own this wolf hide. Now I am glad that his sons are going to own 

 his gods so I give Small Ankles this pile of goods for there are many fine things in 

 the pile, as well as a good horse." 



Small Ankles took the horse and articles. Again Hairy Coat called that he 

 wanted his pay and we put 12 articles consisting of blankets and robes in a pile. 

 But he called for more so we brought more. By that time the stones for the 

 sweat lodge were heated. Hairy Coat said, "There are many articles left. After 

 we come out of the sweat bath, our sons will distribute them among the old people." 

 When the things were distributed, Hairy Coat said, "I think Lying Chicken has 

 his share. Before I deliver these bundles to our 'sons' they should bring up their 

 wives if they want to become 'granddaughters' to these bundles." 



He walked towards the sweat lodge while singing another holy song and shaking 

 the rattles used by the singer of the Woman Above songs. He said to the old 

 men, "Those of you who wish may come into the sweat lodge. Act like the god 

 that you represent." 



The song he was using was one which called for sweetgrass. He sang the song 

 and made the request four times. When he was inside the sweat lodge, my 

 brother took in the stones. Those whose bundles included buffalo skulls went to 

 the entrance but there was not room for all to go in. There were other young men, 

 mostly Prairie Chicken clansmen, in the lodge crying and begging for a good 

 living and success. When the old men came out of the sweatlodge. Hairy Coat 

 said, "I want the first chance. Then the rest of the goods will go to those who 

 own a branch of the Wolf and Woman Above ceremonies. Then the people with 

 Buffalo Skulls and other bundles can have the rest." 



Hairy Coat stood in front of Buffalo Bull Skull and said, "My granddaughters,^" 

 you must take your leggings and moccasins off. Leave one dress on. If you 

 want to, you can step forward and call this skull your grandfather. If you want 

 to keep your grandfather as your protector, do not be foolish; keep yourself clean 

 and do not run after other men; then I will sing a holy song. If you think you 

 will be tempted and can't do it, I will not sing that holy song for you here." 



At that time my wife was Big-Foot-Bull's daughter, Coyote Woman, who was 

 a Mandan. Hairy Coat called for some coals as he wanted to smoke the bundles 



" Note a change in kinship; heretofore they were daughters-in-law. 



