NO. I 



SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS, IQK) 



75 



ture and vocabulary of Tanoan and Kiowa is one and the same, and 

 points to genetic unity at no exceedingly remote period in the past. A 

 peculiar series of phonetic shifts and changes occurring in these lan- 

 guages was fully investigated, and interesting studies in comparative 

 vocabulary were made. 



Fig. 74. — Hoop and pole game of the Ventureno Indians. 



MUSIC OF THE PAWNEE, OKLAHOMA 

 In May, 1919, Miss Frances Densmore went to Pawnee, Okla- 

 homa, to begin a study of the music of the Pawnee Indians who live 

 in that vicinity. 



She arrived at the time of the Buffalo ceremony which is held 

 every spring by the Pawnee, having for its original purpose the 

 securing of buffalo for food. The ceremony was held in an earth 

 lodge of the old type (figs. 75 and 76). Only initiates could be 

 present on the first day when the " painting of the buft'alo skull " 

 took place, but, through the courtesy of the man in charge of the 

 ceremony. Miss Densmore attended the Buffalo dance and the Lance 

 dance which were held a few days later. These constituted the 

 second and third portions of the ceremony. During the Buft'alo 

 dance the buffalo skull with its ceremonial decorations lay in front 

 of the " altar." Participants in the ceremony were seated in four 

 groups, men in each group having their bodies similarly decorated 

 with symbolic designs. The principal singer was Wicita Blain, a 



