342 OMAHA SOCIOLOGY. 



IIafi.ua (see Hunting customs, § 143), the singers for the Hede-watci, 

 who were Inke-sabS meu, and the musicians for the dancing societies, 

 etc. 



CORPORATIONS. 

 FEASTING SOCIETIES. 



§ 246. Feasting societies or Ukikuue^',6 (called Ukikune<j;6 by the Pon- 

 kas were of three kinds; that for the men, that for the young men. 

 and one for youths in their teens. No business was transacted, and 

 there was neither singing nor dancing as an essential part of the pro- 

 ceedings. They were merely social gatherings, intended chiefly for 

 the purpose of feasting, and they were fostered by the state, as they 

 tended to land together as friends all who were present as guests. 



Joseph La Fleche used to be a member of the society of the married 

 men and aged men. When he did not go to the feast he could send 

 his son. Frank ; and other men were allowed to send their sons as 

 proxies. This society is now extinct. The giver of the feast used to 

 place in the middle of the lodge a large wooden bowl, which was empty. 

 Beside it was laid a very red spoon, made of buffalo horn. The bowl 

 and spoon were not used by any of the guests. 



The society of the young men, which became extinct about A. D. 1879, 

 was called, " Hi u be hi n t'a n , Hairy Moccasins.'" To this belonged Hidaha, 

 of the Elk gens, Huta"ta u , of the Ictasanda, and many others. They 

 invited any one whom they wished to join their society. A pipe was 

 smoked whenever they assembled. 



There was a society for youths from seventeen to nineteen years of 

 age, but its name cannot be recalled by Frank La Fleche. (See §§ IS, 

 111, 130.) 



DANCING SOCIETIES. 



§ 247. The dancing societies of the Omahas and Ponkas may be divided 

 into the following classes: 1. Those which are " waqube," or sacred, in- 

 cluding those connected with the practice of medicine. 2. Those that 

 are "uwacuce-a^a^ica n ," or connected with bravery and war. 3. Those 

 that are "ujawa-^a^ica 11 ," or merely for social pleasure. They admit of 

 another classification, i. e., 1. Those of native origin ; and, 2, such as 

 have been introduced or purchased from other tribes. 



§ 248. The Wacicka dance. — The Wacicka a^'-iua or Wacicka a«^i n/ - 

 watcigaxe is the name of the principal society. The j^oiwere name for 

 it is " Wacuckanyi." This society appears to exist under different names 

 among many tribes besides the Omahas, including the Winnebagos. 

 Dakotas, and Odjibwe or Ckippewas. 



The writer has received conflicting accounts of the character of this 

 dance. < ja^i n na n paji spoke of it as one that was " waspe," well-behaved. 



