422 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 194 



out from the village in smaU parties, singing the song was interpreted 

 as an invitation for all to attend a feast.*^ 



The Invitation song was sung through four times as the warriors 

 approached the ceremonial lodge, the fourth stop being at the entrance 

 to the lodge. They stood in a line before the lodge. The man in front 

 carried the wolf hide and the man on the end was expected to relate one 

 of his military achievements. The director of the ceremony, the bun- 

 dle maker, and the bundle buyer aU had to be at their places in the 

 lodge as the warriors approached. 



The bundle maker supplied the arrows used in the ceremony. As 

 the warriors approached the lodge singing ajid dancing, the buyer 

 sent First Creator impersonator out four times with an arrow to give 

 to one of them. The instant the warrior accepted the arrow, the 

 director of the ceremony shouted, "Stop," without waiting for the 

 singing and dancing to end. Bears Arm explained that interrupting 

 the singing for the man receiving an arrow (which he would take the 

 next time he went out searching for enemies) was to indicate to the 

 young men that when on the warpath, if lucky along the way, they 

 could turn back and not finish their trip. 



Four Dancers provided a detailed account of the sending out of the 

 arrows at each of the four stops. When Appearing Coyote, Good 

 Bird's father, gave the ceremony at Fort Buford, the rites were held 

 in Bobtail Bull's lodge. At the first stop No Milk received an arrow 

 and said, "We went on the warpath towards the south. I was a 

 scout then and found one tipi." 



Porcupine Pemmican stepped forward at the second stop, took the 

 arrow, and said, "We went out looking for our enemies and I saw a 

 lone man on a black horse." 



At the third stop. Bears Heart took the arrow and said, "We were 

 out looking for our enemies and I found the man who was given to 

 Bluestone the time he fasted under the eagle's nest." 



<5 Bear-on-the-Flat explained that this was the song the wolves used after malting a kill to call the other 

 wolves, coyotes, foxes, and magpies to the feast. One time he was out eagle trapping with Iron Eyes, the 

 only Mandan known to have performed the Simset Wolf ceremony and then, he was permitted to do so only 

 after dreaming of the wolves many times. One day when the trappers were in their pits, they heard Iron 

 Eyes singing the "Invitation song." 



Bear-on-the-Flat said to the younger men, " That is an Invitation for us to go into camp." As each ap- 

 proached the lodge where the feast was to be given, he recited one of his war records. Bear-on-the-Flat 

 said, "We were out to war and foimd one tipi. While we were running towards it, I struck one of the 

 enemies." Then Bear-on-the-Flat went into Iron Eyes' lodge. 



Bears Arm said, " Wolf Eyes was the leader and we went to the north against the Chippewas. When we 

 came to the enemy, there was a battle and some of our men were wounded. I was a camp tender for I was 

 only a boy. As we came towards home, I helped the wounded men by carrying water and cooking meat for 

 them. I did all this until we reached home." Then Bears Arm went into Iron Eyes' eagle trapping lodge. 



Iron Eyes picked up a small piece of roasted rib and dipped it into coffee; then he held it in the air and 

 prayed to the Wolves saying, " Sunset Wolf, when you find something good, you call all the wolves, coyotes, 

 foxes, and magpies to congregate and eat. I offer this to all of you. Eat this first. You will have the pipe to 

 smoke also. You eat first and we will take the scraps." Then he took pieces of meat outside and placed 

 them on the west side of the lodge for the animals. 



