dorset.] CAPTURE OF HORSES PREPARING TO ATTACK THE FOE. 327 



Nikuf ib<fa n , or Gia n habi, had a sacred bag, which he opened {four times, 

 said Big Elk) with its mouth towards the foe, that the wind might waft 

 the magic influence of the bag to the lodges, and make the sleepers forget 

 their weapons and their warlike spirit (denied by La Fleche and Two 

 Crows). He also had a war-club with an iron point, which he used as a 

 sacred thing, waving it four times toward the foe. When they were 

 very near the lodges, but while it was yet dark, one of the attacking 

 party pulled his bow with all his might, sending an arrow very far. 

 But the arrow could not be seen. They continued drawing nearer and 

 nearer, exhorting one another, but speaking in whispers. At last it 

 was daylight, which is the usual time for making the attack, as people 

 are supposed to be sound asleep. Then Niku<J;ib£a n pulled his bow, and 

 sent an arrow, which could be seen. He waved the sacred bag four 

 times, and gave the attacking cry of the lender (the wa'i n 'ba n ) once, 

 whereupon all of his party gave the scalp-yell (ugfi'a'a), and began the 

 fight by shooting at the lodges. (See § 193.) 



Each combatant tries to find a shelter, from behind which he may 

 fire at the enemy, though brave men now and then expose themselves 

 to great danger when they rush towards the ranks of the enemy and 

 try to capture a man, or to inflict a blow on him. Those who are the 

 first to strike or touch a fallen enemy in the presence of his comrades, 

 who are generally watching their opportunity to avenge his fall, are 

 also regarded as very brave. 



Protracted warfare, or fighting for several days in succession, has not 

 been the Omaha custom. 



§ 211. Preparation for an attack on a single foe. — In the story of I'ci- 

 baji of the xe-sin'de gens, we read thus: "At length the warriors de- 

 tected a man coming towards them. They told the war-chief, who said, 

 'Ho! Oh warriors, he is the one whom we seek. Let us kill him.' 

 Then the warriors prepared themselves. They painted themselves with 

 yellow earth and white clay. Icibaji picked up the pieces dropped by 

 the others, and the war-chief made his back yellow for him, in imita- 

 tion of the sparrow-hawk. Then the warriors pulled off their leggings 

 and moccasins, which they gave to Icibaji to keep. When Icibaji, hav- 

 ing gained the consent of his captain, had peeped over the bluff at the 

 advancing man, he ran to meet him, having no weapon but his club. 

 Having overtaken the man, he killed him with the club. And when 

 the others took parts of the scalp, Icibaji did not take any of it," 



§ 212. When one of the principal captains was killed, that always 

 stopped the fight, even if he belonged to the side of the victors. 



If any one heard that one of his kindred was killed or captured, he 

 would try to go to him, and both generally perished together. When 

 the Omahas were fleeing from the Dakotas, in a fight which occurred 

 about A. D. 1846, some one told an old man that his son had been 

 killed. "Ho!" said he, "I will stop running." So he turned around 

 and went to the place where his son's body was. He rushed headlong 



