270 OMAHA SOCIOLOGY. 



Two Crows did not know about this custom, which may have been bor- 

 rowed by the Ponkas from the Dakotas. 



When persons attend feasts they extend their hands and return 

 thanks to the giver. So also when they receive presents. When favors 

 are asked, as when the chiefs and brave men interpose to prevent the slay- 

 ing of a murderer, each extends a hand with the palm towards the would- 

 be avengers, or he may extend both hands, calling the people by kin- 

 ship titles, with the hope of appeasiug them. If a man receives a 

 favor and does not manifest bis gratitude, they exclaim, " Waje-finge 

 aha" ! " — He does not appreciate the gift ! He has no manners ! They 

 apply the same expression to the master of a tent who does not show 

 any desire to be hospitable to a visitor. 



A person is never addressed by name, except when there are two or 

 more present who are of the same kinship degree. Then they must be 

 distinguished by their names. They seldom call a person by name when 

 speaking about him. This rule is not observed when guests are invited 

 to feasts. The criers call them by name. W T hen men return from war 

 the old men, who act as criers, halloo and recount the deeds of each war- 

 rior, whom they mention by name. After a battle between the Ponkas 

 and Dakotas, in 1873, as the former were returning to the village after 

 the repulse of the latter, Na n be-$i:siu, of the Wajaje gens, stopped at 

 the house of Ma n tcu-^anga, who had distinguished himself in the fight. 

 Na u be-(j;i}iu gave a yell, and after leaping a short distance from the 

 ground, he struck the door of the house with the blunt end of the spear, 

 exclaiming " Ma n tcu-janga, you are a Wajaje! " In making presents, 

 as after returning from war, the donor can mention the name of the 

 donee. 



People never mention the names of their parents or elders, ol their 

 i}iga n , ijia n , etc. A woman cannot mention her ijinu's name ; but if her 

 isauga (younger brother) be small, she can call his name. 



Mothers teach their children not pass in front of people, if they can 

 avoid it. Young girls cannot speak to any man except he be a brother, 

 father, mother's brother, or a grandfather, who is a consanguinity. 

 Otherwise they would give rise to scandal. Girls can be more familiar 

 with their mother's brother than with their own brothers. Even boys 

 are more familiar with their mother's brother than with their own father, 

 and they often play tricks on the former. 



Politeness is shown by men to women. Men used to help women and 

 children to alight from horses. When they had to ford streams, the 

 men used to assist them, and sometimes they carried them across on 

 their backs. Even if a man is not the woman's husband, he may offer 

 to carry her over instead of letting her wade. One day, a young woman 

 who was on her way to Decatur, Nebr., with her brother, wished to stop 

 at a spring, as she was thirsty. The ground by the spring was muddy, 

 and the woman would have soiled her clothing had she knelt. But just 

 then Maxewaife rode up and jumped from his horse. He pulled up some 



