ABSTRACTS. 511 
79. THE LIGHTNING’S MEDICINE CEREMONY. 
Girl is born with birthmark on her forehead. She has mysterious ways; seems 
always to be counting stars; on which account she is allowed unusual freedom. 
She becomes beautiful young woman, and takes good care of her bed and pillows. 
One clear day she prophesies rain. All are surprised. During rainstorm girl lies 
near fireplace covered up. Lightning flashes, smoke fills lodge, and all are stunned. 
When they recover, father goes to his daughter, sees smoke coming from her head 
through round hole, hole extending through the pillow beneath her head and on 
into ground, from which smoke is pouring. Father digs into ground and comes to an 
object of many colors shaped like woman. People bathe in cedar-nut tea, in which 
has been placed scent of skunk, and bathe themselves in smoke from cedar leaves, 
and their face is smeared with mud from where lightning struck. All pray to stone, 
especially father. Lodge is swept and people bathe. Storm has disappeared. 
Following day father calls council. Smoke is offered to stone, which now seems 
heavy, though small. Girlis buriedon hill. Father does not mourn, for he believes 
that gods in heavens took his daughter. In dream he sees her, and birthmark on her 
forehead especially as bright star, but on back of her head are eleven eagle feathers 
arranged like crescent moon. She tells her father that she is now living with moon, 
and says that lightning did not kill her, but stone which fell from heaven. She tells 
her father to make his bed on north side of stone, which he shall keep in lodge, and 
that stone will speak tohim. Father at first can not see, for light of girl has dazzled 
him. Then he sees, although itis night. He reports to his wife what he has seen in 
his vision. He makes his bed by stone, and in vision man stands at head of his 
bed and tells him that he has loved his daughter; that he has killed her and he has 
lost his place in heavens and will remain with him; that he should make him up into 
a bundle, wrapping him in soft downy feathers; that he is medicine-man and will 
teach him his power. Following day father paints himself and goes to high hill in 
west and fasts. In dream he is again visited by this man, who tells him to cease 
fasting. Several nights after it rains, and spirit of stone tells him he should go to 
certain animal-lodge. He again fasts on hill during rainstorm, and is told to go 
to Swimming Mound animal-lodge; that he is to carry stone with him and remain on 
Swimming Mound until it thunders; that he will see Lightning strike place it has 
before struck many times. He is to go there and he will find hole, which he is 
to enter, leaving stone at entrance. Farther in he will find himself in large 
lodge, where he will hear animals playing on notched stick; that animals will go 
to entrance, see stone, and ask man to remove it; that he is to tell animals that he 
will remove stone if they will give him their power. Early in morning he arises, 
prays to stone, informs his friends of his vision, and they set out and journey to 
Swimming Mound. Though there is no sign of storm, as soon as he places stone on 
hill storm arises. He hears noise of rubbing of notched stick, and of people 
drumming, On second night he again hears strange noises, and whistling like wind, 
and he sees many elk. He faints, and is given power from elks, who fear stone and 
ask him to remove it, saying that it draws lightning and will killthem. Next, eagles 
visit him, and on account of their fear of stone give him power. Next night noises 
are heard and people sing like geese. Fire comes up from river and he sees all kinds 
of animals swimming. He paysnoattention to them, and following day sun comes 
up and many colors are visible in every direction, like countless rainbows. At night 
he begins to be afraid. Green light shines from stone and he prays that his fear 
