350 CALENDAR HISTORY OF THE KIOWA [eth.ann. 17 



lie had luul a vision in whic-h lie received a mission to bring back the 

 buttalo. Accordingly, he began to make medicine and assumed the 

 name of Pa-tcpte, "Bufl'alo-biill-comingont," in token of his new pow- 

 ers. He was already noted in other directions as a medicine-man, and 

 had been the winner in the great dd-d contest mentioned in the (calen- 

 dar of the preceding winter. It is possible that his success on that 

 occasion encouraged him to this attempt, as he began his buffalo medi- 

 cine immediately afterward. He erected a medicine tipi, in front of 

 which he set up a pole with a buffalo skin npon it, and prepared for 

 himself a medicine shirt ornjimented with blue beads, over which he 

 threw a red blanket trimmed with eagle feathers. Thus attired, and 

 carrying a sacred pipe in his hand, he began his mystic ceremonies 

 within the tipi, and from time to time announced the results to the 

 people, most of whom believed all he said and manifested their faith by 

 gifts of blankets, money, and other property; they were further com- 

 nmnded to obey him implicitly, on pain of failure of the 

 medicine in case of disobedience. His pretensions were 

 opposed by the younger men among the returned prisoners 

 from the east, who used all their influence against him, but 

 with little effect. After nearly a year of medicine-making, 

 being unsuccessful, he announced that some one had vio- 



Ilated some of the innumerable regulations, and that in con- 

 sequence his medicine was broken for the time and they 

 must wait five years longer, when he would begin again. 

 Before that time had elapsed, however, he died, but his 

 claims and prophecies were revived and amplified Ave years 

 later by Pii-ingya (see summer 1888). 



Fig. 173— Win- .7 o.; \ / 



ter]S82-83- AVINTER 18S2-83 



Bot-edalte 



dies; Grass Yov tliis winter the Set-t'au calendar records the death 

 ^tasos^^nmp ^^. ^^ ^^yjjjjjjj named Bot-edalte, "Big-stomach," indicated 

 creek. \,y tije figure of a woman with an abnormal abdomen 



above the winter mark. 



The Anko calendar notes that the Indian police camped this winter 

 on Bonu'i P^a, "Pecan creek" (Elk creek of North fork of Red river), 

 indicated, as in 1877-78, by the figure of a pecan nut below the winter 

 mark. The Texas cattle trail crossed at that point and the iiolice were 

 stationed there to keep the cattle off the reservation. Quauah, chief 

 of the Comanche, was there also in the interest of the cattlemen, and it 

 was through his persuasion that the allied tribes finally agreed to lease 

 their grass lands. 



Anko notes also that the Indians now "began to talk about grass 

 leases," but that as yet there was no grass money paid. It is indicated 

 on the calendar by three circles for dollars below the winter mark, 

 with a +, intended for a picture of the Indian gesture sign for "cut 

 off" or "stop," made by bringing the extended right hand downward 

 in front of the other, as if cutting a rope with a knife-stroke. 



