BonsEv.j SMALL VVAU PART*'. 317 



§ 189. This feasting is generally continued four days (or nights) ; but 

 if the occasion be an urgent ODe the men make hasty preparations, and 

 may depart in less than four days. Each nuda n haugA boils the food for 

 one night's feast; aud what he prepares must differ from what is boiled 

 by the other. Sometimes two leaders boil together ou the same day • 

 sometimes they take separate days, aud sometimes when they boil on 

 separate days they observe no fixed order, i. e., the first leader may 

 boil for two days in succession, then the second for one or two, or the 

 second leader may begin and the first follow on the next day, and so on. 

 When the supply of food failst he host may tell some of the wagaq£a D 

 or servants (who may be the messengers) to go after game. 



§ 190. Preparation for starting.— Each warrior makes up a bundle com- 

 posed of about fifteen pairs of moccasins, with sinew, an awl, and a sack 

 of provisions, consisting of corn which has been parched. The latter is 

 sometimes pounded and mixed with fat and salt. This is prepared by 

 the women several days in advance of the time for departure. If the war- 

 riors leave in haste, not having time to wait for the sewing of the mocca- 

 sins, the latter are merely cut out by the women. < ja£i n -ua n paji said that 

 nearly all of the party had some object which was sacred, which they 

 carried either in the belt or over one shoulder and under the opposite 

 arm. La Fleche and Two Crows deny this, but they tell of such uiedi 

 cine in connection with the <ja<fi n -wasabe society. (See Chapter X.) 



§ 191. Secret departure.— The departure takes place at night, Each 

 man tries to slip oft' in the darkness by himself, without being sus- 

 pected by any one. The leaders do not wish many to follow lest they 

 should prove disobedient and cause the enemy to detect their prox- 

 imity. 



Another reason for keeping the proposed expedition a secret from all 

 but the guests is the fear least the chiefs should hear of it, The chiefs 

 frequently oppose such undertakings, and try to keep the young men 

 from the war-path. If they learn of the war feast they send a man to 

 find out whither the party intends going. Then the leaders are invited 

 to meet the chiefs. On their arrival they find presents have been put 

 in the middle of the lodge to induce them to abandon their expedition. 

 (See Two Crows' war story, in Contributions to North American Eth- 

 nology, Vol. VI, Part I.) 



The next day the people in the village say, "Ha n 'adi nuda a/ aifa'-bi- 

 keania," — It is said that last night they went off in a line on the war-path. 



The warriors and the leaders blacken their faces with charcoal and 

 rub mud over them. They wear buffalo robes with the hair out, if they 

 can get them, and over them they rub white clay. The messengers or 

 wag^a abo wearplumes in their hair aud gird themselves with macaka n , 

 or women's pack-straps. All must fast for four days. When they have 

 been absent for that period they stop fasting aud wash their faces. 



§ 192. Uninvited followers. — When a man notices others with weapons, 

 aud detects other signs of warlike preparation, should he wish to join 



