130 An account of the War Customs of the Osages. [Februaty, 
captains and other men. He who struck the second blow, says 
as follows, on laying down his first stick: “ Ho, O grandfather! 
I place this on you because I was the next one to strike and stun 
aman!” The other petitions follow, as given above. The first 
petition of each of the remaining warriors is as follows: “Ho, 0 
grandfather! I lay this on you as a token that I have aided in 
overcoming the foe! (A provisional translation, as the writer is 
uncertain as to the exact rendering of “ wa-yii-khpe,” which, judg- 
ing from the meaning of the root hpa and khpe in cognate lan- — 
guages, implies pulling down a foe.) 
At the conclusion of this trial, the warriors rub the paint of, 
_ and wash their faces, thus ending the war party. | 
II. Sacrep Bac War PARTY. 
A man mourns alone, putting mud on his face. He comes into 
the village, and selects a man for his first kettle-bearer, who builds f 
for him a small lodge apart from the village. The mourner® f 
tires to this lodge, and keeps away from the women. He ; 
his servant, the kettle-bearer, for two men, one on the Hañka side 
of the tribe, the other on the Cheezhoo side, to act as standart = 
bearers. When they come to him, he informs them whither be ; : 
wishes to go, and for what purpose. The three depart to invite i 
the warriors. Those who are willing can join the party. 1 E 
mourner has a pipe and tobacco, also a sacred bag made of the i 
skin and feathers of a bird, given him by his teacher, one of te 7 
old men belonging to the secret order. ft 
The servant cleans out the pipe bowl, which is filled by the 3 
mourner. The latter hands the pipe around the circle of f 
beginning with two standard-bearers. Last of all the mour? i 
smokes. As he hands the pipe to each man, he says. “ G o 
father, I ask an animal of you.” The reply is, “ Captain, you°™ 4 
have your desire.” : si 
All march a short distance from the village. A small fire | E 
made. The teacher performs a ceremony over the mount | e 
and then makes him take the first step on the war path, 4 a a 
been shown in the account of a large war party. Then nee F 
teacher departs to the village. The warriors march on. p 3 
meet a foe, he who strikes him has. the first honor, the el 
who hits him, cuts off his head. The honor of killing er I 
longs to the captain or mourner, whether he is the actual S% | 
