CHIEFS INAUGURATION OF POXKA CHIEFS. 



359 



times a mau is elected who has not led a good life ; but they make him 

 chief with the hope that the new responsibilities resting on him may 

 sober him, and make him a wise man. Sometimes a man succeeds to 

 the chieftainship through the efforts of some kinsman or affinity who 

 is a chief or head chief. 



Occasions of such elections. — The resignation or death of one of the 

 principal chiefs ; the resignation of both of the principal chiefs, or the 

 resignation of one and the death of the other. 



§ 289. Sacred or mysterious rites pertaining to tltc initiation or inaugura- 

 tion of chiefs. — (1). Among the Poukas. Ma n 'egahi, of the Hisada, told 

 the following : Muxa-naji" of the Wacabe, Ce-uaji" of the Maka", (pa'ega" 

 of the Nuqe, Si-fifige of the Maka n , Ma"ze-si-ugada n (of the half-breed 

 band), and Canugahi of the <f ixida, carry the six sacred pipes four times 

 around the tribal circle. Muxa-naji" puts up a large tent (in the middle 

 of the circle), unwraps the bundle containing the six pipes, and then the 

 five other men accompany him around the circle. 



The sacred pipes are feared by all except those who are to be made 

 chiefs, sometimes four, five, or six men. These are outside (of their 

 lodges), and as the old men come around, if they have agreed to be- 

 come chiefs, they put the pipe-stems to their mouths, but they do not 

 inhale any of the smoke. When the old men have gone around the 

 fourth time the chiefs assemble in the large tent. The women and 

 children stay outside or back of the circle, as they are afraid of the 

 pipes. Even the horses are sent to the rear. When the chiefs elect 

 enter the large teut they give many horses to the retiring chiefs. 

 Then they put the pipes to their mouths 

 and inhale the smoke, for if they should 

 refuse to inhale it, they would die very 

 soon thereafter, before the end of the 

 year. 



Nuda" -axa's account of the ceremonies 

 at the time of his election is as follows: 

 When an old chief resigns, a tent is set up 

 in the middle of the circle. They bring 

 back some wild sage, which is used as a 

 bed for the sacred pipes. These are laid 

 on the wild sage in the middle of the tent, 

 next to the sacred buffalo skull. The 

 hanga-ju'a"ze or privileged decoration is 

 painted on the skull, into the nostrils of 

 which some sprigs of wild sage are thrust. 

 All the chiefs paint the haiiga-j[i'a n ze, on 

 their faces, and stick plumes in their hair. They wear buffalo robes with 

 the hair outside, and reddeu their arm-pits, elbows, and the toes of their 

 moccasins. They redden blankets at the elbows and next to the arm pits, 

 in imitation of the buffaloes. The retiring chiefs say to their successors, 



Fig. 41.— The Ponka style of 

 bauga-^i 'a n ze. 



