i iv J CHARITIES — OLD AGE. 275 



when their provisions gave out, they could gather the ears of corn, and 

 procure some of the dried pumpkins and ^a (dried meat) that had been 

 buried in caches by the people. They were not left for a long time, 

 generally for but a month or two. The Indians were afraid to aband. n 

 (waa"'ij"i) their aged people, lest Wakanda should punish them when they 

 were away from home. They always placed them (i<|;a'"wa<fe) near their 

 village, where they made their home during the winter. 



They do not grow gray early, though Mr. Hamilton saw some chil- 

 dren that were gray. But gray hairs are of such rare occurrence that 

 an Omaha woman who has them is called " Gray Hair." When any one 

 lias white hair it is regarded as a token that he or she has violated the 

 taboo of the gens, as when an Ictasanda or Wajaje man should touch a 

 snake or smell its odor. 



§ 115. Preparation for a journey. — When a man is about to start on 

 a journey he gets his wife to prepare moccasins and food for him. Then 

 he goes alone to a bluff, and prays to Wakanda to grant him a joyful and 

 stout heart as well as success. (See § 195.) 



