PONKA FORT OFFENSIVE WARFARE. 



315 



OFFENSIVE WARFARE. 



§ 187. The first proposition to go on the war-path cannot come 

 from the chiefs, wbo, by virtue of their office, are bound to use all 

 their influence in favor of peace, except, under cirjumstances of extra- 

 ordinary provocation. It is generally a young- man who decides to 

 undertake an expedition against the enemy. Having formed his plan 

 lie speaks thus to his friend : "My friend, as I wish to go on the war- 

 path, let us go. Let us boil the food for a feast." The friend having 

 consented, the two are the leaders or nuda n 'haSga, if they can in- 

 duce others to follow them. So they find two young men whom they 

 send as messengers to invite those whom they name. Each wagifa or 

 messenger takes one half of the gentile circle (if the tribe is thus en- 

 camped), and goes quietly to the tent of each one whom he has been re- 

 quested to invite, lie says at the entrance, without going in, "Kag^ha, 

 f ikui ha, ca ,1/ <fifikei ,l te."— My friend, you are invited (by such and such a 

 one), after he has been occupied awhile. If the man is there, his wife 

 replies to the messenger, '-(/'ikage na'a 1 " he," Your friend h°ars it. 

 Should the man be absent, the wife must reply, "(/'ikage cfiiigee he; 

 cuhi tateV'— Tour friend is not (here) ; he shall go to you. These invita- 

 tions are made at night, and as quietly as possible, lest others should 

 hear of the feast and wish to join the expedition ; this, of course, 

 refers to the organization of a nuda"jinga or small war-party, which 

 varies in number from two persons to about ten. 



§ 1SS. Small war party.— After the return of the messengers, the 

 guests assemble at the lodge or tent of their host. The places of the 



guests, messengers, and nuda n haiiga 



are shown in the diagram. 



The two weku or hosts sit oppo 

 site the entrance, while the messen- 

 gers have their seats next the door, 



so that they may pass in and out 



and attend to the fire, bringing in 



wood and water, and also wait on 



the guests. Each guest brings with 



him his bowl and spoon. 



When all have assembled the 



planner of the expedition addresses 



the company. " Ho ! my friends, 



my friend and I have invited you 



to a feast, because we wish to go on 



the war-path." Then theyoungmeu 



say : " Friend, in what direction 



shall we go " 5 The host replies, " We desire to go to the place whither 



they have taken our horses." 



Then each one who is willing to go, replies thus : " Yes, my frieud, I 



am willing." But he who is unwilling replies, "My frieud, I do not wish 



Fig. 31. — A, the mida n haiiga, or captains ; B, the 

 wag^a, or messengers ; C, the guests j D, the food 

 in kettles over the fire. 



