dorsev.I STATE CLASSES. 217 



ing of a herd of buffalo, they have extraordinary powers conferred on 

 them. (See §§ 140 and 297.) 



The cenujifiga, or young men, are the "common people," such as have 

 not distinguished themselves, either in war or in any other way. They 

 have no voice in the assembly, and during the buffalo hunt they must 

 obey the chiefs and wanace. 



In religious affairs, which are closely associated with civil ones, we 

 find the chiefs having a prominent part. Besides the chiefs proper are 

 the seven keepers of the sacred pipes, or pipes of peace (see §§ 14-19. 

 287, 296), and the keepers of the three sacred tents (see §§ 13, 22-24. 

 36, 295). The functions of these keepers of the sacred tents, especially 

 those of the two Hanga men, appear to be both religious and civil. Of 

 these two men, ( ja<j;i I1 -na u paji said : " The two old men, Waka u '-ma n ^i D 

 and j j e-ha n 'ma n f i n , are the real governors of the tribe, and are counted 

 as gods. They are reverenced by all, and men frequently give them 

 presents. They mark the tattooed women." Frank La Fleche denied 

 this, saying that these two old men are the servants of the Hanga chief, 

 being only the keepers of the sacred tents of his gens. J. La Fleche 

 and Two Grows said that while there were some "nikaci n/ ga qub6," 

 sacred or mysterious men, among The Ouiahas, they did not know who 

 they were. Some of the chiefs and people respect them, but others 

 despise them. It is probable that by nikaci"ga qube, they meant ex- 

 orcists or conjurers, rather than priests, as the former pretend to be 

 " qube," mysterious, and to have supernatural communications. 



There is no military class or gens among the Omahas, though the 

 Ponka <f)ixida gens, and part of the Nikadaona gens are said to be war- 

 riors. Among the Omahas, both the captains and warriors must be taken 

 from the class of cenujifiga, as the chiefs are afraid to undertake the work 

 of the captains. The chiefs, being the civil and religious leaders of the 

 people, cannot serve as captains or even as subordinate officers of a war 

 party. Nor can they join such a party unless it be a large one. Their 

 influence is exerted on the side of peace (see §§ 191, 292), and they try 

 to save the lives of murderers. (See § 310.) They conduct peace ne 

 gotiations between contending tribes. (See §§ 220, 292.) 



All the members of a war party, including the captains, lieutenants, 

 and wanace, as well the warriors, are promoted to the grade or class of 

 (civil) wanace on their return from battle. (See § 216.) 



SERVANTS. 



There are no slaves ; but there are several kinds of servants called 

 wagaq^a". In civil and religious affairs, the following are wagaq^a". 

 The two keepers of the Hafiga sacred tents are the servants of the 

 Hafiga chief. (See above, § 295, etc.) One of these old men is always 

 the servant of the other though they exchange places. (See § 151.) 

 The keepers of the sacred pipes are the servants of the chiefs. (See §5 

 17-19). The (patada Qnqa man is the servant of the keepers of the 



