418 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 194 



After 8 days, Black Owl heard a group of people singing and as they sang, they 

 came nearer. He could hear them at the back or head of the lodge near where 

 the ceremonial things were kept. He knew the songs to be those of the Sunset 

 Wolf ceremony and he wondered how that could be as he had not heard that any- 

 one was to give the ceremony at that time. It was the rule to make it known a 

 year in advance and he could not remember hearing of anyone making the 

 promise. He called Eagle to his bedside and inquired who was putting on the 

 ceremony. When she said that there was no ceremony going on, he insisted that 

 there must be since he could hear them singing at the back of the lodge. 



She continued, "You must be out of your mind for there is no ceremony outside 

 or we would all know about it." 



He insisted, "There must be a ceremony for I could hear them singing and 

 dancing outside. First they were on the other side of the village. After each 

 song, they came nearer until they were back of the lodge." 



Eagle said, "That was your father's god when he was living. It may be that 

 you saw it before but made no promise to perform the ceremony, so you have been 

 made sick." 



Black Owl said, "I saw that once before, but it takes 1 year to get all the things 

 together and I did not think I could complete all the preparations for the cere- 

 mony," 



She said, "Go ahead now and make your vow to give the ceremony. You 

 might get well by doing that." 



A few days later he went to Poor Wolf who belonged to the same clan as his 

 father and Poor Wolf instructed him further. So he stood on the roof of the 

 Mandan Okipa lodge and addressed the Sunset Wolf, "Sunset Wolf, I will get 

 you a robe. I want to get well and strong again. I want my people to be lucky 

 and increase in numbers. I want no hardships for them." 



When he made his vow, all the people heard what he promised and knew what 

 would happen in a year. This was in the fall of the year and boys v/ere playing 

 around the Okipa lodge. They looked up and one of them said, "There are no 

 buffaloes around close. How can you get a robe?" 



When WilUam Bell came home in the evening, Black Owl told him that he 

 was going to perform the Sunset Wolf ceremony. Bell thought it would be all 

 right and offered to help all he could. He was well a month after making the 

 vow and set out first on the warpath. He did not lose a man. Then he began 

 collecting buffalo robes and went out hunting often. 



Rites were performed only during the three warmest months and 

 after approximately 1 year of preliminary preparation. One of the 

 Wolf bundle owners' most distinguished members was appointed to 

 direct the ceremony and to see that it was performed according to 

 custom. This position was in later years occupied by Wolf Eyes 

 who served on several occasions, he being well liked for his generosity, 

 respected for his intimate knowledge of these rites, and renowned for 

 his military achievements. Custom decreed that he was to sit near 

 the first central post on the left side when entering the lodge. 



After making the vow, the bundle buyer selected a father's clansman 

 as bundle maker. It was his duty to prepare the new bundle and 

 other ceremonial paraphernalia for the occasion and to act as advisor 



