uobsey.I TRIBAL CIRCLE — DIRECTORS SCOUTS. 287 



the act was called " uji ; " but when they stopped at a place for two or 

 more days, the act was known as "epaze." This latter happened when 

 the horses were tired or the weather was had. " U^i di'iba sata" da"'- 

 ctea"' jp, gpazai" — When they had camped but one night at each place for 

 four or five nights, they stopped to rest for hvo or more dags. 



§ 136. Appointment of the scouts. — It was generally two or three weeks 

 after the departure from the village that they reached the country 

 where the buffalo abounded. Meanwhile, the people were frequently 

 in need of food, so it was customary for some of the men to leave the 

 camp each morning to seek game of any kind for the sustenance of the 

 tribe till the buffalo herds were surrounded. This service, too, was 

 sometimes called "abae,"and, also, "wada ll 'be <j-e," to go to see or scout; 

 and the men were " abae-ma" or " wada ri/ be-ma." Before their depart- 

 ure they were summoned to the Wacabe tent by Tcahic, the aged Ihke- 

 sabe crier, who stood by that tent, .and called for each man in a loud 

 voice. The man himself was not named, but the name called was that 

 of his small son. Thus, when Two Crows was summoned, Tcahic said, 

 "Gai u -baji hau+ !" as the latter was then the young son of Two Crows, 

 and the father knew that he was summoned. When the fathers had 

 assembled at the Wacabe tent, each one was thus addressed by the 

 principal director: " You shall go as a scout. No matter what thing 

 you see, you shall report it just as it is. If you do not tell the truth 

 may you be struck by lightning ! May snakes bite you ! May men 

 slay you! May your feet hurt you! May your horse throw you!" 

 When the sons are large enough they go themselves as scouts when 

 called by name. 



These scouts or hunters were expected to bring to the camp what 

 game they killed, and to reconnoiter the surrounding country for buffalo 

 and enemies. They used to traverse a vast extent of country, and to 

 shoot at all animals except the buffalo. Whenever those who went the 

 farthest came in sight of the buffalo, or discovered signs of their prox- 

 imity, they dared not shoot at the animals, but they were bound to 

 return at once to the tribe to report the fact. When they got in sight 

 of the cainp, or of the tribe in motion, they made signs with their blank- 

 ets or robes. (See First Annual Keport of the Bureau of Ethnology. 

 Sign Language, p. 532.) 



§ 137. Return of the scouts when the tents are pitched. — If the tents were 

 pitched when the scouts came in sight, the latter went at once to the 

 Wacabe tent, where the ^e-sa n -ha is kept. As soon as each director 

 heard or learnt of the coming of the scouts, he proceeded to the Wacabe 

 tent. When all four had arrived the scouts made a report. They never 

 told any news on such occasion till they reached the sacred tent ; and 

 when they reported, they did not say, " We saw buffalo." They had to 

 say, if they discovered a herd, " Tjciaju<J;6-dega", je-i eb<fega u " — I may 

 have deceived myself, but I think that they were bufialoes. The words 



