dobsei.J THE WACICKA DANCING SOCIETY. 343 



Mr. J. La Fleche aud Two Crows used the following expressions with 

 reference to it : " tjjpju gaxai," it tended to pride; " iigactafika gaxai," 

 it tended to temptation; " iima"f a n gaxai," it tended to theft; " iimi n - 

 ij'ig(fa u gaxai," it tended lo concupiscence ; " iqta-ImaW," they used to 

 abuse persons ; " watci," cum aliquibus coiverunt. The dancers used to 

 dress so as to attract those of the opposite sex. The leaders or " tyigte u " 

 of the dance are G$eda u -uaji u and jedegahi. The other members whose 

 names are remembered by Two Crows aud others are Wacka u -ma u fi u , 

 Duba-ma^i", Maja n -kide,Cafige-ska, Jifiga-gakige, Ha n akipa, the wives 

 of G<feda u naji", d ede-gaki, and Wacka n -ma u ^i n , 3 e-baha's mother, and 

 3a a ze-hanga's mother's sister. "Besides these are Muxa-naji a , Jifiga- 

 gahige's mother, Wacka n -ma n ^i n 's son, Uma n ha n -ta u wafigfi n , and many 

 others." (Frank La Fleche.) The full number is nineteen. All the 

 chiefs can belong to this society, and their younger brothers, wives, eldest 

 daughters, and sisters' sons are eligible. Waha n -^ifige's larger wife 

 A n pa u -;aSga's sister, used to be a member. 



Not over five can carry otter skin bags in the dance. Four of these are 

 Duba-ma n f i u , Jifiga gahige, Cafige-ska, and Maja n -kide. G<£eda"-naji u is 

 one of the two that can carry bags made of the skins of the sifiga or flying- 

 squirrels. Ha n -akipa carries a bag made of the skin of a mij[a-ska or 

 " white racjoou." This is a modern addition, ja^^-na^jaji said that 

 some have bags of the skin of the maza u he, an animal resembling an 

 otter ; it is covered with black and reddish-yellow hair ; its tail is bushy, 

 and the hair is thick. J. La Fleche and Two Crows said that this kind 

 of bag was not used by the Omahas. The parents of G<£eda"-uaji n 

 (j,e-sa u and wife) carried a bag of black bear skin, but the sou did not 

 inherit it. 



If they cannot have the regular kind of bags, some make bags of the 

 skins of muskrats, or of any other animal which they can obtain. 



xA.ll who have no skin bags carry fans of eagles' wings. All the bags 

 are called " Hi-ugaqixe," a term meaning " A skin with the teeth of the 

 animal attached," and they are used as nini-ujiua, or tobacco pouches. 

 The noses of all the animals (/. e., those on the bags) were painted blue. 

 Of the otter-skin bags about two had each a red feather placed cross- 

 wise in the mouth of the animal. 



§ 249. This dance is held iu the spring of the year, beginning on a 

 good day, when the grass is about six inches high. After an intermis- 

 sion of a few days they may have the dance again, if they wish ; then, 

 after a similar intermission, they may repeat it, and so on. 



Before holding the dance one of the members, an old man, says to 

 the leaders, " Do consider the subject ; I will boil (for the feast)." They 

 reply, " Yes, we will have it ; you can boil." Then the members must 

 borrow two drums, four gourd rattles, and two pillows. These articles 

 must always be borrowed, as it would be wrong for the members to make 

 or furnish them. Four persons undertake the boiling for the feast. 

 Some brave men are selected to act as " qui[a," part of whom, however, 



