NO. 



SMITHSOMAX EXPLORATIONS, 19ly 



75 



ture and vocal)ulary 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 coni])arative 

 vocabulary were made. 



fer^-*^^ 



Fig. 74. — Hoop and pole game of the \'entureno Indians. 



MUSIC OF THE PAWNEE. OKLAHOMA 

 In May, 1919, ]Miss Frances Densniore 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 Burt'alo ceremony wliich is held 

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

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

 lodge of the old t\i)e (figs, j-^ and 76). ( )nly initiates could be 

 present on the first day when the " ])ainting oi the buffalo skull" 

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

 ceremonv. Miss Densniore attended the Huffalo dance and the I.ance 

 dance which were held a few days later. These constiluti-d the 

 second and third portions of the ceremonw DiuMng the P)uffai() 

 dance the butfalo skull with its ceremonial di-corations la\- in front 

 f)f the "altar." Participants in the ceremony were seated in four 

 groups, nu-n in each grouj) having their bodies similarlv decorated 

 with symbolic designs. 'I'be principal singer was \\ icit.i I'.lain. a 



