dobsey.] SCOUTS — SONGS OKDER OF ENCAMPING. 323 



Omaha notation of the j^oiwere. The meaning of all the words cannot 

 be given by the collector. 



Ma n '-^i n $e he' ga+we+ he-h6 ! (Ma"-^", for ma-uyi, towalk.) 

 Ma n '-^i n ^e h6 ga+we+he-he! 



Tce'-do na-h£! (Tce-^o naha, buffalo bull, he who is, or, The buffalo bull.) 

 Ma n '-^i n $e b6 ga+we+ he-h6 ! 



After singing this the captain addressed the men thus : " Ho, war- 

 riors ! I have truly said that I shall have my heart's desire ! Truly, 

 warriors, they shall not detect me at all. lam now proceeding without 

 any desire to save life. If I meet one of the foe I will not spare him." 



§ 203. The Mijjasi watci or Coyote Dance. — This was danced by the 

 warriors before they retired for the night, to keep up their spirits. It 

 was not danced every night, but only when thought necessary. The 

 captains took no part in it. Some sang the dancing songs. All whitened 

 themselves (sa n ki£a^a). Each one carried a gourd rattle and a bow ; he 

 wore his quiver in his belt, and had his robe around him. They imitated 

 the actions of the coyote, trotting, glancing around, etc. 



§ 204. Order of encamping. — As soon as they stop to camp for the night 

 four night scouts are sent out, one in advance, towards the country of 

 the foe, one to the rear, and one on each side of the camp, each 

 scout going for about a mile. Before they depart the captains say, " Ho, 

 warriors ! When you feel sleepy come back," referring to midnight. 

 Then the scouts leave, and as soon as they reach their respective sta- 

 tions they lie down and watch for any signs of the enemy. 



At the command of the nuda n hanga-q^exe the camp is formed in a 

 circle, with the fire in the center. The warriors are told to go for wood 

 and water, and the servants of the captains prepare couches for their re- 

 spective masters by pulling grass, some of which they twist and tie up 

 for pillows. Each servant does this for his own captain. When bad 

 weather is threatening the lieutenants order the warriors to build a 

 grass lodge. For tent poles they cut many long saplings of hard willow 

 or of any other kind of wood, and stick them in the ground at acute angles, 

 and about one foot apart, if wood is plentiful, and small sticks are in- 

 terlaced. Then they cover this frame with grass. When wood is very 

 scarce the saplings are placed further apart. 



Unlike the Iowas, the Omahas do not open their sacred bags when 

 they encamp for the night. All the bags are hung on two or three 

 forked sticks, the wa^ixabe-u^ubaiig^e, which are about three feet high. 

 These sticks are placed about five feet from the circle of warriors, close 

 enough to be seized at once in case of an attack. 



Should any scout detect danger he must give the cry of a coyote 

 or ini^asi. By and by, when the scouts become sleepy, and there is no 

 sign of danger, they return to the camp, and lie down with their com- 

 rades till nearly day. When it is time for roosters to crow, one of the 

 captains exclaims, a Ho, warriors! rise ye and kindle a lire." Then all 

 arise and dress in haste, and after they have eaten, the scouts are sent 

 ahead, as on the preceding morning. 



