1884] An_account of the War Customs of the Osages. 127 
the Kansas gens knows what is meant. He puts on a robe made 
of bear or buffalo skin, and advances toward the party, with his 
kettle-bearer, till he can hear what they say. He begins the con- 
versation by asking them what is the cause of their halt. Then 
he tell them the news from the village. After this he approaches 
the warriors, going around them, and performing a rite, first at the 
north, then at the west, south and east. Next he addresses the 
Hajika captain, then the Cheezhoo captain, telling whether they 
can enter the village. 
Having gained his consent, they leave all their blankets and 
other clothing, as the pay of the old man and his servant, But 
they retain their weapons. They are met by some of the people, 
who give them other garments. Then the warriors separate. 
The tents A and B are thrown down, and the war tent, C, is set 
up again at the west. 
The final ceremonies are the scalp dance, captive dance (?),} 
dance in which they take the standards, and the trial over the 
sacred bags. One of the captains may select any one of the three 
dances to the exclusion of the others, or he may have two without 
the standard dance; but the trial over the sacred bag is never 
omitted. 
_ The scalp dance.—Previous to this dance, the captain of one side 
gives a horse to his principal kettle-bearer, who sells it for the 
food needed at the feast which precedes the dance. The stand- 
ard-bearers dressed in their finest attire, notify all the women in 
the village: “We wish you to come and dance this afternoon.” 
Then the two captains go around the village, saying, “ Ho, my 
little sisters ! my comrades! it is said you must pity me!” Each 
Captain walks around the village according to the side of the cir- 
Clein which he camps, and each woman in dancing remembers this 
Tule. 
After the women have been called by the captains, the former 
Strip to the waist, covering their bosoms with pieces of cloth or 
Calico, They pretend to be men, decorating themselves with 
feathers, paint, etc. They are led by one who carries the scalp 
on its pole. She is chosen for that purpose by one of the captains. 
ome women carry bows, others take arrows, some have war 
Pipes, and some carry peace pipes. The drummers sit in a small 
Circle around the pole. A great warrior arises and tells of his ex- 
rt *, . . . 
` Takdhe watsi", in Osage. Its translation is doubtful. 
