dorsey] TRIBAL CIRCLE SACRED TENTS. 221 



Ictasanda, were too far apart there was sometimes danger of attacks of 

 enemies. On one occasion the Dakotas made a dash into the very midst 

 of the circle and did much damage, because the space between these 

 two geutes was too great. Bnt at other times, when there is no fear of 

 au attack, and wheu the women wish to dress hides, etc., the crier said : 

 "Halloo ! Make ye them over a large tract of land." This is the only 

 occasion when the command is given how to pitch the tents. 



Wheu the tribe returned from the hunt the gentes encamped in re- 

 verse order, the Weji n cte and Ictasanda gentes having their tents at 

 the end of the circle nearest home. 



There appear indications that there were special areas, not only for 

 the gentes, but even for the subgentes, all members of any subgens 

 having their lodges set up in the same area. Thus, in the Inke-sabe" 

 geus, there are some that camped next the Weji n cte, and others next 

 the Hauga; some of theHanga camped next the Inke-sabe", and others 

 next the $atada, and so on. (See §73.) 



§ 12. Within the circle were placed the horses, as a precaution against 

 attacks from enemies. When a man had many horses and wished to 

 have them near him, he generally camped within the circle, apart from 

 his gens, but this custom was of modern origin, and was the exception 

 to the rule. 



THE SACRED TENTS. 



§ 13. The three sacred tents were pitched within the circle and near 

 their respective gentes : that < f the Weji n cte is the war tent, and it was 

 placpd not more than 50 yards from its gens; those of the Hauga gens 

 are connected with the regulation of the buffalo hunt, etc.; or, we may 

 say that the former had to do with the protection of life and the latter 

 with the sustenance of life, as they used to depend mainly on the hunt 

 for food, clothing, and means of shelter. 



THE SACRED PIPES 



§ 14. All the sacred pipes belong to the Hanga gens, though Haiiga, 

 in aucieut times, appointed the Iuke sab8 gens as the custodian of 

 them. (J. La Fleche and Two Crows.) The Inke sab8 gens, however, 

 claims through its chief, Gahige, to have been the first owner of the 

 pipes; but this is doubtful. There are at present but two sacred 

 pipes in existence among the Omahas, though there are seven gentes 

 which are said to possess sacred pipes. These seven are as follows: 

 Three of the Haugacenu, the IQke-sabg, (patada, and }ja n ze, and four 

 of the Ictasanda, the Ma n <fiiika-gaxe, j^e-sinde, j/ida, and Ictasanda. 



