272 OMAHA SOCIOLOGY. 



the Rocky Mountains, Vol. I, pp. 322, 323, if true, relates to some other 

 tribe. 



The average amount of meat at a meal for au adult was two pounds, 

 but some ate three pounds. The maximum quantity was about four 

 pounds. 



§ 108. During the sun-dance, the Ponkas pretended to go without food 

 or drink for three days and nights; but near the sun-pole could be found 

 a bulbous root, which was used by the daucers for satisfying hunger 

 and thirst. This secret was told the writer by a man, an influential 

 chief, who had taken part in the dance in former years. This dance is 

 of Dakota origin, and is not practiced among the Omahas. 



§ 109. At the present day, the Omahas use wheat, flour, sugar, coffee, 

 tea, bacon, and other kinds of provisions introduced by the white people. 

 They have been familiar with wheat for the past forty years. Many 

 subsist chiefly on corn, as they cannot afford to buy great quantities of 

 the provisions which have been mentioned. But while they are fond of 

 wheat bread, they cannot be induced to eat corn bread in any shape, and 

 they never have their corn ground into meal. All try to have sugar and 

 coffee three times a day, even if they are compelled to go without meat. 

 Within the past twenty years they have found a substitute for tea. It 

 is made of the leaves or roots of one of the two species of ";abe-hi." 

 One kind is called "na n/ pa-^an'ga ^ab^-hi," or "large cherry :>abe%hi"; 

 but the species of which the tea is made is the jab6-hi, which spreads out, 

 resembling twigs. It grows on hills, and its large roots hinder the break- 

 ing of the prairie. The leaves, which are preferred for making the tea, 

 resemble those of red cherry-trees, though they are smaller. When leaves 

 cannot be obtained, they boii chips of the roots, which makes the water 

 very red. The taste resembles that of the Chinese tea. (See § 177.) 



§ 110. Cannibalism. — Cannibalism is not practiced among the Omahas 

 and Ponkas, and it has been of rare occurrence among the Iowas. Mr. 

 Hamilton says : " I have heard of an old Iowa chief who roasted and ate 

 the ribs of an Osage killed in war; also of some one who bit the heart 

 of a Pawnee, but this was evidently done for the purpose of wiuning a 

 reputation for bravery." 



§ 111. Feasts.— See §§ 81, 83, 10G, 119, 124, 130, 143,151, 187-8, 195-6, 

 217, 219, 240, 249-50, 274, and 2S9. 



During the buffalo hunt and just before starting ou it the only gens 

 that invited guests to feasts was the Hanga. And whenever any im- 

 portant matters, such as the ceremonies connected with planting corn, 

 required deliberation, it was the duty of the Hanga chief to prepare a 

 feast and invite the chiefs and other guests. (See §§ 18, 130.) On or- 

 dinary occasions, any one can have a feast. (See § 246.) Then the 

 principal guest sits at the back of the lodge, opposite the door, ou the 

 right of which are the seats of the wagifa, the host's seat being on the 

 left of the entrance. As the guests enter they pass to the left and 

 around the circle, those coming first taking seats next the wag^a, and 



