INTRODUCTION. LA 
ceremony by violent vomiting. The foot race was supposed to give the 
participants great endurance while on the war-path. The chief efficacy 
of the ceremony was the removal from the camp of all evil influences 
and the promoting of good health, long life, and general prosperity. 
Next in importance was the ceremony of the calumet pipe sticks, 
during which feathered pipe-stems were carried to some chief or other 
prominent individual of the tribe or to some neighboring tribe. 
This ceremony abounded in ritual and had its origin in one of the early 
myths, and its performance was supposed to confer lasting benefit upon 
the tribe. It is claimed by the Wichita, and there is evidence that their 
claim is valid, that they originated this ceremony, and that it was ob- 
tained from them by the Skidi, who, in turn, passed it on to the other 
tribes of the Pawnee. 
Next in importance, and having their origin in times comparatively 
modern in the legendary chronicles of the Wichita, were the rain 
bundle ceremonies, the first having to do with the maturation of the 
corn; the second with the propagation of the buffalo. The chanting of 
the rituals was the chief feature in both of these ceremonies, the time of 
the singing being marked by the drawing of a stick over a notched 
club, one end of which rested on a buffalo rawhide resonator. Both 
had their origin in the animal gods. 
Next in importance were two ceremonies similar in nature, and 
known as “Surround-Fire,” and “Small-Robes.” These ceremonies 
also were of ritualistic nature, the first having its origin in the stars, 
and the second from the animals. The performance of both cere- 
monies was supposed to be efficacious in obtaining certain power or 
magic from various animals. 
Next in rank were two societies, the first known as the Many-Dogs, 
and the second as the Horn. The time of the origin of these societies, 
like that of the rain and buffalo, was comparatively recent. They may 
be characterized as singing societies, in which ritualistic songs were 
sung, and they were preparatory to the setting out of a war-party. 
Forming the last group were certain ceremonies or dances, all of 
which had more or less to do with the return of the successful war- 
parties. ‘These were the Scalp, the ‘“Etwats,” the Rubbing-Bone, the 
Turkey, the Squng, the Singers, and the Flat, the last four being danced 
exclusively by the women. 
In addition to the ceremonies just enumerated, the Wichita played 
the well-known forms of games common to the other Plains tribes, but 
always in a ceremonial manner. Among the most noted and sacred 
of these games were the shinny, the double-ball, and the ring-and- 
javelin games. | ? 
