HOLMES ANNIVERSARY VOLUME 



certain day prepared to seek my vision. I prepared the articles as he directed 

 and went to him on that day. He painted my face white, and before leaving him 

 we went together into the sweat lodge, and while we were there he told me of his 

 own dream and gave me an idea of what a dream was like. I had already selected 

 a hill on which to await my dream, and after leaving him I went to this hilltop 

 to follow his instructions. I was not required to fast before seeking the vision, 

 but of course took no food with me when I went to the hilltop. In the middle of 

 this hilltop I dug a hollow about two feet deep and large enough so that I could 

 crouch against its side when weary with standing. At each of the four points of 

 the compass I placed one of the robes and some of the tobacco. These offerings 

 were to show that I desired messages from the directions of the four winds and 

 was waiting anxiously to hear the voice of some bird or animal speaking to me in 

 a dream. 



Having placed these offerings in position, and according to the advice of the 

 medicine-man, I stood facing the west and watched the sun disappear. As soon 

 as the sun was out of sight I closed my eyes and turned my face toward the east, 

 standing thus for awhile, then faced the north and the south. So I stood, wrapped 

 in a buffalo robe. I was not exactly singing, but more nearly lamenting, like a 

 child asking for something. In the crying or lamenting of a young man seeking 

 a vision two things are especially desired : First, that he may have long life, and 

 second, that he may succeed in taking horses from the enemy. 



Beside me, at the north , was placed a buffalo skull , the face of which was painted 

 with blue stripes. The openings of the skull were filled with fresh sage, and it 

 was laid on a bed of sage. The skull was placed with its face toward the south. 

 The reason for this was that when the buffalo come from the north, traveling 

 toward the south, they bring news that Wakan'tanka has provided food for the 

 Indians and there will not be a famine. During part of the time I rested my pipe 

 against the buffalo skull, with the stem pointing toward the north. Part of the 

 time I held the pipe in my hands, with the stem away from me. The pipe was 

 filled, but not to be lighted until I returned to the medicine-man after my dream. 



As I still faced the west, after the sun had set and when it was almost dark, I 

 heard a sound like the flying of a bird around my head, and I heard a voice 

 saying, "Young man, you are recognized by Wakan'tanka." This was all the 

 voice said. 



All night I stood with my eyes closed. Just before daybreak I saw a bright 

 light coming toward me from the east. It was a man. His head was tied up, and 

 he held a tomahawk in his hand. He said, "Follow me," and in an instant he 

 changed into a crow. In my dream I followed the crow to a village. He entered 

 the largest tent. When he entered the tent he changed to a man again. Opposite 

 the entrance sat a young man, painted red, who welcomed me. When I was thus 

 received I felt highly honored, for as this was the largest tent I knew it must be 

 the tent of the chief. The young man said he was pleased to see me there. He 

 said, further, that all the animals and birds were his friends, and that he wished 

 me to follow the way he had used to secure their friendship. He told me to lift 

 my head. I did this and saw dragon flies, butterflies, and all kinds of small insects, 

 while above them flew all kinds of birds. As soon as I cast down my eyes again 

 and looked at the young man and at the man who had brought me thither, I saw 

 that the young man had become transformed into an owl, and that my escort 

 had changed again into a crow. The following is the song of this part of my 

 dream: 



[72] 



