2 THE MYTHOLOGY OF THE WICHITA. 
together to such an extent that it is no longer possible for one custom 
or another to be considered as the exclusive property of a single tribe. 
This holds good.also regarding religion and mythology, and no at- 
tempt, therefore, has been made to group the myths according to tribes, 
though in the note giving the name of the informant his tribal affinity 
has been indicated. 
The population of the four bands, according to the reports of the 
Bureau of Indian Affairs, was as follows: 
In 1874— Wichita, 300; Waco, 140; 'Towakoni, 125; Kechai, 106; total, 671. 
In 1885—Wichita, 176; Waco, 64; Towakoni, 145; Kichai, 63; total, 448. 
This total diminished slightly but steadily from year to year, until 
1896, when the total for the four tribes was given at 365. The census 
of 1903 gives the total of the four tribes at 433, but in this is included 
the Delaware. It is evident that there has been a material falling off 
in the number of the Wichita in the last thirty years. It is believed, 
however, that at the present time they are almost, if not quite, holding 
their own. But that they are to suffer a further decline seems probable, 
owing to the fact that in the recent opening of their reservation they 
suffered a decided change in their method of life, and especially to the 
fact that it is possible for them to obtain whisky without great effort. 
Previous to this time they kept up with great conservatism their ancient 
method of living, and, on the whole, were in the enjoyment of a robust 
and vigorous constitution. 
In stature and color, the Wichita present a decided contrast to the 
Plains tribes by whom they are surrounded, such as the Cheyenne, 
Arapaho, Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache. They are decidedly of a 
shorter and stockier build, with a somewhat darker skin. ‘The men 
pierced the lobe of the ear, generally in four places, from which were 
suspended innumerable metal pendants. Both men and women in for- 
mer times practiced tattooing, that of the man differing radically from 
that of the woman. ‘The men were tattooed both on the upper and 
lower eyelids, and from the outer corner of the eyes extended a slight 
line about half an inch in length. From this design the Wichita claim 
is derived their name, owing to the resemblance of the eyes thus tat- 
tooed to those of the raccoon—Kidikides (Raccoon Eyes). These 
marks about the eyes are made on a boy when young, at which time 
he is told that they will prevent him in the future from having sore 
eyes. The men bore two additional marks on the face, consisting of 
short lines passing downward from each corner of the mouth. On the 
back of each hand is tattooed a small design resembling the bird’s foot. ~ 
This is made immediately after the boy has killed his first bird. Up 
