Omaha sociology (1884 N 03 / 1881-1882 (pages 205-370))
by James Owen Dorsey · English · Gutenberg #46487 · 511,974 chars · public domain (US)
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Title: Omaha sociology (1884 N 03 / 1881-1882 (pages 205-370))
Author: James Owen Dorsey
Release date: August 3, 2014 [eBook #46487]
Most recently updated: October 24, 2024
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[Transcriber's Note:
The letters a-i, upper case and lower case, enclosed in square brackets
are script font. All other letters enclosed in square brackets are
rotated 180 degrees.
Letters preceded by a caret are superscript.
Characters enclosed by curly braces and underscore are subscript.
Italics delimited by underscores.
Bold delimited with equal signs.
Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation are as in the original.]
OMAHA SOCIOLOGY.
BY
REV. J. OWEN DORSEY.
Third Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of
the Smithsonian Institution, 1881-82, Government Printing Office,
Washington, 1884, pages 205-370.
SIOUAN ALPHABET.
[This is given to explain the pronunciation of the Indian words in the
following paper]
a, as in _father_.
`a, an initially exploded a.
ă, as in _what_.
`ă, an initially exploded ă.
ä, as in _hat_.
c, as sh in _she_. See ś.
ᴐ, a medial _sh_, a sonant-surd.
¢ (Dakota letter), as _ch_ in _church_.
ç, as _th_ in _thin_.
[ç], a medial ç, sonant-surd.
¢, as _th_ in _the_.
e, as in _they_.
`e, an initially exploded e.
ě, as in _get_.
`ě, an initially exploded ě.
g, as in _go_.
ġ (in Dakota), _gh_. See x.
ḣ (in Dakota), _kh_, etc. See q.
i, as in _machine_.
`i, an initially exploded i.
ĭ, as in _pin_.
j, as _z_ in _azure_, or as _j_ in French _Jacques_.
ʞ, a medial k, a sonant-surd.
k', an exploded k.
ñ, as _ng_ in _sing_.
hn, its initial sound is expelled from the nostrils, and is scarcely
heard.
o, as in _no_.
`o, an initially exploded o.
[p], a medial b (or p), a sonant-surd.
p', an exploded p.
q, as German _ch_ in _ach_. See ḣ.
[s], a medial s (or z), a sonant-surd.
ś (in Dakota), as _sh_ in _she_. See c.
ʇ, a medial t, a sonant-surd.
t', an exploded t.
u, as _oo_ in _tool_.
`u, an initially exploded u.
ŭ, as _oo_ in _foot_.
ṵ, a sound between o and u.
ü, as in German _kühl_.
x, _gh_, or nearly the Arabic _ghain_. See ġ.
dj, as _j_ in _judge_.
tc, as _ch_ in _church_. See ć.
tc', an exploded tc.
ʇᴐ, a medial tᴐ, a sonant-surd.
ʇ[s], a medial ts, a sonant-surd.
ts', an exploded ts.
ź (in Dakota), as _z_ in _azure_, etc. See j.
ai, as in _aisle_.
au, as _ow_ in _cow_.
yu, as _u_ in _tune_.
The following have the ordinary English sounds: b, d, h, k, l, m, n, p,
r, s, t, w, y, and z. A superior n (^n) after a vowel nasalizes it. A
plus sign (+) after any letter prolongs it.
With the exception of the five letters taken from Riggs' Dakota
Dictionary, and used only in the Dakota words in this paper, the above
letters belong to the alphabet adopted by the Bureau of Ethnology.
CONTENTS.
Page.
CHAPTER I.--INTRODUCTION 211
Early migrations of the ₵egiha tribes 211
Subsequent migrations of the Omahas 213
Present state of the Omahas 214
CHAPTER II.--THE STATE 215
Differentiation of organs in the State 216
State classes 216
Servants 217
Corporations 218
CHAPTER III.--THE GENTILE SYSTEM 219
Tribal circles 219
The Omaha tribal circle 219
Rules for pitching the tents 220
The sacred tents 221
The sacred pipes 221
Gahige's account of the tradition of the pipes 222
A^n-ba-hebe's account of the same 222
Law of membership 225
The Weji^n cte or Elk gens 225
The Iñke-sabe or Black shoulder gens 228
The Hañga gens 233
The ₵atada gens 236
The Wasabe-hit`ajĭ subgens 236
The Wajiñga-¢atajĭ subgens 238
The [T]eda-it`ajĭ subgens 239
The [K]eï^n subgens 240
The Ka^nze gens 241
The Ma^n¢iñka-gaxe gens 242
The [T]e-sinde gens 244
The [T]a-[p]a or Deer-head gens 245
The Iñg¢e-jide gens 247
The Ictasanda gens 248
CHAPTER IV.--THE KINSHIP SYSTEM AND MARRIAGE LAWS 252
Classes of kinship 252
Consanguineous kinship 253
Affinities 255
Marriage laws 255
Whom a man or woman cannot marry 256
Whom a man or woman can marry 257
Importance of the subgentes 258
Remarriage 258
CHAPTER V.--DOMESTIC LIFE 259
Courtship and marriage customs 259
Domestic etiquette--bashfulness 262
Pregnancy 263
Children 265
Standing of women in society 266
Catamenia 267
Widows and widowers 267
Rights of parents and others 268
Personal habits, politeness, etc. 269
Meals, etc. 271
CHAPTER VI.--VISITING CUSTOMS 276
The_calumet_dance 276
CHAPTER VII.--INDUSTRIAL OCCUPATIONS 283
Hunting customs 283
Fishing customs 301
Cultivation of the ground 302
CHAPTER VIII.--INDUSTRIAL OCCUPATIONS (CONTINUED) 303
Food and its preparation 303
Clothing and its preparation 310
CHAPTER IX.--PROTECTIVE INDUSTRIES 312
War customs 312
Defensive warfare 312
Offensive warfare 315
CHAPTER X.--AMUSEMENTS AND CORPORATIONS 334
Games 334
Corporations 342
Feasting societies 342
Dancing societies 342
CHAPTER XI.--REGULATIVE INDUSTRIES 356
The government 356
Religion 363
CHAPTER XII.--THE LAW 364
Personal law 364
Property law 366
Corporation law 367
Government law 367
International law 368
Military law 368
Religious law 368
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Page.
PLATE XXX.--Map showing the migrations of the Omahas
and cognate tribes 212
XXXI.--Tent of Agaha-wacuce 237
XXXII.--Omaha system of consanguinities 253
XXXIII.--Omaha system of affinities 255
FIG. 12.--The Omaha tribal circle 220
13.--Places of the chiefs, &c., in the tribal assembly 224
14.--Iñke-sabe tent 230
15.--Iñke-sabe style of wearing the hair 230
16.--Iñke-sabe Gentile assembly 231
17.--The sacred pole 234
18.--Wasabe-hit`ajĭ style of wearing the hair 237
19.--[T]e-sinde style of wearing the hair 244
20.--The weawa^n or calumet pipe 277
21.--Rattles used in the pipe dance 278
22.--The Dakota style of tobacco pouch used by the Omahas
in the pipe dance 278
23.--The position of the pipes, the ear of corn, &c. 279
24.--Decoration of child's face 280
25.--Showing positions of the long tent, the pole, and rows
of "ʇa" within the tribal circle 295
26.--Figures of pumpkins 306
27.--The Webajabe 310
28.--The Weubaja^n 311
29.--Front view of the iron 311
30.--Old Ponka fort 314
31.--Diagram showing places of the guests, messengers, etc. 315
32.--The banañge 336
33.--The sticks 336
34.--Na^na^n au hă 336
35.--₵ab¢i^n au hă 337
36.--Diagram of the play-ground 337
37.--The stick used in playing [P]a¢i^n-jahe 338
38.--The wa¢igije 338
39.--The stick used in playing I^nti^n-buʇa 341
40.--The waq¢eq¢e `a^nsa 352
41.--The Ponka style of hañga-ʞi`a^nze 359
42.--The Omaha style of hañga-ʞi`a^nze 361
OMAHA SOCIOLOGY.
BY J. OWEN DORSEY.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION.
§ 1. The Omaha Indians belong to the ₵egiha group of the Siouan family.
The ₵egiha group may be divided into the Omaha-₵egiha and the
Kwapa-₵egiha. In the former are four tribes, speaking three dialects,
while the latter consists of one tribe, the Kwapas. The dialects are as
follows: Pañka, spoken by the Ponkas and Omahas; Waᴐaᴐe, the Osage
dialect; [K]a^nze, that of the Kansas or Kaws, closely related to the
Waᴐaᴐe; and Ugaqpa, or Kwapa.
§ 2. ₵egiha means, "Belonging to the people of this land," and answers
to the Oto "[T]ᴐiwere," and the Iowa "[T]ᴐeʞiwere." Mr. Joseph La
Flèche, who was formerly a head chief of the Omahas, also said that
₵egiha was about equivalent to "Dakota." When an Omaha was challenged in
the dark, when on his own land, he generally replied, "I am a ₵egiha."
So did a Ponka reply, under similar circumstances, when on his own land.
But when challenged in the dark, when away from home, he was obliged to
give the name of his tribe, saying, "I am an Omaha," or, "I am a Ponka,"
as the case might be.
§ 3. The real name of the Omahas is "Uma^nha^n." It is explained by a
tradition obtained from a few members of the tribe. When the ancestors
of the Omahas, Ponkas, Osages, and several other cognate tribes traveled
down the Ohio to its mouth, they separated on reaching the Mississippi.
Some went up the river, hence the name Uma^nha^n, from ʞíma^nha^n, "to
go against the wind or stream." The rest went down the river, hence the
name Ugáqpa or Kwápa, from ugáqpa or ugáha, "to float down the stream."
EARLY MIGRATIONS OF THE ₵EGIHA TRIBES.
The tribes that went up the Mississippi were the Omahas, Ponkas, Osages,
and Kansas. Some of the Omahas remember a tradition that their ancestors
once dwelt at the place where Saint Louis now stands; and the Osages and
Kansas say that they were all one people, inhabiting an extensive
peninsula, on the Missouri River.
On this peninsula was a high mountain, which the Kansas called
Ma^n-daqpaye and Tce-dŭñga-ajabe; the corresponding Osage name being
Ma^n-ʇaqpa¢ě.[1]
Subsequently, these tribes ranged through a territory, including Osage,
Gasconade, and other adjacent counties of the State of Missouri, perhaps
most of the country lying between the Mississippi and the Osage Rivers.
The Iowas were near them; but the Omahas say that the Otos and Missouris
were not known to them. The Iowa chiefs, however, have a tradition that
the Otos were their kindred, and that both tribes, as well as the Omahas
and Ponkas, were originally Winnebagos. A recent study of the dialects
of the Osages, Kansas, and Kwapas discloses remarkable similarities
which strengthen the supposition that the Iowas and Otos, as well as the
Missouris, were of one stock.
At the mouth of the Osage River the final separation occurred. The
Omahas and Ponkas crossed the Missouri and, accompanied by the Iowas,
proceeded by degrees through Missouri, Iowa, and Minnesota, till they
reached the neighborhood of the Red Pipestone quarry. This must have
taken many years, as their course was marked by a succession of
villages, consisting of earth lodges.
Thence they journeyed towards the Big Sioux River, where they made a
fort. They remained in that country a long time, making earth lodges and
cultivating fields. Game abounded. At that time the Yanktons dwelt in a
densely wooded country near the head of the Mississippi; hence the
Omahas called them, in those days, "Ja^n´aʇa ni´kaci^nga, The people
who dwelt in the woods." After that the Yanktons removed and became
known as Yanktons. By and by the Dakotas made war on the three tribes,
and many Omahas were killed by them. So at last the three tribes went
west and southwest to a lake near the head of Choteau Creek, Dakota
Territory, now known as Lake Andes (?). There they cut the sacred pole
(see §§ 36 and 153), and assigned to each gens and subgens its peculiar
customs, such as the sacred pipe, sacred tents, and the taboos. There
were a great many gentes in each tribe at that time, far more than they
have at present; and these gentes were in existence long before they cut
the sacred pole.
After leaving the lake, known as "Waq¢éxe gasai´ ¢a^n, Where they cut
the sacred pole," they traveled up the Missouri River till they arrived
at Ni-úgacúde, White Earth River. They crossed the Missouri, above
this stream, and occupied the country between the Missouri and the Black
Hills, though they did not go to the Black Hills.[2] After awhile, they
turned down stream, and kept together till they reached the mouth of the
Niobrara, where the Ponkas stopped. The Omahas and Iowas continued their
journey till they reached Bow Creek, Nebraska, where the Omahas made
their village, the Iowas going beyond till they reached Ionia Creek,
where they made a village on the east bank of the stream, near its
mouth, and not far from the site of the present town of Ponca.
[1] The writer was told by an Osage that Ma^nʇaqpa¢ě was at Fire
Prairie, Missouri, where the first treaty with the Osages was made by
the United States. But that place is on a creek of the same name, which
empties into the Missouri River on the south, in T. 50 N., R. 28 W., at
the town of Napoleon, Jackson County, Missouri. This could not have been
the original Ma^nʇaqpa¢ě. Several local names have been duplicated by
the Kansas in the course of their wanderings, and there are traces of
similar duplications among the Osages. Besides this, the Omahas and
Ponkas never accompanied the Kansas and Osages beyond the mouth of the
Osage River; and the Kansas did not reach the neighborhood of Napoleon,
Missouri, for some time after the separation at the mouth of the Osage
River.
[Illustration: MAP SHOWING MIGRATIONS OF THE OMAHAS AND COGNATE TRIBES.
_Legend._
1. Winnebago habitat.
2. Iowa habitat.
3. Arkansas habitat.
4. Kwapa habitat, after the separation from the Omahas, etc.
5. Route of the Omahas, Ponkas, Kansas, and Osages.
6. Their habitat at the mouth of the Missouri River.
7. Their course along that river.
8. Their habitat at the month of Osage River.
9. Subsequent course of the Osages.
10. Subsequent course of the Kansas.
11. Course of the Omahas and Ponkas, according to some.
12. Their course, according to others.
13. Where they met the Iowas.
14. Course of the three tribes.
15. Pipestone quarry.
16. Cliffs 100 feet high on each bank.
17. Fort built by the three tribes.
18. Lake Andes.
19. Mouth of White River.
20. Mouth of the Niobrara River.
22. Omaha village on Bow Creek.
23. Iowa village on Ionia Creek.
24. Omaha village [T]iʇañga jiñga and Zande buʇa.
25. Omaha village at Omadi.
26. Omaha village on Bell Creek.
27. Probable course of the Iowas.
28. Omaha habitat on Salt Creek.
30. Omaha habitat at Ane nat'ai ¢a^n.
31. Omaha habitat on Shell Creek.
33. Omaha habitat on the Elkhorn River.
35. Omaha habitat on Logan Creek.
37. Omaha habitat near Bellevue.]
By and by the Omahas removed to a place near Covington, Nebr., nearly
opposite the present Sioux City. The remains of this village are now
known as "[T]i-ʇañ´ga-jiñ´ga," and the lake near by is called
"₵íxucpa^n-úg¢e," because of the willow trees found along its banks.
In the course of time the Iowas passed the Omahas again, and made a new
village near the place where Florence now stands. After that they
continued their course southward to their present reservation.
The Otos did not accompany the Ponkas, Omahas, and Iowas, when they
crossed the Missouri, and left the Osages and others. The Otos were
first met on the Platte River, in comparatively modern times, according
to Mr. La Flèche.
SUBSEQUENT MIGRATIONS OF THE OMAHAS.
§ 4. After leaving [T]i-ʇañga-jiñga, where the lodges were made of
wood, they dwelt at Zandé búʇa.
2. Ta^n´wa^n-ʇañ´ga, The Large Village, is a place near the town of
Omadi, Nebr. The stream was crossed, and the village made, after a
freshet.
3. On the west side of Bell Creek, Nebraska.
4. Thence south to Salt Creek, above the site of Lincoln.
5. Then back to Ta^nwa^n-ʇañga. While the people were there, A^nba-hebe,
the tribal historian was born. This was over eighty years ago.
6. Thence they went to Áne-nát'ai ¢a^n, a hill on the west bank of the
Elkhorn River, above West Point, and near Bismarck.
7. After five years they camped on the east bank of Shell Creek.
8. Then back to Ta^nwa^n-ʇañga, on Omaha Creek.
9. Then on the Elkhorn, near Wisner, for ten years. While there,
A^nba-hebe married.
10. About the year 1832-'3, they returned to Ta^nwa^n-ʇañga, on Omaha
Creek.
11. In 1841 they went to Ta^n´wa^n-jiñgá ¢a^n, The Little Village, at
the mouth of Logan Creek, and on the east side.
12. In 1843, they returned to Ta^nwa^n-ʇañga.
13. In 1845 they went to a plateau west of Bellevue. On the top of the
plateau they built their earth lodges, while the agency was at Bellevue.
14. They removed to their present reserve in 1855.
[2] A Ponka chief, Buffalo Chips, said that his tribe left the rest at
White Earth River and went as far as the Little Missouri River and the
region of the Black Hills. Finally, they returned to their kindred, who
then began their journey down the Missouri River. Other Ponkas have told
about going to the Black Hills.
PRESENT STATE OF THE OMAHAS.
§ 5. Their reservation was about 30 miles in extent from east to west,
and 18 or 20 from north to south. It formed Black Bird County. The
northern part of it containing some of the best of the timber lands, was
ceded to the Winnebagos, when that tribe was settled in Nebraska, and is
now in Dakota County. The southern part, the present Omaha reservation,
is in Burt County. The Omahas have not decreased in population during
the past twenty-five years. In 1876 they numbered 1,076. In 1882 there
are about 1,100. Most of the men have been farmers since 1869; but some
of them, under Mr. La Flèche, began to work for themselves as far back
as 1855. Each man resides on his claim, for which he holds a patent
given him by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Many live in frame houses,
the most of which were built at the expense of their occupants.
CHAPTER II.
THE STATE.
§ 6. "A state," said Maj. J. W. Powell, in his presidential address to
the Anthropological Society of Washington, in 1882, "is a body politic,
an organized group of men with an established government, and a body of
determined law. In the organization of societies units of different
orders are discovered." Among the Omahas and other tribes of the Siouan
family, the primary unit is the gens or clan, which is composed of a
number of consanguinei, claiming descent from a common ancestor, and
having a common taboo or taboos. But starting from the tribe or state as
a whole, we find among the Omahas two half-tribes of five gentes each,
the first called "Hañga-cenu," and the second, "Ictasanda." (See § 10.)
These half-tribes do not seem to be phratries, as they do not possess
the rights of the latter as stated by Morgan: the Hañga-cenu gentes
never meet by themselves apart from the Ictasanda gentes.
Next to the half-tribes are the gentes, of which the Omahas have ten.
Each gens in turn is divided into "uʞig¢a[s]ne," or subgentes. The
number of the latter varies, at present, according to the particular
gens; though the writer has found traces of the existence of four
subgentes in each gens in former days. The subgentes seem to be composed
of a number of groups of a still lower order, which are provisionally
termed "sections." The existence of sections among the Omahas had been
disputed by some, though other members of the tribe claim that they are
real units of the lowest order. We find among the Tito^n-wa^n Dakotas,
many of these groups, which were originally sections, but which have at
length become gentes, as the marriage laws do not affect the higher
groups, the original phratries, gentes, and subgentes.
The Ponka chiefs who were in Washington in 1880, claimed that in their
tribe there used to be eight gentes, one of which has become extinct;
and that now there are ten, three subgentes having become gentes in
recent times. According to Mr. Joseph La Flèche, a Ponka by birth, who
spent his boyhood with the tribe, there are but seven gentes, one having
become extinct; while the Wajaje and Nuqe, which are now the sixth and
seventh gentes, were originally one. For a fuller discussion of the
gentes see the next chapter.
The state, as existing among the Omahas and cognate tribes, may be
termed a kinship state, that is, one in which "governmental functions
are performed by men whose positions in the government are determined by
kinship, and rules relating to kinship and the reproduction of the
species constitute the larger body of the law. The law regulates
marriage and the rights and duties of the several members of a body of
kindred to each other. Individuals are held responsible," chiefly "to
their kindred; and certain groups of kindred are held responsible," in
some cases, "to other groups of kindred. When other conduct, such as the
distribution of game taken from the forest or fish from the sea, is
regulated, the rules or laws pertaining thereto involve the
considerations of kinship," to a certain extent. (See Chapter XII, §
303.)
DIFFERENTIATION OF ORGANS IN THE STATE.
§ 7. The legislative, executive, and judicial functions have not been
differentiated. (See Government, Chapter XI.)
Whether the second mode of differentiation has taken place among the
Omahas, and just in the order described by Major Powell, is an open
question. This mode is thus stated: "Second, by the multiplication of
the orders of units and the specialization of the subordinate units so
that subordinate organizations perform special functions. Thus cities
may be divided into wards, counties into towns." Subgentes, as well as
gentes, were necessary among the Omahas for marriage purposes, as is
shown in §§ 57, 78, etc. The recent tendency has been to centralization
or consolidation, whereas there are strong reasons for believing that
each gens had four subgentes at the first; several subgentes having
become few in number of persons have been united to the remaining and
more powerful subgentes of their respective gentes.
The third mode of differentiations of organs in the State is "by
multiplication of corporations for specific purposes." The writer has
not yet been able to find any traces of this mode among the Omahas and
cognate tribes.
§ 8. Two classes of organization are found in the constitution of the
State, "those relating directly to the government, called major
organizations, and those relating indirectly to the government, called
minor organizations." The former embraces the State classes, the latter,
corporations.
STATE CLASSES.
These have not been clearly differentiated. Three classes of men have
been recognized: Níkagáhi, wanáce, and cénujiñ´ga.
In civil affairs, the nikagahi are the chiefs, exercising legislative,
executive, and judicial functions. They alone have a voice in the tribal
assembly, which is composed of them. The wanace, policemen, or braves,
are the servants or messengers of the chiefs, and during the
surrounding of a herd of buffalo, they have extraordinary powers
conferred on them. (See §§ 140 and 297.)
The cenujiñga, or young men, are the "common people," such as have not
distinguished themselves, either in war or in any other way. They have
no voice in the assembly, and during the buffalo hunt they must obey the
chiefs and wanace.
In religious affairs, which are closely associated with civil ones, we
find the chiefs having a prominent part. Besides the chiefs proper are
the seven keepers of the sacred pipes, or pipes of peace (see §§ 14-19,
287, 296), and the keepers of the three sacred tents (see §§ 13, 22-24,
36, 295). The functions of these keepers of the sacred tents, especially
those of the two Hañga men, appear to be both religious and civil. Of
these two men, [P]a¢i^n-na^npajĭ said: "The two old men,
Waka^n´-ma^n¢i^n and [T]e-ha^n´ma^n¢i^n, are the real governors of
the tribe, and are counted as gods. They are reverenced by all, and men
frequently give them presents. They mark the tattooed women." Frank La
Flèche denied this, saying that these two old men are the servants of
the Hañga chief, being only the keepers of the sacred tents of his gens.
J. La Flèche and Two Crows said that while there were some
"níkaci^n´ga qubé," sacred or mysterious men, among the Omahas, they
did not know who they were. Some of the chiefs and people respect them,
but others despise them. It is probable that by níkaci^n´ga qube, they
meant exorcists or conjurers, rather than priests, as the former pretend
to be "qube," mysterious, and to have supernatural communications.
There is no military class or gens among the Omahas, though the Ponka
₵ixida gens, and part of the Nika[p]aᴐna gens are said to be warriors.
Among the Omahas, both the captains and warriors must be taken from the
class of cenujiñga, as the chiefs are afraid to undertake the work of
the captains. The chiefs, being the civil and religious leaders of the
people, cannot serve as captains or even as subordinate officers of a
war party. Nor can they join such a party unless it be a large one.
Their influence is exerted on the side of peace (see §§ 191, 292), and
they try to save the lives of murderers. (See § 310.) They conduct peace
negotiations between contending tribes. (See §§ 220, 292.)
All the members of a war party, including the captains, lieutenants, and
wanace, as well the warriors, are promoted to the grade or class of
(civil) wanace on their return from battle. (See § 216.)
SERVANTS.
There are no slaves; but there are several kinds of servants called
wagáq¢a^n. In civil and religious affairs, the following are wagáq¢a^n.
The two keepers of the Hañga sacred tents are the servants of the Hañga
chief. (See above, § 295, etc.) One of these old men is always the
servant of the other though they exchange places. (See § 151.) The
keepers of the sacred pipes are the servants of the chiefs. (See §§
17-19). The ₵atada Quʞa man is the servant of the keepers of the
sacred tents. (See § 143.) Some of the Wasabe-hit`ajĭ men are servants
of the Weji^ncte gens, acting as such in the sacred tent. (See §§ 23,
24.) Some of the Iñke-sabě men are the servants of the Hañga when they
act as criers (see §§ 130, 136, etc.), and so is a [K]a^nze man (§ 152).
The wanace are the servants of the chiefs. The wag¢a or messengers
acting as criers for a feast are the servants of the giver of the feast
for the time being.
In military affairs, the following are servants: The men who act as
wag¢a for the preliminary feast; the men who carry the baggage of the
captains and wait on them; the bearer of the kettle; the bearers of the
sacred bags when there is a large party; the special followers of each
captain, including his lieutenant, the followers or warriors being about
equally divided between the captains; and the wanace or policemen. (See
War Customs, Chapter IX.)
Social classes are undifferentiated. Any man can win a name and rank in
the state by becoming "wacuce," or brave, either in war or by the
bestowal of gifts and the frequent giving of feasts. (See § 224.)
CORPORATIONS.
Corporations are minor organizations, which are indirectly related to
the government, though they do not constitute a part of it.
The Omahas are organized into certain societies for religious,
industrial, and other ends. There are two kinds, the Ikágekí¢ě or
brother-hoods, and the Úkikune¢ě, or feasting organizations. The former
are the dancing societies, to some of which the doctors belong. A fuller
description of them will be found in Chapter X.
The industrial organization of the state will be discussed in Chapters
VII, VIII, IX, X, and XI.
CHAPTER III.
THE GENTILE SYSTEM.
TRIBAL CIRCLES.
§ 9. In former days, whenever a large camping-ground could not be found,
the Ponkas used to encamp in three concentric circles; while the Omahas,
who were a smaller tribe, pitched their tents in two similar circles.
This custom gave rise to the name "Oyate yamni," The Three Nations, as
the Ponkas were styled by the Dakotas, and the Omahas became known as
the Two Nations. But the usual order of encampment has been to pitch all
the tents in one large circle or horseshoe, called "hú¢uga" by the
Indians. In this circle the gentes took their regular places,
disregarding their gentile circles, and pitching the tents, one after
another, within the area necessary for each gens. This circle was not
made by measurement, nor did any one give directions where each tent
should be placed; that was left to the women.
When the people built a village of earth-lodges, and dwelt in it, they
did not observe this order of camping. Each man caused his lodge to be
built wherever he wished to have it, generally near those of his
kindred. But whenever the whole tribe migrated with the skin tents, as
when they went after the buffaloes, they observed this order. (See §
133.)
Sometimes the tribe divided into two parties, some going in one
direction, some in another. On such occasions the regular order of
camping was not observed; each man encamped near his kindred, whether
they were maternal or paternal consanguinities.
The crier used to tell the people to what place they were to go, and
when they reached it the women began to pitch the tents.
THE OMAHA TRIBAL CIRCLE.
§ 10. The road along which they passed divided the tribal circle into
two equal parts; five gentes camped on the right of it and five pitched
their tents on its left. Those on the right were called the Hañgacenu,
and the others were known as the Ictasanda. The Hañgacenu gentes are
as follows: Wéji^ncte, Iñké-sábě, Hañ´ga, ₵átada, and [K]a^n´ze.
The Ictasanda gentes are as follows: Ma^n`¢iñka-gáxe, [T]e-sĭn´de,
[T]a-[p]á, Iñg¢é-jide, and Ictásanda.
According to Waha^n-¢iñge, the chief of the [T]e-sĭnde gens, there used
to be one hundred and thirty-three tents pitched by the Hañgacenu, and
one hundred and forty-seven by the Ictasanda. This was probably the case
when they went on the hunt the last time, in 1871 or 1872.
[Illustration: FIG. 12.--The Omaha tribal circle.
LEGEND.
HAÑGACENU GENTES.
A. Weji^ncte, or Elk.
B. Iñke-sabě.
C. Hañga.
D. ₵atada:
_a._ Wasanbe-hit`ajĭ.
_b._ Wajiñga-¢atajĭ.
_c._ [T]e-[p]a-it`ajĭ.
_d._ [K]e-`i^n.
E. [K]a^nze.
ICTASANDA GENTES.
F. Mañ¢iñka-gaxe.
G. [T]e-sĭnde.
H. [T]a-[p]a.
I. Iñg¢e-jide.
K. Ictasanda.
The sacred tents of the Weji^ncte and Hañga gentes are designated by
appropriate figures; so also are the seven gentes which keep the sacred
pipes. The diameter of the circle represents the road traveled by the
tribe, A and K forming the gentes in the van.]
RULES FOR PITCHING THE TENTS.
§ 11. Though they did not measure the distances, each woman knew where
to pitch her tent. Thus a [K]a^nze woman who saw a Weji^ncte tent set
up, knew that her tent must be pitched at a certain distance from that
part of the circle, and at or near the opposite end of the road or
diameter of the circle. When two tents were pitched too far apart one
woman said to the other, "Pitch the tent a little closer." Or, if they
were too close, she said, "Pitch the tent further away." So also if the
tents of neighboring gentes were too far apart or too close together. In
the first case the women of one gens might say, "Move along a little,
and give us more room." In the other they might say, "Come back a
little, as there is too much space between us." When the end gentes,
Weji^ncte and Ictasanda, were too far apart there was sometimes danger
of attacks of enemies. On one occasion the Dakotas made a dash into the
very midst of the circle and did much damage, because the space between
these two gentes was too great. But at other times, when there is no
fear of an attack, and when the women wish to dress hides, etc., the
crier said: "Halloo! Make ye them over a large tract of land." This is
the only occasion when the command is given _how_ to pitch the tents.
When the tribe returned from the hunt the gentes encamped in reverse
order, the Weji^ncte and Ictasanda gentes having their tents at the end
of the circle nearest home.
There appear indications that there were special areas, not only for
the gentes, but even for the subgentes, all members of any subgens
having their lodges set up in the same area. Thus, in the Iñke-sabě
gens, there are some that camped next the Weji^ncte, and others next
the Hañga; some of the Hañga camped next the Iñke-sabě, and others next
the ₵atada, and so on. (See § 73.)
§ 12. Within the circle were placed the horses, as a precaution against
attacks from enemies. When a man had many horses and wished to have them
near him, he generally camped within the circle, apart from his gens,
but this custom was of modern origin, and was the exception to the rule.
THE SACRED TENTS.
§ 13. The three sacred tents were pitched within the circle and near
their respective gentes: that of the Weji^ncte is the war tent, and it
was placed not more than 50 yards from its gens; those of the Hañga gens
are connected with the regulation of the buffalo hunt, etc.; or, we may
say that the former had to do with the protection of life and the latter
with the sustenance of life, as they used to depend mainly on the hunt
for food, clothing, and means of shelter.
THE SACRED PIPES.
§ 14. All the sacred pipes belong to the Hañga gens, though Hañga, in
ancient times, appointed the Iñke-sabě gens as the custodian of them.
(J. La Flèche and Two Crows.) The Iñke-sabě gens, however, claims
through its chief, Gahige, to have been the first owner of the pipes;
but this is doubtful. There are at present but two sacred pipes in
existence among the Omahas, though there are seven gentes which are said
to possess sacred pipes. These seven are as follows: Three of the
Hañgacenu, the Iñke-sabě, ₵atada, and [K]a^nze, and four of the
Ictasanda, the Ma^n¢iñka-gaxe, [T]e-sĭnde, [T]a-[p]a, and Ictasanda.
The two sacred pipes still in existence are kept by the Iñke-sabě gens.
These pipes are called "Niniba waqube," Sacred Pipes, or "Niniba jide,"
Red Pipes. They are made of the red pipestone which is found in the
famous red pipestone quarry. The stems are nearly flat and are worked
near the mouth-piece with porcupine quills.
GAHIGE'S ACCOUNT OF THE TRADITION OF THE PIPES.
§ 15. Gahige, of the Iñke-sabě gens, said that his gens had the seven
pipes at the first, and caused them to be distributed among the other
gentes. He named as the seven gentes who had the pipes, the following:
1. Iñke-sabě; 2. [T]e-[p]a-it`ajĭ sub-gens of the ₵atada; 3.
Ma^n¢iñka-gaxe; 4. [T]a-[p]a; 5. [T]e-sĭnde; 6. Ictasanda; 7. Hañga
(_sic_). In order to reach the Hañga again the seven old men had to go
partly around the circle a second time. These are the gentes that had
pipes and chiefs at the first. The chiefs of the three remaining gentes,
the Weji^ncte, [K]a^nze, and Iñg¢e-jide, were not made for years
afterward. He also said that the buffalo skull given to the
[T]e-[p]a-it`ajĭ was regarded as equivalent to a sacred pipe.
The writer is inclined to think that there is some truth in what Gahige
has said, though he cannot accept all of his statement. Gahige gives one
pipe to the Hañga gens; Two Crows intimated that his gens was the
virtual keeper of a pipe. But A^nba-hebe's story shows that it was not a
real pipe, but the firebrand for lighting the pipes. In like manner,
[T]e-[p]a-it`ajĭ has not a real pipe, but the buffalo skull, which is
considered as a pipe. Hence, it may be that the men who are called
"keepers of the pipes" in the [K]a^nze, Ma^n¢iñka-gaxe, [T]a-[p]a,
[T]e-sĭnde, and Ictasanda gentes never had real pipes but certain
objects which are held sacred, and have some connection with the two
pipes kept by the Iñke-sabě.
A^{N}BA-HEBE'S ACCOUNT OF THE TRADITION OF THE PIPES.
§ 16. The following is the tradition of the sacred pipes, according to
A^nba-hebe, the aged historian of the Omahas:
The old men made seven pipes and carried them around the tribal
circle. They first reached Weji^ncte, who sat there as a male elk,
and was frightful to behold, so the old men did not give him a pipe.
Passing on to the Iñke-sabě, they gave the first pipe to the head of
that gens. Next they came to Hañga, to whom they handed a firebrand,
saying, "Do thou keep the firebrand," _i. e._, "You are to thrust it
into the pipe-bowls." Therefore it is the duty of Hañga to light the
pipes for the chiefs (_sic_). When they reached the Bear people they
feared them because they sat there with the sacred bag of black
bear-skin, so they did not give them a pipe. The Blackbird people
received no pipe because they sat with the sacred bag of bird-skins
and feathers. And the old men feared the Turtle people, who had made
a big turtle on the ground, so they passed them by. But when they
saw the Eagle people they gave them a pipe because they did not fear
them, and the buffalo was good. (Others say that the Eagle people
had started off in anger when they found themselves slighted, but
the old men pursued them, and on overtaking them they handed them a
bladder filled with tobacco, and also a buffalo skull, saying, "Keep
this skull as a sacred thing." This appeased them, and they
rejoined the tribe.) Next the old men saw the [K]a^nze, part of whom
were good, and part were bad. To the good ones they gave a pipe. The
Ma^n¢iñka-gaxe people were the next gens. They, too, were divided,
half being bad. These bad ones had some stones at the front of their
lodge, and they colored these stones, as well as their hair,
orange-red. They wore plumes (hi^nqpe) in their hair (and a branch
of cedar wrapped around their heads.--La Flèche), and were awful to
behold. So the old men passed on to the good ones, to whom they gave
the fourth pipe. Then they reached the [T]e-sĭnde, half of whom made
sacred a buffalo, and are known as those who eat not the lowest rib.
Half of these were good, and they received the fifth pipe. All of
the [T]a-[p]a (A^nba-hebe's own gens!) were good, and they obtained
the sixth pipe. The Iñg¢e-jide took one whole side of a buffalo, and
stuck it up, leaving the red body but partially buried in the
ground, after making a tent of the skin. They who carried the pipes
around were afraid of them, so they did not give them one. Last of
all they came to the Ictasanda. These people were disobedient,
destitute of food, and averse to staying long in one place. As the
men who had the pipes wished to stop this, they gave the seventh
pipe to the fourth subgens of the Ictasanda, and since then the
members of this gens have behaved themselves.
J. La Flèche and Two Crows say that "Weji^ncte loved his waqube, the
miʞasi, or coyote, and so he did not wish a pipe" which pertained to
peace. "Hañga does not light the pipes for the chiefs", that is, he does
not _always_ light the pipes.
§ 17. The true division of labor appears to be as follows: Hañga was
the source of the sacred pipes, and has a right to all, as that gens
had the first authority. Hañga is therefore called "I¢ig¢a^n´qti aké,"
as he does what he pleases with the pipes. Hañga told Íñke-sabě to
carry the pipes around the tribal circle; so that is why the seven old
men did so. And as Hañga directed it to be done, Iñke-sabě is called
"A¢i^n´ aké," The Keeper. Ictasanda fills the pipes. When the Ictasanda
man who attends to this duty does not come to the council the pipes
cannot be smoked, as no one else can fill them. This man, who knows
the ritual, sends all the others out of the lodge, as they must not
hear the ancient words. He utters some words when he cleans out the
pipe-bowl, others when he fills the pipe, etc. He does not always
require the same amount of time to perform this duty. Then all return
to the lodge. Hañga, or rather a member of that gens, lights the pipes,
except at the time of the greasing of the sacred pole, when he, not
Ictasanda, fills the pipes, and some one else lights them for him. (See
§ 152.) These three gentes, Hañga, Iñke-sabě, and Ictasanda, are the
only rulers among the keepers of the sacred pipes. The other keepers
are inferior; though said to be keepers of sacred pipes, the pipes are
not manifest.
These seven niniba waqube are peace pipes, but the niniba waqube of the
Weji^ncte is the war pipe.
§ 18. The two sacred pipes kept by Iñke-sabě are used on various
ceremonial occasions. When the chiefs assemble and wish to make a
decision for the regulation of tribal affairs, Ictasanda fills both
pipes and lays them down before the two head chiefs. Then the Iñke-sabě
keeper takes one and the [T]e-[p]a it`ajĭ keeper the other. Iñke-sabě
precedes, starting from the head chief sitting on the right and passing
around half of the circle till he reaches an old man seated opposite
the head chief. This old man (one of the Hañga wag¢a) and the head chief
are the only ones who smoke the pipe; those sitting between them do not
smoke it when Iñke-sabě goes around. When the old man has finished
smoking Iñke-sabě takes the pipe again and continues around the circle
to the starting-point, but he gives it to each man to smoke. When he
reaches the head chief on the left he gives it to him, and after
receiving it from him he returns it to the place on the ground before
the head chiefs.
When Iñke-sabě reaches the old man referred to [T]e-[p]a-it`ajĭ starts
from the head chiefs with the other pipe, which he hands to each one,
including those sitting between the second head chief and the old man.
[T]e-[p]a-it`ajĭ always keeps behind Iñke-sabě just half the
circumference of the circle, and when he receives the pipe from the head
chief on the left he returns it to its place beside the other. Then,
after the smoking is over, Ictasanda takes the pipes, overturns them to
empty out the ashes, and cleans the bowls by thrusting in a stick. (See
§§ 111, 130, 296, etc.)
In smoking they blew the smoke upwards, saying, "Here, Wakanda, is the
smoke." This was done because they say that Wakanda gave them the pipes,
and He rules over them.
[Illustration: FIG. 13.--Places of the chiefs, etc., in the tribal
assembly.
A.--The first head chief, on the left. B.--The second head chief, on
the right. C.--The two Hañga wag¢a, one being the old man whom
Iñke-sabě causes to smoke the pipe. D.--The place where the two
pipes are laid. The chiefs sit around in a circle. E.--The giver of
the feast.]
§ 19. Frank La Flèche told the following:
The sacred pipes are not shown to the common people. When my father
was about to be installed a head chief, Mahi^n-zi, whose duty it was
to fill the pipes, let one of them fall to the ground, violating a
law, and so preventing the continuation of the ceremony. So my
father was not fully initiated. When the later fall was partly gone
Mahi^n-zi died.
Wacuce, my father-in-law, was the Iñke-sabě keeper of the pipes.
When the Otos visited the Omahas (in the summer of 1878), the chiefs
wished the pipes to be taken out of the coverings, so they ordered
Wacuce to undo the bag. This was unlawful, as the ritual prescribed
certain words to be said by the chiefs to the keeper of the pipes
previous to the opening of the bag. But none of the seven chiefs
know the formula. Wacuce was unwilling to break the law; but the
chiefs insisted, and he yielded. Then Two Crows told all the Omahas
present not to smoke the small pipe. This he had a right to do, as
he was a Hañga. Wacuce soon died, and in a short time he was
followed by his daughter and his eldest son.
It takes four days to make any one understand all about the laws of
the sacred pipes; and it costs many horses. A bad man, _i. e._, one
who is saucy, quarrelsome stingy, etc., cannot be told such things.
This was the reason why the seven chiefs did not know their part of
the ritual.
LAW OF MEMBERSHIP.
§ 20. A child belongs to its father's gens, as "father-right" has
succeeded "mother-right." But children of white or black men are
assigned to the gentes of their mothers, and they cannot marry any women
of those gentes. A stranger cannot belong to any gens of the tribe,
there being no ceremony of adoption into a gens.
THE WEJI^NCTE OR ELK GENS.
§ 21. This gens occupies the first place in the tribal circles, pitching
its tents at one of the horns or extremities, not far from the Ictasanda
gens, which camps at the other end. When the ancient chieftainship was
abolished in 1880, Mahi^n-¢iñge was the chief of this gens, having
succeeded Joseph La Flèche in 1865.
The word "Weji^ncte" cannot be translated, as the meaning of this
archaic word has been forgotten. It may have some connection with
"waji^n´cte," _to be in a bad humor_, but we have no means of
ascertaining this.
La Flèche and Two Crows said that there were no subgentes in this gens.
But it seems probable that in former days there were subgentes in each
gens, while in the course of time changes occurred, owing to decrease in
numbers and the advent of the white men.
_Taboo._--The members of this gens are afraid to touch any part of the
male elk, or to eat its flesh; and they cannot eat the flesh of the male
deer. Should they accidentally violate this custom they say that they
are sure to break out in boils and white spots on different parts of the
body. But when a member of this gens dies he is buried in moccasins
made of deer skin.
_Style of wearing the hair._--The writer noticed that Bi^nze-tig¢e, a
boy of this gens, had his hair next the forehead standing erect, and
that back of it was brushed forward till it projected beyond the former.
A tuft of hair at the back extended about 3 inches below the head. This
style of wearing the hair prevails only among the smaller children as a
rule; men and women do not observe it.
Some say that `A^n-wega^n¢a is the head of those who join in the
worship of the thunder, but his younger brother, Qaga-ma^n¢i^n, being
a more active man, is allowed to have the custody of the Iñg¢a^n¢ě
and the Iñg¢a^nhañgac`a. J. La Flèche and Two Crows said that this
might be so; but they did not know about it. Nor could they or my
other informants tell the meaning of Iñg¢a^n¢ě and Iñg¢a^nhañgac`a.
Perhaps they refer either to the wild-cat (iñg¢añga), or to the thunder
(iñg¢a^n). Compare the Ictasanda "keepers of the claws of a wild-cat."
§ 22. _The sacred tent._--The sacred tent of the Elk gens is consecrated
to war, and scalps are given to it, but are not fastened to it, as some
have asserted. B¢a^nti used to be the keeper of it, but he has resigned
the charge of it to the ex-chief, Mahi^n-¢iñge.
The place of this sacred tent is within the tribal circle, and near the
camping place of the gens. This tent contains one of the wa¢íxabe, a
sacred bag, made of the feathers and skin of a bird, and consecrated to
war. (See § 196.) There is also another sacred bag in this tent, that
which holds the sacred ʇíhaba or clam shell, the bladder of a male elk
filled with tobacco, and the sacred pipe of the gens, the tribal
war-pipe, which is made of red pipe-stone. The ʇihaba is about nine
inches in diameter, and about four inches thick. It is kept in a bag of
buffalo hide which is never placed on the ground. In ancient days it was
carried on the back of a youth, but in modern times, when a man could
not be induced to carry it, it was put with its buffalo-skin bag into
the skin of a coyote, and a woman took it on her back. When the tribe is
not in motion the bag is hung on a cedar stick about five feet high,
which had been planted in the ground. The bag is fastened with some of
the sinew of a male elk, and cannot be opened except by a member of the
Wasabe-hit`ajĭ sub-gens of the ₵atada. (See § 45, etc.)
§ 23. _Service of the scouts._--When a man walks in dread of some unseen
danger, or when there was an alarm in the camp, a crier went around the
tribal circle, saying, "Maja^n´ i¢égasañga té wí á¢i^nhe+!" _I who
move am he who will know what is the matter with the land!_ (_i. e._, I
will ascertain the cause of the alarm.) Then the chiefs assembled in the
war tent, and about fifty or sixty young men went thither. The chiefs
directed the Elk people to make the young men smoke the sacred pipe of
the Elk gens four times, as those who smoked it were compelled to tell
the truth. Then one of the servants of the Elk gens took out the pipe
and the elk bladder, after untying the elk sinew, removed some of the
tobacco from the pouch (elk bladder), which the Elk men dare not touch,
and handed the pipe with the tobacco to the Elk man, who filled it and
lighted it. They did not smoke with this pipe to the four winds, nor to
the sky and ground. The Elk man gave the pipe to one of the bravest of
the young men, whom he wished to be the leader of the scouts. After all
had smoked the scouts departed. They ran around the tribal circle, and
then left the camp. When they had gone about 20 miles they sat down, and
the leader selected a number to act as policemen, saying, "I make you
policemen. Keep the men in order. Do not desire them to go aside." If
there were many scouts, about eight were made policemen. Sometimes there
were two, three, or four leaders of the scouts, and occasionally they
sent some scouts in advance to distant bluffs. The leaders followed with
the main body. When they reached home the young men scattered, but the
leaders went to the Elk tent and reported what they had ascertained.
They made a _detour_, in order to avoid encountering the foe, and
sometimes they were obliged to flee to reach home. This service of the
young men was considered as equivalent to going on the war path.
§ 24. _Worship of the thunder in the spring._--When the first thunder
is heard in the spring of the year the Elk people call to their
servants, the Bear people, who proceed to the sacred tent of the
Elk gens. When the Bear people arrive one of them opens the sacred
bag, and, after removing the sacred pipe, hands it to one of the
Elk men, with some of the tobacco from the elk bladder. Before the
pipe is smoked it is held toward the sky, and the thunder god is
addressed. Joseph La Flèche and Two Crows do not know the formula,
but they said that the following one, given me by a member of the
Ponka Hisada (Wasabe-hit`ajĭ) gens, may be correct. The thunder god is
thus addressed by the Ponkas: "Well, venerable man, by your striking
(with your club) you are frightening us, your grandchildren, who
are here. Depart on high. According to [P]á¢i^nna^npájĭ, one of the
Wasabe-hit`ajĭ, who has acted as a servant for the Elk people, "At the
conclusion of this ceremony the rain always ceases, and the Bear people
return to their homes." But this is denied by Joseph La Flèche and Two
Crows, who say, "How is it possible for them to stop the rain?"
While the Elk gens is associated with the war path, and the worship of
the thunder god, who is invoked by war chiefs, those war chiefs are not
always members of this gens, but when the warriors return, the keeper of
the sacred bag of this gens compels them to speak the truth about their
deeds. (See § 214.)
§ 25. _Birth names of boys._--The following are the birth names of boys
in the Elk gens. These are sacred or nikie names, and sons used to
be so named in former days according to the order of their births. For
example, the first-born son was called the Soft Horn (of the young elk
at its first appearance). The second, Yellow Horn (of the young elk
when a little older). The next, the Branching Horns (of an elk three
years old). The fourth, the Four Horns (of an elk four years old). The
fifth, the Large Pronged Horns (of an elk six or seven years old). The
sixth, the Dark Horns (of a grown elk in summer). The seventh, the
Standing White Horns, in the distance (_i. e._, those of a grown elk in
winter).
[3] Nikie names are those referring to a mythical ancestor, to some part
of his body, to some of his acts, or to some ancient rite which may have
been established by him. Nikie names are of several kinds, (_a._) The
seven birth names for each sex. (_b._) Other nikie names, not birth
names, but peculiar to a single gens. (_c._) Names common to two or more
gentes. There are two explanations of the last case. All the gentes
using the same name may have had a common mythical ancestor or a
mythical ancestor of the same species or genus. Among the Osages and
Kansas there are gentes that exchange names; and it is probable that the
custom has existed among the Omahas. Some of these gentes that exchange
names are those which have the same sacred songs.
The following law about nikie names has been observed by the Omahas:
There must never be more than one person in a gens bearing any
particular male name.
For instance, when, in any household, a child is named Wasabe-jiñga,
that name cannot be given to any new-born child of that gens. But when
the first bearer of the name changes his name or dies, another boy can
receive the name Wasabe-jiñga. As that is one of the seven birth names
of the Wasabe-hit`ajĭ it suggests a reason for having extra nikie names
in the gens. This second kind of nikie names may have been birth names,
resorted to because the original birth names were already used. This law
applies in some degree to girls' names, if parents know that a girl in
the gens has a certain name they cannot give that name to their
daughter. But should that name be chosen through ignorance, the two
girls must be distinguished by adding to their own names those of their
respective fathers.]
_Other proper names._--The following are the other nikie[3] names of
the Elk gens: Elk. Young Elk. Standing Elk. White Elk (near by). Big
Elk. `A^n-wega^n¢a (meaning uncertain). B¢a^n-ti, The odor of the dung
or urine of the elk is wafted by the wind (said of any place where the
elk may have been). (A young elk) Cries Suddenly. Hidaha (said to mean
Treads on the ground in walking, or, Passes over what is at the bottom).
Iron Eyes (of an elk). Bullet-shaped Dung (of an elk). (Elk) Is coming
back--fleeing from a man whom he met. Muscle of an elk's leg. Elk comes
back suddenly (meeting the hunter face to face). (Elk) Turns round and
round. No Knife or No Stone (probably referring to the tradition of the
discovery of four kinds of stone). Dark Breast (of an elk). Deer lifts
its head to browse. Yellow Rump (of an elk). Walking Full-grown Elk.
(Elk) Walks, making long strides, swaying from side to side. Stumpy Tail
(of an elk). Forked Horn (of a deer). Water-monster. The Brave Weji^ncte
(named after his gens). _Women's names._--Female Elk. Tail Female. Black
Moose(?) Female. Big Second-daughter (any gens can have it). Sacred
Third-daughter (Elk and Iñke-sabě gentes). Iron-eyed Female (Elk and
Hañga gentes). Land Female (Elk and ₵atada gentes). Moon that
Is-traveling (Elk, Iñke-sabě, Hañga, ₵atada, and [K]a^nze gentes);
Na^n-ze-i^n-ze, meaning uncertain (Elk, ₵atada, and Deer gentes).
Ninda-wi^n (Elk, ₵atada, and Ictasanda gentes). _Names of
ridicule._--Dog. Crazed by exposure to heat. Good Buffalo.
§ 26. According to [T]e-da-u¢iqaga, the chief A^npa^n-ʇañga, the
younger, had a boat and flag painted on the outside of his skin tent.
These were made "qube," sacred, but were not nikie, because they were
not transmitted from a mythical ancestor.
§ 27. This gens has furnished several head chiefs since the death of the
famous Black Bird. Among these were A^npa^n-skă (head chief after 1800),
A^npa^n-ʇañga, the elder, the celebrated Big Elk, mentioned by Long and
other early travelers, and A^npa^n-ʇañga, the younger. On the death of
the last, about A.D. 1853, Joseph La Flèche succeeded him as a head
chief.
THE IÑKE-SABĔ, OR BLACK SHOULDER GENS.
§ 28. This is a Buffalo gens, and its place in the tribal circle is next
to that of the Elk gens. The head chiefs of this gens in 1880 were
Gahige (who died in 1882), and Duba-ma^n¢i^n, who "sat on opposite
sides of the gentile _fire-place_." Gahige's predecessor was
Gahige-jiñga or Icka-dabi.
_Creation myth_, told by Gahige.--The first men created were seven in
number. They were all made at one time. Afterwards seven women were made
for them. At that time there were no gentes; all the people were as one
gens. (Joseph La Flèche and Two Crows never heard this, and the
following was new to them:)
_Mythical origin_ of the Iñke-sabě, as related by Gahige.--The
Iñke-sabě were buffaloes, and dwelt under the surface of the water.
When they came to the surface they jumped about in the water, making
it muddy; hence the birth-name for the first son, Ni-gaqude. Having
reached the land they snuffed at the four winds and prayed to them. The
north and west winds were good, but the south and east winds were bad.
§ 29. _Ceremony at the death of a member of the gens._--In former days,
when any member of the gens was near death, he was wrapped in a buffalo
robe, with the hair out, and his face was painted with the privileged
decoration. Then the dying person was addressed thus: "You are going to
the animals (the buffaloes). You are going to rejoin your ancestors.
(Ániʇa dúbaha hné. Wackañ´-gă, i. e.) You are going, or, Your four
souls are going, to the four winds. Be strong!" All the members of this
gens, whether male or female, were thus attired and spoken to when they
were dying. (La Flèche and Two Crows say that nothing is said about four
souls, and that "Wackañ-gă" is not said; but all the rest may be true.
See § 35 for a similar custom.) The "hañga-ʞi`a^nze," or privileged
decoration, referred to above and elsewhere in this monograph, is made
among the Omahas by painting two parallel lines across the forehead, two
on each cheek and two under the nose, one being above the upper lip and
the other between the lower lip and the chin.
§ 30. When the tribe went on the buffalo hunt and could get skins for
tents it was customary to decorate the outside of the principal
Iñke-sabě tent, as follows, according to [T]e-[p]a-u¢iqaga: Three
circles were painted, one on each side of the entrance to the tent, and
one at the back, opposite the entrance. Inside each of these was painted
a buffalo-head. Above each circle was a pipe, ornamented with eagle
feathers.
Frank La Flèche's sketch is of the regular peace pipe; but his father
drew the calumet pipe, from which the duck's head had been taken and the
pipe-bowl substituted, as during the dancing of the Hedewatci. (See §§
49 and 153.)
A model of the principal [T]e-[p]a-it`ajĭ tent, decorated by a native
artist, was exhibited by Miss Alice C. Fletcher, at the session of the
American Association at Montreal in 1882. It is now at the Peabody
Museum.
_Iñke-sabě style of wearing the hair._--The smaller boys have their hair
cut in this style. A A, the horns of the buffalo, being two locks of
hair about two inches long. B is a fringe of hair all around the head.
It is about two inches long. The rest of the head is shaved bare.
[Illustration: FIG. 14.--Frank La Flèche's sketch of the Iñke-sabě tent,
as he saw it when he went on the buffalo hunt.]
[Illustration: FIG. 15.--Iñke-sabě style of wearing the hair.]
§ 31. _Subgentes and Taboos._--There has evidently been a change
in the subgentes since the advent of the white man. In 1878, the
writer was told by several, including La Flèche, that there were then
three subgentes in existence, Wa¢ígije, Wata^n´zi-jíde ¢atájĭ, and
Naq¢é-it`abájĭ; the fourth, or Íekí¢ě, having become extinct. Now
(1882), La Flèche and Two Crows give the three subgentes as follows: 1.
Wa¢ígije; 2. Niníba t`a^n; 3. (a part of 2) Íekí¢ě. The second subgens
is now called by them "Wata^n´zi-ji´de ¢atájĭ and Naq¢é ít`abájĭ."
"[T]a^n¢i^n-na^nba and Nágu or Wa¢ánase are the only survivors of the
real Niniba-t`a^n, Keepers of the Sacred Pipes." (Are not these the
true Naq¢é-ít`ábájĭ, _They who cannot touch charcoal_? _I. e._, it is
not their place to touch a fire-brand or the ashes left in the sacred
pipes after they have been used.) "The Sacred Pipes were taken from
the ancestors of these two and were given into the charge of Ickadabi,
the paternal grandfather of Gahige." Yet these men are still called
Niniba-t`a^n, while "Gahige belongs to the Wata^nzi-jide ¢atajĭ and
Naq¢e-it`abajĭ, and he is one of those from whom the Iekí¢ě could be
selected."
In 1878 La Flèche also gave the divisions and taboos of the Iñke-sabě as
follows: "1. Niniba-t`a^n; 2. Wata^nzi-jide ¢atajĭ; 3. [T]e-hé-sábě
it`ájĭ; 4. [T]e-¢éze¢atájĭ;" but he did not state whether these were
distinct subgentes. The [T]e-he-sabě it`ajĭ, Those who touch not black
horns (of buffaloes), appear to be the same as the [T]e-¢eze ¢atajĭ, i.
e., the Wa¢ígije. The following is their camping order: In the tribal
circle, the Wa¢ígije camp next to the Hañga gens, of which the Wacabe
people are the neighbors of the Wa¢igije, having almost the same taboo.
The other Iñke-sabě people camp next to the Weji^ncte gens. But in the
gentile "council-fire" a different order is observed; the first becomes
last, the Wa¢igije having their seats on the left of the fire and the
door, and the others on the right.
[Illustration: FIG. 16.--The Iñke-sabě Gentile Assembly.A.--The
Wa¢igije, or Waqúbe gáxe aká, under Duba-ma^n¢i^n. B.--The Wata^nzi-jide
¢atajĭ; the Ieki¢ě, and the Naq¢e-it`abajĭ. These were under Gahige.]
The Wa¢igije cannot eat buffalo tongues, and they are not allowed to
touch a buffalo head. (See §§ 37, 49, and 59.) The name of their subgens
is that of the hooped rope, with which the game of "[P]a¢i^n-jahe" is
played. Gahige told the following, which is doubted by La Flèche and Two
Crows: "One day, when the principal man of the Wa¢igije was fasting and
praying to the sun-god, he saw the ghost of a buffalo, visible from the
flank up, arising out of a spring. Since then the members of his subgens
have abstained from buffalo tongues and heads."
Gahige's subgens, the Wata^nzi-jide ¢atajĭ, do not eat red corn. They
were the first to find the red corn, but they were afraid of it, and
would not eat it. Should they eat it now, they would have running sores
all around their mouths. Another tradition is that the first man of this
subgens emerged from the water with an ear of red corn in his hand.
The Ieki¢ě are, or were, the Criers, who went around the tribal circle
proclaiming the decisions of the chiefs, etc.
Prior to 1878, Wacuce, Gahige's brother, was the keeper of the two
sacred pipes. At his death, in that year, his young son succeeded him as
keeper; but, as he was very young, he went to the house of his father's
brother, Gahige, who subsequently kept the pipes himself.
§ 32. Gahige said that his subgens had a series of Eagle birth-names, as
well as the Buffalo birth-names common to the whole gens. This was owing
to the possession of the sacred pipes. While these names may have
denoted the order of birth some time ago, they are now bestowed without
regard to that, according to La Flèche and Two Crows.
_Buffalo birth-names._--The first son was called "He who stirs up or
muddies the water by jumping in it," referring to a buffalo that lies
down in the water or paws in the shallow water, making it spread out in
circles. The second son was "Buffaloes swimming in large numbers across
a stream." The third was [S]i-ʞa^n-qega, referring to a buffalo calf,
the hair on whose legs changes from a black to a withered or dead hue
in February. The fourth was "Knobby Horns (of a young buffalo bull)".
The fifth was "He (_i. e._, a buffalo bull) walks well, without fear
of falling." The sixth was "He (a buffalo bull) walks slowly (because
he is getting old)." The seventh was called Gaqaʇa-naji^n, explained
by the clause, "ʇenúga-wi^náqtci, júg¢e ¢iñgé, a single buffalo bull,
without a companion." It means a very old bull, who stands off at one
side apart from the herd.
_The Eagle birth-names_ (see § 64), given by Gahige, are as follows:
Qi¢á-i^n[4] (meaning unknown to La Flèche and Two Crows; word doubted by
them). Eagle Neck. Waji^n-hañga, He who leads in disposition.
Ki^nka-ʇañga, the first bird heard in the spring when the grass comes up
(the marbled godwit?). Blue Neck (denied by La Flèche and Two Crows).
Rabbit (La Flèche and Two Crows said that this name belonged to the
Hañga gens). Ash tree (doubted by La Flèche and Two Crows). A birth-name
of this series could be used instead of the corresponding one of the
gentile series, _e. g._, Gahige could have named his son, Uka^nadig¢a^n,
either Siʞa^n-qega or Waji^n-hañga. There were similar series of
birth-names for girls, but they have been forgotten.
§ 33. _Principal_ Iñke-sabě _names_.--I. _Men._--(Buffalo that) Walks
Last in the herd. (Buffalo) Runs Among (the people when chased by the
hunters). Four (buffaloes) Walking. Black Tongue (of a buffalo). The
Chief. Real Chief. Young Chief. Walking Hawk. Without any one to teach
him (_i. e._, He knows things of his own accord). (Buffalo) Makes his
own manure miry by treading in it. Horns alone visible (there being no
hair on the young buffalo bull's head). Little (buffalo) with
Yellowish-red hair. He who practices conjuring. Thick Shoulder (of a
buffalo). (Buffalo) Comes suddenly (over the hill) meeting the hunters
face to face. Swift Rabbit. Rabbit (also in Hañga gens). He who talks
like a chief; referring to the sacred pipes. Big Breast (of a buffalo).
Seven (some say it refers to the seven sacred pipes). (He who) Walks
Before (the other keepers of the sacred pipes). Badger. Four legs of an
animal, when cut off. Bent Tail. Double or Cloven Hoofs (of a buffalo).
Yonder Stands (a buffalo that) Has come back to you. Buffalo runs till
he gets out of range of the wind. Little Horn (of a buffalo). Two (young
men) Running (with the sacred pipes during the Hede-watci). Skittish
Buffalo Calf. Foremost White Buffalo in the distance. Looking around.
(Buffalo?) Walks Around it. (Buffalo) Scattering in different
directions. Big Boiler (a generous man, who put two kettles on the
fire). (Buffalo) Sits apart from the rest. He who makes one Stagger by
pushing against him. He who speaks saucily. Difficult Disposition or
Temper (of a growing buffalo calf). The Shooter. He who fears no seen
danger. Young Turkey.
II. _Women._--Sacred Third-daughter. She by Whom they were made Human
beings (see Osage tradition of the Female Red Bird). Moon in Motion
during the Day. Moon that Is traveling. Moon Has come back Visible.
Foremost or Ancestral Moon (first quarter?). Visible Moon. White Ponka
(female) in the distance. Precious Female. Visible one that has
Returned, and is in a Horizontal attitude. Precious Buffalo
Human-female. Buffalo Woman.
[4] Probably Qi¢a-hi^n, as the Osages have Qü¢a-hi^n, Eagle Feathers.
THE HAÑGA GENS.
§ 34. Hañga seems to mean, "foremost," or "ancestral." Among the Omahas
this gens is a buffalo gens; but among the Kansas and Osages it refers
to other gentes. In the Omaha tribal circle, the Hañga people camp next
to the Iñkě-sabe. Their two chiefs are Two Crows and Icta-basude,
elected in 1880. The latter was elected as the successor of his father,
"Yellow Smoke," or "Two Grizzly Bears."
_Mythical origin of the gens._--According to Yellow Smoke, the first
Hañga people were buffaloes and dwelt beneath the water. When they were
there they used to move along with their heads bowed and their eyes
closed. By and by they opened their eyes in the water; hence their first
birth-name, Niadi-icta-ugab¢a. Emerging from the water, they lifted
their heads and saw the blue sky for the first time. So they assumed the
name of [K]e¢a-gaxe, or "Clear sky makers." (La Flèche, in 1879, doubted
whether this was a genuine tradition of the gens; and he said that the
name Niadi-icta-ugab¢a was not found in the Hañga gens; it was probably
intended for Niadi-ctagabi. This referred to a buffalo that had fallen
into mud and water, which had spoiled its flesh for food, so that men
could use nothing but the hide. Two Crows said that Niadi-ctagabi was an
ancient name.)
§ 35. _Ceremony at the death of a member of the gens._--In former days,
when any member of the gens was near death he was wrapped in a buffalo
robe, with the hair out, and his face was painted with the
"hañga-ʞi`a^nze." Then the dying person was thus addressed by one of
his gens: "You came hither from the animals. And you are going back
thither. Do not face this way again. When you go, continue walking."
(See § 29.)
§ 36. _The sacred tents._--There are two sacred tents belonging to this
gens. When the tribal circle is formed these are pitched within it,
about 50 yards from the tents of the gens. Hence the proper name,
U¢uci-naji^n. A straight line drawn from one to the other would bisect
the road of the tribe at right angles.
The sacred tents are always together. They pertain to the buffalo hunt,
and are also "wéwaspe," having a share in the regulative system of the
tribe, as they contain two objects which have been regarded as "Wakañda
éga^n," partaking of the nature of deities.
These objects are the sacred pole or "waq¢éxe," and the "ʇe-sa^n´-ha."
The decoration of the outside of each sacred tent is as follows: A
cornstalk on each side of the entrance and one on the back of the tent,
opposite the entrance. (Compare the ear of corn in the calumet dance.
See §§ 123 and 163.)
_Tradition of the sacred pole._--The "waq¢exe," "ja^n´ waqúbe," or
sacred pole, is very old, having been cut more than two hundred years
ago, before the separation of the Omahas, Ponkas, and Iowas. The Ponkas
still claim a share in it, and have a tradition about it, which is
denied by La Flèche and Two Crows. The Ponkas say that the tree from
which the pole was cut was first found by a Ponka of the Hisada gens,
and that in the race which ensued a Ponka of the Maka^n gens was the
first to reach the tree. The Omahas tell the following:
At the first there were no chiefs in the gentes, and the people did
not prosper. So a council was held, and they asked one another,
"What shall we do to improve our condition?" Then the young men were
sent out. They found many cotton-wood trees beside a lake, but one
of these was better than the rest. They returned and reported the
tree, speaking of it as if it was a person. All rushed to the
attack. They struck it and felled it as if it had been a foe. They
then put hair on its head, making a person of it. Then were the
sacred tents made, the first chiefs were selected, and the sacred
pipes were distributed.
The sacred pole was originally longer than it is now, but the lower part
having worn out, a piece of ash-wood, about 18 inches long, has been
fastened to the cotton-wood with a soft piece of cord made of a buffalo
hide. The ash-wood forms the bottom of the pole, and is the part which
is stuck in the ground at certain times. The cotton-wood is about 8 feet
long.
[Illustration: FIG. 17.--The sacred pole.
A.--The place where the two pieces of wood are joined.
B.--The aqande-pa or hi^n-qpe-i¢iba^n, made of the down of the mi^nxa (a
swan. See the Ma^n¢iñka gaxe gens.)
C.--The scalp, fastened to the top, whence the proper name, Nik'umi^nje,
Indian-man's (scalp) couch.]
Two Crows said that the pole rested on the scalp when it was in the
lodge. The proper name, Mi^n-wasa^n, referring to the mi^nxasa^n or
swan, and also to the aqande-pa (B). The proper name, "Yellow Smoke"
(rather), "Smoked Yellow," or Cude-nazi, also refers to the pole, which
has become yellow from smoke. Though a scalp is fastened to the top, the
pole has nothing to do with war. But when the Omahas encounter enemies,
any brave man who gets a scalp may decide to present it to the sacred
pole. The middle of the pole has swan's down wrapped around it, and the
swan's down is covered with cotton-wood bark, over which is a piece of
ʇéha (buffalo hide) about 18 inches square. All the ʇeha and cord is
made of the hide of a hermaphrodite buffalo. This pole used to be
greased every year when they were about to return home from the summer
hunt. The people were afraid to neglect this ceremony lest there should
be a deep snow when they traveled on the next hunt.
When Joseph La Flèche lost his leg, the old men told the people that
this was a punishment which he suffered because he had opposed the
greasing of the sacred pole. As the Omahas have not been on the hunt for
about seven years, the sacred tents are kept near the house of
Waka^n-ma^n₵i^n. (See § 295.)
The other sacred tent, which is kept at present by Waka^n-ma^n₵i^n,
contains the sacred "ʇe-sa^n´-ha," the skin of a white buffalo cow,
wrapped in a buffalo hide that is without hair.
Joseph La Flèche had two horses that ran away and knocked over the
sacred tents of the Hañga gens. The two old men caught them and rubbed
them all over with wild sage, saying to Frank La Flèche, "If you let
them do that again the buffaloes shall gore them."
§ 37. _Subgentes_ and Taboos.--There are two great divisions of the
gens, answering to the number of the sacred tents: The Keepers of the
Sacred Pole and The Keepers of the [T]e-sa^n-ha. Some said that there
were originally four subgentes, but two have become altogether or nearly
extinct, and the few survivors have joined the larger subgentes.
There are several names for each subgens. The first which is sometimes
spoken of as being "Ja^n´ha-aʇá¢ica^n," pertaining to the sacred
cotton-wood bark, is the "Waq¢éxe a¢i^n´" or the "Ja^n´ waqúbe a¢i^n´,"
Keepers of the Sacred Pole. When its members are described by their
taboos, they are called the "[T]á waqúbe ¢atájĭ," those who do not eat
the "ʇa" or buffalo sides; and "Mi^nxa-sa^n ¢atájĭ" and "[P]éta^n
¢atájĭ," those who do not eat geese, swans, and cranes. These can eat
the buffalo tongues. The second subgens, which is often referred to as
being "[T]e-sa^n´-ha-ʇá¢ica^n," pertaining to the sacred skin of the
white buffalo cow, consists of the Wacábe or Hañ´gaqti, the Real Hañga
people. When reference is made to their taboo, they are called the
"[T]e¢éze ¢atájĭ," as they cannot eat buffalo tongues; but they are at
liberty to eat the "ʇa," which the other Hañga cannot eat. In the tribal
circle the Wacabe people camp next to the Iñke-sabě gens; and the
Waq¢éxe a¢i^n have the Quʞa of the ₵atada] gens next to them, as he is
their servant and is counted as one of their kindred. But, in the
gentile circle, the Waq¢éxe a¢i^n occupy the left side of the
"council-fire," and the Wacabe sit on the opposite side.
§ 38. _Style of wearing the hair._--The Hañga style of wearing the hair
is called "ʇe-nañ´ka-báxe," referring originally to the back of a
buffalo. It is a crest of hair, about 2 inches long, standing erect, and
extending from one ear to the other. The ends of the hair are a little
below the ears.
§ 39. _Birth-names of boys_, according to [P]a¢i^n-na^npajĭ. The first
is Niadi ctagabi; the second, Ja^n-gáp'uje, referring to the Sacred
Pole. It may be equivalent to the Dakota Tca^n-kap'oja (Ćaŋ-kapoźa),
meaning that it must be carried by one unencumbered with much baggage.
The third is named Ma^n pějĭ, Bad Arrow, _i. e._, Sacred Arrow, because
the arrow has grown black from age! (Two Crows gave this explanation. It
is probable that the arrow is kept in or with the "ʇe-sa^n-ha.")
The fourth is Fat covering the outside of a buffalo's stomach. The fifth
is Buffalo bull. The sixth, Dangerous buffalo bull; and the seventh is
Buffalo bull rolls again in the place where he rolled formerly.
§ 40. _Principal_ Hañga _names._ I. _Men._--(Buffalo) Makes a Dust by
rolling. Smoked Yellow ("Yellow Smoke"). (Buffalo) WalksinaCrowd. He who
makes no impression by Striking. Real Hañga. Short Horns (of a buffalo
about two years old). (Buffalo calf) Sheds its hair next to the eyes.
Two Crows. Flying Crow. He who gives back blow for blow, or, He who gets
the better of a foe. Grizzly bear makes the sound "ʇide" by walking.
Grizzly bear's Head. Standing Swan. He (a buffalo?) who is Standing.
(Buffalo?) That does not run. (Buffalo) That runs by the Shore of a
Lake. Seven (buffalo bulls) In the Water. Pursuer of the attacking foe.
Scalp Couch. Pointed Rump (of a buffalo?). Artichoke. Buffalo Walks at
Night. A Buffalo Bellows. Odor of Buffalo Dung. Buffalo Bellows in the
distance. (Sacred tent) Stands in the Middle (of the circle). Seeks Fat
meat. Walking Sacred one. Corn. He who Attacks.
II. _Women._--Iron-eyed Female. Moon that is Traveling. White
Human-female Buffalo in the distance.
THE ₵ATADA GENS.
§ 41. This gen occupies the fourth place in the tribal circle, being
between the Hañga and the [K]a^nze. But, unlike the other gentes, its
subgentes have separate camping areas. Were it not for the marriage law,
we should say that the ₵atada was a phratry, and its subgentes were
gentes. The present leaders of the gens are [P]edegahi of the
Wajiñga-¢atajĭ and Cyu-jiñga of the Wasabe-hit`ajĭ. When on the hunt the
four subgentes pitch their tents in the following order in the tribal
circle: 1. Wasabe-hit`ajĭ; 2. Wajiñga ¢atajĭ; 3. [T]e-da-it`ajĭ; 4.
[K]e-`i^n. The Wasabe-hit`ajĭ are related to the Hañga on the one hand
and to the Wajiñga-¢atajĭ on the other. The latter in turn, are related
to the [T]e-da-itajĭ; these are related to the [K]e-`i^n; and the
[K]e-`i^n and [K]a^nze are related.
THE WASABE-HIT`AJĬ SUBGENS.
§ 42. The name of this subgens is derived from three words: wasabe, _a
black bear_; ha, _a skin_; and it`ajĭ, _not to touch_; meaning "Those
who do not touch the skin of a black bear." The writer was told in
1879, that the uju, or principal man of this subgens, was Icta-duba, but
La Flèche and Two Crows, in 1882, asserted that they never heard of an
"uju" of a gens.
[Illustration: TENT OF AGAHA-WACUCE.]
_Taboo._--The members of this subgens are prohibited from touching the
hide of a black bear and from eating its flesh.
_Mythical origin._--They say that their ancestors were made under the
ground and that they afterwards came to the surface.
§ 43. Plate II is a sketch of a tent which belonged to Agaha-wacuce, the
father of [P]a¢i^n-na^npajĭ. Hupe¢a's father, Hupe¢a II, owned it before
Agaha-wacuce obtained it. The circle at the top representing a bear's
cave, is sometimes painted blue. Below the zigzag lines (representing
the different kinds of thunders?) are the prints of bear's paws. This
painting was not a nikie but the personal "qube" or sacred thing of the
owner. The lower part of the tent was blackened with ashes or charcoal.
§ 44. _Style of wearing the hair._--Four short locks are left on the
head, as in the following diagram. They are about 2 inches long.
[Illustration: FIG. 18.--Wasabe-hit`ajĭ style of wearing the hair.]
_Birth-names of boys._--[P]a¢i^n-na^npajĭ gave the following: The first
son is called Young Black bear. The second, Black bear. The third, Four
Eyes, including the true eyes and the two spots like eyes that are above
the eyes of a black bear. The fourth, Gray Foot. The fifth, Cries like a
Raccoon. (La Flèche said that this is a Ponka name, but the Omahas now
have it.) The sixth, Nídaha^n, Progressing toward maturity (_sic_). The
seventh, He turns round and round suddenly (said of both kinds of
bears).
§ 45. _Sections of the subgens._--The Wasabe-hit`ajĭ people are divided
into sections. [P]a¢i^n-na^npajĭ and others told the writer that they
consisted of four divisions: Black bear, Raccoon, Grizzly bear, and
Porcupine people. The Black bear and Raccoon people are called brothers.
And when a man kills a black bear he says, "I have killed a raccoon."
The young black bear is said to cry like a raccoon, hence the birth-name
Miʞa-xage. The writer is inclined to think that there is some
foundation for these statements, though La Flèche and Two Crows seemed
to doubt them. They gave but two divisions of the Wasabe-hit`ajĭ; and it
may be that these two are the only ones now in existence, while there
were four in ancient times. The two sections which are not doubted are
the Wasabe-hit`ajĭ proper, and the Quʞa, _i. e._, the Raccoon people.
When they meet as a subgens, they sit thus in their circle: The
Wasabe-hit`ajĭ people sit on the right of the entrance, and the Quʞa
have their places on the left. But in the tribal circle the Quʞa
people camp next to the Hañga Keepers of the Sacred Pole, as the former
are the servants of the Hañga. The leader of the Quʞa or Singers was
himself the only one who acted as quʞa, when called on to serve the
Hañga. [P]a¢i^n-na^npajĭ's half-brother, Hupe¢a, commonly styled
[T]e-da-u¢iqaga, used to be the leader. Since the Omahas have abandoned
the hunt, to which this office pertained, no one has acted as quʞa;
but if it were still in existence, the three brothers, Dangerous,
Gihajĭ, and Ma^n-¢i`u-ke, are the only ones from whom the quʞa could
be chosen.
Quʞa men.--Dried Buffalo Skull. Dangerous. Gihajĭ. Black bear. Paws
the Ground as he Reclines. Young (black bear) Runs. Mandan. Hupe¢a.
Laugher. Maqpiya-qaga. [T]añga-gaxe. Crow's Head. Gray Foot. J. La
Flèche said that Hupe¢a, Laugher, Maqpiya-qaga, and [T]añga-gaxe were
servants of the Elk gens; but [P]a¢i^n-na^npajĭ, their fellow-gentile,
places them among the Quʞa. (See § 143.)
In the tribal circle the Wasabe-hit`ajĭ proper camp next to the
Wajiñga-¢atajĭ. These Wasabe-hit`ajĭ are the servants of the Elk people,
whom they assist in the worship of the thunder-god. When this ceremony
takes place there are a few of the Quʞa people who accompany the
Wasabe-hit`ajĭ and act as servants. These are probably the four men
referred to above. Though all of the Wasabe-hit`ajĭ proper are reckoned
as servants of the Weji^ncte, only two of them, [P]a¢i^n-na^npajĭ and
Sida-ma^n¢i^n, take a prominent part in the ceremonies described in §§
23, 24. Should these men die or refuse to act, other members of their
Section must take their places.
Wasabe-hit`ajĭ men.--He who fears not the sight of a Pawnee. White Earth
River. Four Eyes (of a black bear). Without Gall. Progressing toward
maturity. Visible (object?). Gaxekati¢a.
Quʞa and Wasabe-hit`ajĭ women.--Da^nabi. Da^nama. Land Female.
Mi^nhupeg¢e. Mi^n-ʇa^ni^nge. She who is Coming back in sight. Weta^nne.
Wete wi^n.
THE WAJINGA ¢ATAJĬ SUBGENS.
§ 46. This name means, "They who do not eat (small) birds." They can eat
wild turkeys, all birds of the mi^nxa or goose genus, including ducks
and cranes. When sick, they are allowed to eat prairie chickens. When
members of this subgens go on the warpath, the only sacred things which
they have are the g¢eda^n (hawk) and nickucku (martin). (See § 196.)
_Style of wearing the hair._--They leave a little hair in front, over
the forehead, for a bill, and some at the back of the head, for the
bird's tail, with much over each ear, for the wings. La Flèche and Two
Crows do not deny this; but they know nothing about it.
_Curious custom during harvest._--These Wajiñga-¢atajĭ call themselves
"The Blackbird people." In harvest time, when the birds used to eat the
corn, the men of this subgens proceeded thus: They took some corn, which
they chewed and spit around over the field. They thought that such a
procedure would deter the birds from making further inroads upon the
crops.
Wacka^n-ma^n¢i^n of this subgens keeps one of the great wa¢ixabe, or
sacred bags, used when a warrior's word is doubted. (See § 196.)
§ 47. _Sections and subsections of the subgens._--Waniʇa-waqě of the
[T]a-da gens told me that the following were the divisions of the
Wajiñga-¢atajĭ; but La Flèche and Two Crows deny it. It may be that
these minor divisions no longer exist, or that they were not known to
the two men.
I.--Hawk people, under Standing Hawk.
II.--Mañg¢iqta, or Blackbird people, under Waji^na-gahige.
Subsections: (_a_) White heads. (_b_) Red heads. (_c_) Yellow heads.
(_d_) Red wings.
III.--Mañg¢iqta-qude, Gray Blackbird (the common starling), or
Thunder people, under Wa¢idaxe. Subsections: (_a_) Gray Blackbirds.
(_b_) Meadow larks. (_c_) Prairie-chickens; and, judging from the
analogy of the Ponka Hisada, (_d_) Martins.
IV.--Three subsections of the Owl and Magpie people are (_a_) Great
Owls. (_b_) Small Owls. (_c_) Magpies.
§ 48. _Birth-names of boys._--The first son was called, Mañg¢iqta,
Blackbird. The second, Red feathers on the base of the wings. The third,
White-eyed Blackbird. The fourth, Dried Wing. The fifth, Hawk (denied by
La Flèche). The sixth, Gray Hawk. The seventh, White Wings. This last is
a Ponka name, according to La Flèche and Two Crows.
Wajiñga-¢atajĭ _men_.--Red Wings. Chief who Watches over (any thing).
Becomes Suddenly Motionless. Poor man. Standing Hawk. He from whom they
flee. Rustling Horns. Scabby Horns. The one Moving towards the Dew (?).
White or Jack Rabbit. Gray Blackbird. White Blackbird. Four Hands (or
Paws). Ni-¢actage. Yellow Head (of a blackbird). Fire Chief. Coyote's
Foot. Buffalo bull Talks like a chief. Bad temper of a Buffalo bull.
White Buffalo in the distance. Hominy (a name of ridicule). He who
continues Trying (commonly translated, "Hard Walker"). He who makes the
crackling sound "Gh+!" in thundering. Bird Chief.
Wajiñga-¢atajĭ _women_.--(Female eagle) Is Moving On high. Moon in
motion during the Day. Turning Moon Female. Mi^ndaca^n-¢i^n. Mi^ntena.
Visible one that Has returned, and is in a Horizontal attitude.
THE [T]E-[P]A-IT`AJĬ SUBGENS.
§ 49. These are the Eagle people, and they are not allowed to touch a
buffalo head. (See Iñke-sabě gens, §§ 30, 32.) The writer was told that
their uju or head man in 1879 was Mañge-zi.
He who is the head of the Niniba t`a^n, Keepers of a (Sacred) Pipe, has
duties to perform whenever the chiefs assemble in council. (See Sacred
Pipes, § 18.)
The decoration of the tents in this subgens resemble those of the
Iñke-sabě.
§ 50. _Birth names of boys._--The first was called Dried Eagle.
[P]a¢i^n-na^npajĭ said that this really meant "Dried buffalo skull;" but
La Flèche and Two Crows denied this, giving another meaning, "Dried
Eagle skin." The second was Pipe. The third, Eaglet. The fourth, Real
Bald Eagle. The sixth, Standing Bald Eagle. The seventh, He (an eagle)
makes the ground Shake suddenly by Alighting on it.
§ 51. _Sections of the Subgens._--Lion gave the following, which were
doubted by La Flèche and Two Crows. I. _Keepers of the Pipe_, or
_Workers_, under Eaglet. II. _Under The-Only_-Hañga are Pidaiga,
Wadjepa, and Ma^nze-guhe. III. _Under Real Eagle_ are his son, Eagle
makes a Crackling sound by alighting on a limb of a tree, Wasaapa,
Gakie-ma^n¢i^n, and Tcaza-¢iñge. IV. To the _Bald Eagle section_ belong
Yellow Breast and Small Hill. The Omahas reckon three kinds of eagles,
the white eagle, the young white eagle, and the spotted eagle. To these
they add the bald eagle, which they say is not a real eagle. These
probably correspond with the sections of the [T]e-[p]a-it`ajĭ.
THE [K]E-`I^n, OR TURTLE SUBGENS.
§ 52. This subgens camps between the [T]e-[p]a-it`ajĭ and the [K]a^nze,
in the tribal circle. Its head man in 1879 was said to be
[T]enuga-ja^n-¢iñke. [K]e`i^n means "to carry a turtle on one's back."
The members of this subgens are allowed to touch or carry a turtle, but
they cannot eat one.
_Style of wearing the hair._--They cut off all the hair from a boy's
head, except six locks; two are left on each side, one over the
forehead, and one hanging down the back, in imitation of the legs, head,
and tail of a turtle. La Flèche and Two Crows did not know about this,
but they said that it might be true.
_Decoration of the tents._--The figures of turtles were painted on the
outside of the tents. (See the Iñke-sabě decorations, §§ 30-32.)
_Curious custom during a fog._--In the time of a fog the men of this
subgens drew the figure of a turtle on the ground with its face to the
south. On the head, tail, middle of the back, and on each leg were
placed small pieces of a (red) breech-cloth with some tobacco. This they
imagined would make the fog disappear very soon.
§ 53. _Birth names of boys._--The first son was called He who Passed by
here on his way back to the Water; the second, He who runs very swiftly
to get back to the Water; the third, He who floats down the stream; the
fourth, Red Breast; the fifth, Big Turtle; the sixth, Young one who
carries a turtle on his back; the seventh, Turtle that kicks out his
legs and paws the ground when a person takes hold of him.
_Sections of the subgens._--Lion gave the following as sections of the
[K]e-`i^n, though the statement was denied by La Flèche and Two Crows.
"The first section is Big Turtle, under [P]ahe-ʇa[p]`ě, in 1878. The
second is Turtle that does not flee, under Cage-skă or Nistu-ma^n¢i^n.
The third is Red-breasted Turtle, under [T]enuga-ja^n-¢iñke. The fourth
is Spotted Turtle with Red Eyes, under Ehna^n-juwag¢e."
_Turtle men._--Heat makes (a turtle) Emerge from the mud. (Turtle) Walks
Backward. He Walks (or continues) Seeking something. Ancestral Turtle.
Turtle that Flees not. (Turtle that) Has gone into the Lodge (or Shell).
He alone is with them. He Continues to Tread on them. Turtle Maker.
Spotted Turtle with Red Eyes. Young Turtle-carrier. Buzzard. He who
Starts up a Turtle.
One of the women is Egg Female.
THE [K]A^nZE GENS.
§ 54. The place of the [K]a^nze or Kansas gens is between the [K]e-`i^n
and the Ma^n¢iñka-gaxe in the tribal circle. The head man of the gens
who was recognized as such in 1879 was Za^nzi-mande.
_Taboo._--The [K]a^nze people cannot touch verdigris, which they call
"wase-ʇu," green clay, or "wase-ʇu-qude," gray-green clay.
Being Wind people, they flap their blankets to start a breeze which will
drive off the musquitoes.
_Subgentes._--La Flèche and Two Crows recognize but two of these:
Keepers of a Pipe and Wind People. They assign to the former
Maja^nha¢i^n, Maja^n-kide, &c., and to the latter Waji^n-¢icage,
Za^nzi-mandě, and their near kindred. But Lion said that there were four
subgentes, and that Maja^nha¢i^n was the head man of the first, or
Niniba t`a^n, which has another name, Those who Make the Sacred tent. He
gave Waji^n-¢icage as the head man of the Wind people, Za^nzi-mandě as
the head of the third subgens, and Maja^n-kide of the fourth; but he
could not give the exact order in which they sat in their gentile
circle.
A member of the gens told the writer that Four Peaks, whom Lion assigned
to Za^nzi-mandě's subgens, was the owner of the sacred tent; but he did
not say to what sacred tent he referred.
Some say that Maja^nha¢i^n was the keeper of the sacred pipe of his gens
till his death in 1879. Others, including Frank La Flèche, say that Four
Peaks was then, and still is, the keeper of the pipe.
According to La Flèche and Two Crows, a member of this gens was chosen
as crier when the brave young men were ordered to take part in the sham
fight. (See § 152.) "This was Maja^nha-¢i^n" (_Frank La Flèche_).
§ 55. _Names of Kansas men._--Thick Hoofs. Something Wanting. Not worn
from long use. He only is great in his own estimation. Boy who talks
like a chief. Young one that Flies [?]. He Lay down On the way. Young
Beaver. Two Thighs. Brave Boy. Kansas Chief. Young Kansas. Making a
Hollow sound. Gray Cottonwood. The one Moving toward the Land. He who
shot at the Land. Young Grizzly bear. White Grizzly bear near at hand.
He started suddenly to his feet. Heartless. Chief. Four Peaks. Hair on
the legs (of a buffalo calf takes) a withered appearance. Swift Wind.
Wind pulls to pieces. He Walks In the Wind. Buffalo that has become Lean
again. Lies at the end. Young animal Feeding with the herd. He who makes
an object Fall to pieces by Punching it. Blood. He who makes them weep.
Bow-wood Bow.
_Names of Kansas women._--Kansas Female. Moon that Is traveling.
Ancestral or Foremost Moon. Moon Moving On high. Last [?] Wind. Wind
Female. Coming back Gray.
THE MA^n₵IÑKA-GAXE GENS.
§ 56. This gens, which is the first of the Ictasanda gentes, camps next
to the [K]a^nze, but on the opposite side of the road.
The chief of the gens is Cañge-skă, or White Horse, a grandson of the
celebrated Black Bird.
The name Ma^n¢iñka-gaxe means "the earth-lodge makers," but the members
of this gens call themselves the Wolf (and Prairie Wolf) People.
_Tradition._--The principal nikie of the Ma^n¢iñka-gaxe are the coyote,
the wolf, and the sacred stones. La Flèche and Two Crows say that these
are all together. Some say that there are two sacred stones, one of
which is red, the other black; others say that both stones have been
reddened. (See § 16.) La Flèche and Two Crows have heard that there were
four of these stones; one being black, one red, one yellow, and one
blue. (See the colors of the lightning on the tent of Agaha-wacuce, §
43.) One tradition is that the stones were made by the Coyote in ancient
days to be used for conjuring enemies. The Osage tradition mentions four
stones of different colors, white, black, red, and blue.
_Style of wearing the hair._--Boys have two locks of hair left on their
heads, one over the forehead and another at the parting of the hair on
the crown. Female children have four locks left, one at the front, one
at the back, and one over each ear. La Flèche and Two Crows do not know
this, but they say that it may be true.
§ 57. _Subgentes._--La Flèche and Two Crows gave but two of these:
Keepers of the Pipe and Sacred Persons. This is evidently the
classification for marriage purposes, referred to in § 78; and the
writer is confident that La Flèche and Two Crows always mean this when
they speak of the divisions of each gens. This should be borne in mind,
as it will be helpful in solving certain seeming contradictions. That
these two are not the only divisions of the gens will appear from the
statements of Lion and Cañge-skă, the latter being the chief of the
gens. Cañge-skă said that there were three subgentes, as follows: 1.
Qube (including the Wolf people?). 2. Niniba t`a^n. 3. Mi^n´xa-sa^n
wet`ájĭ. Lion gave the following: 1. Mi´ʞasi (Coyote and Wolf people).
2. I^n´`ě waqúbe, Keepers of the Sacred Stones. 3. Niníba t`a^n. 4.
Mi^n´xa-sa^n wet`ájĭ. According to Cañge-skă, Qube was the name given to
his part of the gens after the death of Black Bird; therefore it is a
modern name, not a hundred years old. But I^n´`ě-waqúbe points to the
mythical origin of the gens; hence the writer is inclined to accept the
fourfold division as the ancient one. The present head of the Coyote
people is [T]aqie-tig¢e, whose predecessor was Hu-¢agebe. Cañge-skă, of
the second subgens, is the successor of his father, who bore the same
name. Uckadajĭ is the rightful keeper of the Sacred Pipe, but as he is
very old Ca^nta^n-jiñga has superseded him, according to
[P]a¢i^n-na^npajĭ. Mi^nxa-skă was the head of the Mi^nxa-sa^n wet`ajĭ,
but Mañga`ajĭ has succeeded him. The name of this last subgens means
"Those who do not touch swans," but this is only a name, not a taboo,
according to some of the Omahas.
Among the Kansas Indians, the Ma^nyiñka-gaxe people used to include the
Elk gens, and part of the latter is called, Mi^n´xa únikaci^nga, Swan
people. As these were originally a subgens of the Kansas Ma^nyiñka-gaxe,
it furnishes another reason for accepting the statement of Lion about
the Omaha Mi^nxa-sa^n-wet`ajĭ.
§ 58. _Birth-names of boys._--[P]a¢i^n-na^npajĭ gave the following, but
he did not know their exact order: He who Continues to Travel (denied by
the La Flèche and Two Crows). Little Tail (of a coyote). Sudden
Crunching sound (made by a coyote or wolf when gnawing bones). (Coyote)
Wheels around suddenly. (Coyote) Stands erect very suddenly. Surly Wolf.
_Names of men._ I. _Wolf subgens._--Sudden crunching sound. Wacicka.
Continues Running. Wheels around suddenly. The Standing one who is
Traveling. (Wolf) Makes a sudden Crackling sound (by alighting on twigs
or branches). Ghost of a Grizzly bear. Stands erect Very suddenly.
Little Tail. Young Traveler. He who Continues to Travel, or Standing
Traveler. Standing Elk. Young animal Feeding or grazing with a herd. II.
I^n`ě-waqube _subgens_.--White Horse. Ancestral Kansas. Thunder-god.
Village-maker. Brave Second-son. Black Bird (_not_ Blackbird). Big Black
bear. White Swan. Night Walker. He whom they Reverence. Big Chief.
Walking Stone. Red Stone. [P]a¢i^n-na^npajĭ said that the last two names
were birth-names in this subgens. III. Niniba-t`a^n _subgens_.--He who
Rushes into battle. Young Wolf. Saucy Chief. IV. _Swan subgens._--He
whom an Arrow Fails to wound. Willing to be employed. A member of this
gens, Tailless Grizzly bear, has been with the Ponkas for many years.
His name is not an Omaha name.
_Names of women._--Hawk-Female. New Hawk-Female. Miacte-cta^n, or
Miate-cta^n. Mi^n-miʇega. Visible Moon. (Wolf) Stands erect. White Ponka
in the distance. Ponka Female. She who is Ever Coming back Visible.
Eagle Circling around. Wate wi^n.
THE [T]E-SĬNDE GENS.
§ 59. The [T]e-sĭnde, or Buffalo-tail gens, camps between the
Ma^n¢iñka-gaxe and the [T]a-[p]a gentes in the tribal circle. Its
present chief is Waha^n-¢iñge, son of Takunaki¢abi.
_Taboos._--The members of this gens cannot eat a calf while it is red,
but they can do so when it becomes black. This applies to the calf of
the domestic cow, as well as to that of the buffalo. They cannot touch a
buffalo head.--_Frank La Flèche._ (See §§ 31, 37, and 49.) They cannot
eat the meat on the lowest rib, ʇe¢iʇ-ucag¢e, because the head of the
calf before birth touches the mother near that rib.
[Illustration: FIG. 19.--[T]e-sĭnde style of wearing the hair.]
_Style of wearing the hair._--It is called "[T]áihi^n-múxa-gáxai," _Mane
made muxa_, _i. e._, to stand up and hang over a little on each side. La
Flèche and Two Crows do not know this style.
§ 60. _Birth-names of boys._--[P]a¢i^n-na^npajĭ was uncertain about
them. He thought that six of them were as follows: Gray Horns (of a
buffalo). Uma-abi, refers to cutting up a buffalo. (A buffalo that is
almost grown) Raises his Tail in the air. Dark Eyes (A buffalo calf when
it sheds its reddish-yellow hair, has a coat of black, which commences
at the eyes). (Buffalo Calf) Unable to Run. Little one (buffalo calf)
with reddish-yellow hair.
§ 61. _Subgentes._--For marriage purposes, the gens is undivided,
according to La Flèche and Two Crows; but they admitted that there were
at present two parts of the gens, one of which was The Keepers of the
Pipe. Lion said that he knew of but two subgentes, which were The
Keepers of the Pipe, or, Those who do not Eat the Lowest buffalo rib,
under Wild sage; and Those who Touch no Calves, or, Keepers of the Sweet
Medicine, under Orphan. J. La Flèche said that all of the [T]e-sĭnde had
the sweet medicine, and that none were allowed to eat calves.
§ 62. _Names of men._--Wild Sage. Stands in a High and marshy place.
Smoke Coming back Regularly. Big ax. (Buffalo) Bristling with Arrows.
Ancestral Feather. Orphan, or, (Buffalo bull) Raises a Dust by Pawing
the Ground. Unable to run. (Body of a buffalo) Divided with a knife.
Playful (?) or Skittish Buffalo. Little one with reddish-yellow hair.
Dark Eyes. Lies Bottom-upwards. Stands on a Level. Young Buffalo bull.
Raises his Tail in the air. Lover. Crow Necklace. Big Mane. Buffalo
Head. He who is to be blamed for evil.
_Names of women._--Mi^n-akanda. Sacred Moon. White Buffalo-Female in the
distance. Walks in order to Seek (for something).
THE [T]A-[P]A OR DEER-HEAD GENS.
§ 63. The place of this gens in the tribal circle is after that of the
[T]e-sĭnde. The chief of the gens is Sĭnde-xa^nxa^n.
_Taboo._--The members of this gens cannot touch the skin of any animal
of the deer family; they cannot use moccasins of deer-skin; nor can they
use the fat of the deer for hair-oil, as the other Omahas can do; but
they can eat the flesh of the deer.
_Subgentes._--La Flèche and Two Crows recognized three divisions of the
gens for marriage purposes, and said that the Keepers of the Sacred Pipe
were "uʞa^nha jiñga," _a little apart from the rest_. Waniʇa-waqě, who
is himself the keeper of the Sacred Pipe of this gens, gave four
subgentes. These sat in the gentile circle in the following order: On
the first or left side of the "fire-place" were the Niniba t`a^n,
_Keepers of the Pipe_, and Jiñga-gahige's subgens. On the other side
were the Thunder people and the real Deer people. The Keepers of the
Pipe and Jiñga-gahige's subgens seem to form one of the three divisions
recognized by La Flèche. Waniʇa-waqě said that his own subgens were
Eagle people, and that they had a special taboo, being forbidden to
touch verdigris (see [K]a^nze gens), charcoal, and the skin of the
wild-cat. He said that the members of the second subgens could not touch
charcoal, in addition to the general taboo of the gens. But La Flèche
and Two Crows said that none of the [T]a-[p]a could touch charcoal.
The head of the Niniba t`a^n took the name Waniʇa-waqě, The Animal that
excels others, or Lion, after a visit to the East; but his real Omaha
name is Disobedient. [P]a¢i^n-gahige is the head of the Thunder subgens,
and Sĭnde-xa^nxa^n, of the Deer subgens.
§ 64. _Birth-names for boys._--Lion said that the following were some of
the Eagle birth-names of his subgens (see Iñke-sabě birth-names, § 32):
The thunder-god makes the sound "ʇide" as he walks. Eagle who is a chief
(keeping a Sacred Pipe). Eagle that excels. White Eagle (Golden Eagle).
Akida-gahige, Chief who Watches over something (being the keeper of a
Sacred Pipe).
He gave the following as the Deer birth-names: He who Wags his Tail. The
Black Hair on the Abdomen of a Buck. Horns like phalanges. Deer Paws the
Ground, making parallel or diverging indentations. Deer in the distance
Shows its Tail White Suddenly. Little Hoof of a deer. Dark Chin of a
deer.
§ 65. _Ceremony on the fifth day after a birth._--According to Lion,
there is a peculiar ceremony observed in his gens when an infant is
named. All the members of the gens assemble on the fifth day after the
birth of a child. Those belonging to the subgens of the infant cannot
eat anything cooked for the feast, but the men of the other subgentes
are at liberty to partake of the food. The infant is placed within the
gentile circle and the privileged decoration is made on the face of the
child with "wase-jide-nika," or Indian red. Then with the tips of the
index, middle, and the next finger, are red spots made down the child's
back, at short intervals, in imitation of a fawn. The child's
breech-cloth (_sic_) is also marked in a similar way. With the tips of
three fingers are rubbed stripes as long as a hand on the arms and chest
of the infant. All the [T]a-[p]a people, even the servants, decorate
themselves. Rubbing the rest of the Indian red on the palms of their
hands, they pass their hands backwards over their hair; and they finally
make red spots on their chests, about the size of a hand. The members of
the Pipe subgens, and those persons in the other subgentes who are
related to the infant's father through the calumet dance, are the only
ones who are allowed to use the privileged decoration, and to wear
hi^nqpe (_down_) in their hair. If the infant belongs to the Pipe
subgens, charcoal, verdigris, and the skin of a wild-cat are placed
beside him, as the articles not to be touched by him in after-life. Then
he is addressed thus: "This you must not touch; this, too, you must not
touch; and this you must not touch." The verdigris symbolizes the blue
sky.
La Flèche and Two Crows said that the custom is different from the
above. When a child is named on the fifth day after birth, all of the
gentiles are not invited, the only person who is called is an old man
who belongs to the subgens of the infant.[5] He puts the spots on the
child, and gives it its name; but there is no breech-cloth.
§ 66. _Names of men._ I. _Pipe subgens._--Chief that Watches over
something. Eagle Chief. Eagle that excels, or Eagle-maker (?). Wags his
Tail. Standing Moose or Deer. (Lightning) Dazzles the Eyes, making them
Blink. Shows Iron. Horns Pulled around (?). Forked Horns. (Fawn that)
Does not Flee to a place of refuge. (Deer) Alights, making the sound
"stapi." Pawnee Tempter, a war name. White Tail. Gray Face. Like a
Buffalo Horn (?). Walks Near. Not ashamed to ask for anything. (Fawn) Is
not Shot at (by the hunter). White Breast. Goes to the Hill. Elk.
II._ Boy Chief's subgens._--Human-male Eagle (a Dakota name, J. La
Flèche). Heart Bone (of a deer; some say it refers to the thunder; J. La
Flèche says that it has been recently brought from the Kansas). Fawn
gives a sudden cry. Small Hoofs. Dark Chin. Forked Horns. (Deer) Leaps
and raises a sudden Dust by Alighting on the ground. He who Wishes to be
Sacred (or a doctor). Flees not. Forked Horns of a Fawn.
III. _Thunder subgens._--Spotted Back (of a fawn). Small Hoofs. Like a
Buffalo Horn. Wet Moccasins (that is, the feet of a deer. A female name
among the Osages, etc.). Young Male-animal. White Tail. Dazzles the
Eyes. Spoken to (by the thunder-god). Young Thunder-god. Dark Chin.
Forked Horns. Distant Sitting one with White Horns. Fawn. Paws the
Ground, making parallel or diverging indentations. Black Hair on a
buck's Abdomen. Two Buffalo bulls. Red Leaf (a Dakota name). Skittish.
Black Crow. Weasel. Young Elk. Pawnee Chief.
IV. _Deer subgens._--(Deer's) Tail shows red, now and then, in the
distance. White-horned animal Walking Near by. White Neck. Tail Shows
White Suddenly in the distance. (Deer) Stands Red. (Deer) Starts up,
beginning to move. Big Deer Walks. (Deer that) Excels others as he
stands, or, Stands ahead of others. Small Forked Horns (of a fawn). Four
Deer. Back drawn up (as of an enraged deer or buffalo), making the hair
stand erect. Four Hoofs. He who Carves an animal. Shows a Turtle. Runs
in the Trail (of the female). (Fawn) Despised (by the hunter, who
prefers to shoot the full-grown deer). Feared when not seen. White Elk.
Lion said that White Neck was the only servant in his gens at present.
When the gens assembled in its circle, the servants had to sit by the
door, as it was their place to bring in wood and water, and to wait on
the guests. La Flèche and Two Crows said that there were no servants of
this sort in any of the gentes.
Yet, among the Osages and Kansas, there are still two kinds of servants,
kettle-tenders and water-bringers. But these can be promoted to the rank
of brave men.
_Names of women in the gens._--Eᴐna-maha. Habitual-Hawk Female. Hawk
Female. Precious Hawk Female. Horn used for cutting or chopping (?). Ax
Female. Moon-Hawk Female. Moon that is Flying. Moon that Is moving On
high. Na^nzéi^nze. White Ponka in the distance. Ponka Female.
[5] This agrees substantially with the Osage custom.
THE IÑG¢E-JIDE GENS.
§ 67. The meaning of this name has been explained in several ways. In
Dougherty's Account of the Omahas (_Long's Expedition to the Rocky
Mountains_, I, 327) we read that "This name is said to have originated
from the circumstance of this band having formerly quarreled and
separated themselves from the nation, until, being nearly starved, they
were compelled to eat the fruit of the wild cherry tree, until their
excrement became red". (They must have eaten buffalo berries, not wild
cherries. La Flèche.) A^nba-hebe did not know the exact meaning of the
name, but said that it referred to the bloody body of the buffalo seen
when the seven old men visited this gens with the sacred pipes. (See §
16). Two Crows said that the Iñg¢ejide men give the following
explanation: "[T]éjiñga ídai tědi, iñg¢é zí-jide éga^n": _i. e._, "When
a buffalo calf is born, its dung is a yellowish red."
The place of the Iñg¢e-jide in the tribal circle is next to that of the
[T]a-[p]a. Their head man is He-mu[s]nade.
_Taboo._--They do not eat a buffalo calf. (See [T]e-sĭnde gens.) It
appears that the two Ictasanda buffalo gentes are buffalo calf gentes,
and that the two Hañgacenu buffalo gentes are connected with the grown
buffalo.
_Decoration of skin tents._--This consists of a circle painted on each
side of the entrance, within which is sketched the body of a buffalo
calf, visible from the flanks up. A similar sketch is made on the back
of the tent.
§ 68. _Birth names of boys._--These are as follows, but their exact
order has not been gained: Buffalo calf. Seeks its Mother. Stands at the
End. Horn Erect with the sharp end toward the spectator. Buffalo (calf?)
Rolls over. Made dark by heat very suddenly. Ma^nzeda^n, meaning
unknown.
_Subgentes._--The Iñg¢e-jide are not divided for marriage purposes.
Lion, however, gave four subgentes; but he could not give the names and
taboos. He said that _Horn Erect_ was the head of the first. The present
head of the second is _Little Star_. _Rolls over_ is the head of the
third; and _Singer_ of the fourth.
_Names of men._--Walking Buffalo. Buffalo Walks a little. (Buffaloes)
Continue Approaching. Tent-poles stuck Obliquely in the ground. Becomes
Cold suddenly. Hawk Temper. Bad Buffalo. (Buffalo calf) Seeks its
Mother. (Buffalo bull) Rolls over. Stands at the End. Singer. Crow Skin.
Small Bank. Kansas Head. Rapid (as a river). Sacred Crow that speaks in
Visions. White Feather. Walks at the End.
_Names of women._--Moon-Hawk Female. Moon Horn Female. (Buffaloes) Make
the ground Striped as they run. Walks, seeking her own.
THE ICTASANDA GENS.
§ 69. The meaning of "Ictasanda" is uncertain; though Say was told by
Dougherty that it signifies "gray eyes." It probably has some reference
to the effect of lightning on the eyes. The place of the Ictasanda is at
the end of the tribal circle, after the Iñg¢e-jide, and opposite to the
Weji^ncte. The head of the gens is Ibaha^nbi, son of Wanuʞige, and
grandson of Wacka^nhi.
_Taboo._--The Ictasanda people do not touch worms, snakes, toads, frogs,
or any other kinds of reptiles. Hence they are sometimes called the
"Wag¢ícka níkaci^n´ga," or Reptile people. But there are occasions when
they seem to violate this custom. If worms trouble the corn after it has
been planted, these people catch some of them. They pound them up with a
small quantity of grains of corn that have been heated. They make a soup
of the mixture and eat it, thinking that the corn will not be troubled
again--at least for the remainder of that season.
§ 70. _Birth names of boys._--Ibaha^nbi said that the first son was
called Gaagig¢e-hna^n, which probably refers to thunder that is passing
by. The second is, The Thunder-god is Roaring as he Stands. The third,
Big Shoulder. The fourth, Walking Forked-lightning. The fifth, The
thunder-god Walks Roaring. The sixth, Sheet-lightning Makes a Glare
inside the Lodge. The seventh, The Thunder-god that Walks After others
at the close of a storm.
_Birth names of girls._--The first is called The Visible (Moon) in
Motion. The second, The Visible one that has Come back and is in a
Horizontal attitude. The third, Zizika-wate, meaning uncertain; refers
to wild turkeys. The fourth, Female (thunder?) who Roars. The fifth, She
who is Ever Coming back Visibly (referring to the moon?). The sixth,
White Eyed Female in the distance. The seventh, Visible ones in
different places.
§ 71. _Subgentes._--For marriage purposes the gens is divided into three
parts, according to La Flèche and Two Crows. I. Niniba-t`a^n, Keepers of
the Pipe, and Real Ictasanda, of which [T]e-uʞa^nha, [K]awaha,
Waji^n-a^nba, and Si-¢ede-jiñga are the only survivors. II. Waceta^n, or
Reptile people, under Ibaha^nbi. III. Ing¢a^n, Thunder people, among who
are Ui¢a^nbe-a^nsa and Wanace-jiñga.
Lion divided the gens into four parts. I. Niniba-t`a^n, under
[T]e-uʞa^nha. II. Real Ictasanda people, under Waji^n-a^nba. III.
Waceta^n (referring to the thunder, according to Lion, but denied by Two
Crows), Reptile people, under Ibaha^nbi. These are sometimes called
Keepers of the Claws of the Wild-cat, because they bind these claws to
the waist of a new-born infant, putting them on the left side. IV. The
Real Thunder people are called, Those who do not touch the Clam shell,
or, Keepers of the Clam shell, or, Keepers of the Clam shell and the
Tooth of a Black bear. These bind a clam shell to the waist of a child
belonging to this subgens, when he is forward in learning to walk. (See
§§ 24, 43, 45, and 63.)
At the time that Waniʇa-waqě gave this information, March, 1880, he said
that there were but two men left in the Niniba-t`a^n, [T]e-uʞa^nha,
and [K]awaha. Now it appears that they have united with Waji^n-a^nba and
Si¢ede-jiñga, the survivors of the Ictasandaqti. [T]e-uʞa^nha, being
the keeper of the Ictasanda sacred pipe, holds what was a very important
office, that of being the person who has the right to fill the sacred
pipes for the chiefs. (See §§ 17 and 18.) [T]e-uʞa^nha, does not,
however, know the sacred words used on such occasions, as his father,
Mahi^nzi, died without communicating them to him.
But some say that there is another duty devolving on this keeper. There
has been a custom in the tribe not to cut the hair of children when they
were small, even after they began to walk. But before a child reached
the age of four years, it was necessary for it to be taken, with such
other children as had not had their hair cut, to the man who filled the
sacred pipes. Two or three old men of the Ictasanda gens sat together on
that occasion. They sent a crier around the camp or village, saying,
"You who wish to have your children's hair cut bring them." Then the
father, or else the mother, would take the child, with a pair of good
moccasins for the child to put on, also a present for the keeper of the
sacred pipe, which might consist of a pair of moccasins, some arrows, or
a dress, etc. When the parents had arrived with their children each one
addressed the keeper of the pipe, saying, "Venerable man, you will
please cut my child's hair," handing him the present at the same time.
Then the old man would take a child, cut off one lock about the length
of a finger, tie it up, and put it with the rest in a sacred buffalo
hide. Then the old man put the little moccasins on the child, who had
not worn any previously, and after turning him around four times he
addressed him thus: "[T]ucpáha, Wakan´da ¢a`é¢i¢é-de ʞáci ma^n¢iñ´ka
si á¢ag¢é taté--_Grandchild, may Wakanda pity you, and may your feet
rest for a long time on the ground!_" Another form of the address was
this: "Wakan´da ¢a`é¢i¢e taté! Ma^n¢iñ´ka si á¢ag¢é taté. Gúdihéga^n hné
taté!--_May Wakanda pity you! May your feet tread the ground! May you go
ahead_ (_i. e._, may you live hereafter)!" At the conclusion of the
ceremony the parent took the child home, and on arriving there the
father cut off the rest of the child's hair, according to the style of
the gens. La Flèche told the following, in 1879: "If it was desired,
horns were left, and a circle of hair around the head, with one lock at
each side, over the ear. Some say that they cut off more of the hair,
leaving none on top and only a circle around the head." But the writer
has not been able to ascertain whether this referred to any particular
gens, as the Ictasanda or to the whole tribe. "It is the duty of
Waji^n-a^nba, of the Real Ictasanda, to cut the children's hair. The
Keepers of the Pipe and the Real Ictasanda were distinct subgentes, each
having special duties." (_Frank La Flèche._)
§ 72. _Names of men._--[T]e-uʞa^nha (Sentinel Buffalo Apart from the
herd) and his brother, [K]awaha, are the only survivors of the _Keepers
of the Pipe_. Hañga-cenu and Mahi^n-zi (Yellow Rock) are dead.
II. _Real Ictasanda people._--Waji^n-a^nba and Small Heel are the only
survivors. The following used to belong to this subgens: Reptile
Catcher. (Thunder-god) Threatens to strike. Wishes to Love. Frog.
(Thunder) Makes a Roar as it Passes along. Night Walker. Runs (on) the
Land. Sacred Mouth. Soles of (gophers') Paws turned Outward. The
Reclining Beaver. Snake. Touched the distant foe. Rusty-yellow Corn-husk
(an Oto name). Young Black bear. He who Boiled a Little (a nickname for
a stingy man). Small Fireplace. He who Hesitates about asking a favor.
Maker of a Lowland forest. Stomach Fat.
III. Waceta^n _subgens_.--Roar of approaching thunder. He who made the
foe stir. He who tried to anticipate the rest in reaching the body of a
foe. Cedar Shooter. Flat Water (the Platte or Nebraska). He is Known.
(Thunder-god) Roars as he Stands. Sharp Stone. (Thunder that) Walks
after the others at the close of a storm. Big Shoulder. (Thunder) Walks
On high. Wace-jiñga (Small Reptile?) Wace-ta^n (Standing Reptile?).
Wace-ta^n-jiñga (Small Standing Reptile?). (Snake) Makes himself Round.
Sheet-lightning Flashes Suddenly. Forked-lightning Walks. Thunder makes
the sound "z+!" Black cloud in the horizon. Walks during the Night.
White Disposition (or, Sensible). Sole of the foot. He got the better of
the Lodges (of the foe by stealing their horses). Ibaha^nbi (He is
Known) gave the following as names of Ictasanda men, but J. La Flèche
and Two Crows doubt them. Large Spotted Snake. (Snake) Makes (a frog)
Cry out (by biting him).[6] Small Snake.[6] (Snake) Lies Stiff. Big
Mouth. Black Rattlesnake. (Snake that) Puffs up itself.
IV. _Thunder subgens._--Sheet-lightning Flashes inside the Lodge. Swift
at Running up a hill. Young Policeman. Cloud. He Walks with them. He who
Is envied because he has a pretty wife, a good horse, etc., though he is
poor or homely.
_Names of women._--Da^nama. She Alone is Visible. Skin Dress. She who Is
returning Roaring or Bellowing. She who is made Muddy as she Moves. Moon
has Returned Visible. Moon is Moving On high.[7]
[6] These names are found in the corresponding Ponka gens, the Wajaje or
Osage, a reptile gens.
[7] Many names have been omitted because an exact translation could not
be given, though the references to certain animals or mythical ancestors
are apparent. It is the wish of the writer to publish hereafter a
comparative list of personal names of the cognate tribes, Omahas,
Ponkas, Osages, Kansas, and Kwapas, for which considerable material has
been collected.
CHAPTER IV.
THE KINSHIP SYSTEM AND MARRIAGE LAWS.
CLASSES OF KINSHIP.
§ 73. Joseph La Flèche and Two Crows recognize four classes of kinship:
1. Consanguineous or blood kinship, which includes not only the gens of
the father, but also those of the mother and grandmothers.
2. Marriage kinship, including all the affinities of the consort, as
well as those of the son's wife or daughter's husband.
3. Weawa^n kinship, connected with the Calumet dance. (See § 126.)
4. Inter-gentile kinship, existing between contiguous gentes. This last
is not regarded as a bar to intermarriage, _e. g._, the Weji^ncte and
Iñke-sabě gentes are related; and the Weji^ncte man whose tent is at the
end of his gentile area in the tribal circle is considered as a very
near kinsman by the Iñke-sabě man whose tent is next to his. In like
manner, the Iñke-sabě Wa¢igije man who camps next to the Hañga gens is a
brother of his nearest Hañga neighbor. The last man in the Hañga area is
the brother of the first ₵atada (Wasabe-hit`ajĭ), who acts as Quʞa for
the Hañga. The last ₵atada [K]e-`i^n man is brother of the first
[K]a^nze man, and so on around the circle.
Two other classes of relationship were given to the writer by members of
three tribes, Omahas, Ponkas, and Missouris, but Joseph La Flèche and
Two Crows never heard of them. The writer gives authorities for each
statement.
5. Nikie kinship. "Nikie" means "Something handed down from a mythical
ancestor," or "An ancient custom." Nikie kinship refers to kinship based
on descent from the same or a similar mythical ancestor. For example,
Big Elk, of the Omaha Weji^ncte or Elk gens, told the writer that he was
related to the Kansas Elk gens, and that a Weji^ncte man called a
Kansas Elk man "My younger brother," the Kansas man calling the
Weji^ncte "My elder brother."
Icta¢abi, an Iñke-sabě, and Ckátce-yiñ´e, of the Missouri tribe, said
that the Omaha Weji^ncte calls the Oto Hótatci (Elk gens) "Elder
brother." But Big Elk did not know about this. He said, however, that
his gens was related to the Ponka Niʞa[p]aᴐna, a deer and elk gens.
Icta¢abi said that Omaha Iñke-sabě, his own gens, calls the Ponka ₵ixida
"Grandchild"; but others say that this is owing to intermarriage.
Icta¢abi also said that Iñke-sabě calls the Ponka Wajaje "Elder
brother"; but some say that this is owing to intermarriage. Gahige, of
the Iñke-sabě gens, calls Standing Grizzly bear of the Ponka Wajaje his
grandchild; and Standing Buffalo, of the same gens, his son. So
Icta¢abi's statement was incorrect.
[Illustration: OMAHA SYSTEM OF CONSANGUINITIES.
Legend.
[Illustration] EGO, a male.
A Father group. I^ndadi, _my father_.
[A] Mother group. I^nna^nha, _my mother_.
B Grandfather group. Wiʇiga^n, _my grandfather_.
[B] Grandmother group. Wiʞa^n, _my grandmother_.
C Son group. Wijiñge, _my son_.
[C] Daughter group. Wijañge, _my daughter_.
D--[D] Grandchild group. Wiʇucpa, _my grandchild_ N. B.--D denotes a
grandson, and [D], a granddaughter.
E Elder brother group. Wiji^n¢e, _my elder brother_.
F Younger brother group. Wisañga, _my younger brother_.
[E]--[F] Sister group. Wiʇañge, _my sister_. This term is also used by
EGO, a female, for "My younger sister"; but EGO, a male, does not
distinguish between elder sister ([E]) and younger sister ([F]).
G Sister's son group. Wiʇa^ncka, _my sister's son_.
[G] Sister's daughter group. Wiʇija^n, _my sister's daughter_.
H Mother's brother group. Winegi, _my mother's brother_.
[H] Father's sister group. Wiʇimi, _my father's sister_.
Affinity groups in this part of the plate:
a Wife's brother or sister's husband group. Wiʇaha^n, _my
brother-in-law_.
[b] Wife's sister or brother's wife group. Wihañga, _my potential wife_.
[c] Son's wife group. Wiʇini, _my son's wife_.
d Daughter's husband group. Wiʇande, _my daughter's husband_.
_Legend._
[Illustration] EGO, a female. A, [A], B, [B], C, [C], D, [D], F, H, and
[H] as above.
=E= Elder brother group. Wiʇinu, _my elder brother_.
_E_ Elder sister group. Wija^n¢e, _my elder sister_.
[F] Younger sister group. Wiʇañge, _my younger sister_.
I Brother's son group. Wiʇucka, _my brother's son_.
[J] Brother's daughter group. Wiʇujañge, _my brother's daughter_.
Affinity groups in this part of the plate:
See above for explanation of [c] and d.
e Husband's brother group. Wici`e, _my potential husband_.
[f] Husband's sister group. Wiciʞa^n, _my husband's sister_.]
Icta¢bi and Ckatce-yiñe said that Iñke-sabě calls the Oto Arúqwa, or
Buffalo gens, "Grandfather;" and that the Oto Rútce or Pigeon gens is
called "Grandchild" by Iñke-sabě.
Some said that the Omaha Wasabe-hit`ajĭ called the Ponka Wasabe-hit`ajĭ
"Grandchild"; but [P]á¢i^n-na^npájĭ, of the Omaha Wasabe-hit`ajĭ, said
that his subgens called the Ponka Wasabe-hit`ajĭ "Younger brother"; and
₵ixida and Wajaje "Grandfather." Húpe¢a, another member of the Omaha
Wasabe-hit`ajĭ, said that Ubískă of the Ponka Wasabe-hit`ajĭ was his
son; Ubískă's father, his elder brother (by marriage); and Ubískă's
grandfather his (Hupe¢a's) father. He also said that he addressed as
elder brothers all Ponka men older than himself, and all younger than
himself he called his younger brothers.
Fire Chief of the Omaha Wajiñga-¢atajĭ said that he called Keʞré[ç]e,
of the Oto Tuna^n´p'i^n gens, his son; the Ponka Wasabe-hit`ajĭ, his
elder brother; the Kansas Wasabe and Miʞa, his fathers; the Kansas
Eagle people, his fathers; the Kansas Turtle people, his elder brothers;
the Oto Rútce (Pigeon people), his fathers; the Oto Makátce (Owl
people), his sisters' sons; and the Winnebago Ho^ntc (Black bear
people), his fathers.
Omaha Ma^n¢iñka-gaxe calls Yankton-Dakota Tcaxú, "Sister's sons," but
Tcañ´kuté, Ihá-isdáye, Watcéu^npa, and Ikmu^n´, are "Grandsons."
[T]a-[p]a calls Oto [T]ᴐéxita (Eagle people) "Grandchildren"; and Ponka
Hísada "Grandfathers."
Icta¢abi said that Ictasanda called Ponka Maka^n´ "Mother's brother";
but Ibaha^nbi, of the Ictasanda gens, denied it. Ibaha^nbi said that he
called a member of a gens of another tribe, when related to him by the
nikie, "My father," if the latter were very old; "My elder brother," if
a little older than himself, and "My younger brother," if the latter
were Ibaha^nbi's junior. Besides, Ibaha^nbi takes, for example, the
place of Standing Bear of the Ponka Wajaje; and whatever relationship
Standing Bear sustains to the Hisada, ₵ixida, Nikadaᴐna, etc., is also
sustained to the members of each gens by Ibaha^nbi.
6. Sacred Pipe kinship. Gahige, of the Omaha Iñke-sabě, said that all
who had sacred pipes called one another "Friend." Ponka Wacabe and Omaha
Iñke-sabě speak to each other thus. But Joseph La Flèche and Two Crows
deny this.
CONSANGUINEOUS KINSHIP.
§ 74. All of a man's consanguinities belong to fourteen groups, and a
woman has fifteen groups of consanguinities. Many affinities are
addressed by consanguinity terms; excepting these, there are only four
groups of affinities. In the accompanying charts consanguinities are
designated by capital letters and affinities by small letters. Roman
letters denote males and script letters females. Some necessary
exceptions to these rules are shown in the Legends.
§ 75. _Peculiarities of the Charts._--The most remote ancestors are
called grandfathers and grandmothers, and the most remote descendant is
addressed or spoken of as a grandchild.
My brother's children (male speaking) are my children, because their
mother ([J]) can become my wife on the death of their father. My
brother's son (I) and daughter ([b]), female speaking, are my nephews
and nieces. A man calls his sister's children his nephews and nieces (G
and [G]), and they do not belong to his gens.
A woman calls her sister's children, her own children, as their father
can be her husband. (See "e.") My mother's brother's son (m. or f. sp.)
is my mother's brother (H), because his sister ([A]) can be my father's
wife. The son of an "H" is always an "H" and his sisters and daughters
are always "[A]'s." The children of [A]'s are always brothers and
sisters to Ego (m. or f.), as are the children of A's. The husband of my
father's sister (m. sp.) is my brother-in-law (a) because he can marry
my sister ([E] or [F]), and their children are my sister's children (G
and "[G]"). A brother of the real or potential wife of a grandfather is
also a grandfather of Ego (m. or f.). The niece of the real or potential
wife of my grandfather (m. or f. sp.) is his potential wife and my
grandmother, so her brother is my grandfather.
§ 76. From these examples and from others found in the charts, it is
plain that the kinship terms are used with considerable latitude, and
not as we employ them. Whether Ego be a male or female, I call all men
my fathers whom my father calls his brothers or whom my mother calls her
potential husbands. I call all women my mothers whom my mother calls her
sisters, aunts, or nieces, or whom my father calls his potential wives.
I call all men brothers who are the sons of such fathers or mothers, and
their sisters are my sisters. I call all men my grandfathers who are the
fathers or grandfathers of my fathers or mothers, or whom my fathers or
mothers call their mothers' brothers. I call all women my grandmothers
who are the real or potential wives of my grandfathers, or who are the
mothers or grandmothers of my fathers or mothers, or whom my fathers or
mothers call their fathers' sisters.
I, a male, call all males my sons who are the sons of my brothers
or of my potential wives, and the sisters of those sons are my
daughters. I, a female, call those males my nephews who are the sons
of my brothers, and the daughters of my brothers are my nieces; but
my sister's children are my children as their father is my potential
or actual husband. I, a male, call my sister's son my nephew, and
her daughter is my niece. I, a male or female, call all males and
females my grandchildren who are the children of my sons, daughters,
nephews, or nieces. I, a male or female, call all men my uncles whom my
mothers call their brothers. And my aunts are all females who are my
fathers' sisters as well as those who are the wives of my uncles. But
my father's sisters' husbands, I being a male, are my brothers-in-law,
being the potential or real husbands of my sisters; and they are my
potential husbands, when Ego is a female.
[Illustration: OMAHA SYSTEM OF AFFINITIES.
BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY
ANNUAL REPORT 1882 PL. XXXIII
Legend.
Affinities of [Illustration] EGO, a male:
[Illustration] Wigaq¢a^n, _my wife_.
a Wife's brother group. Wiʇáha^n, _my wife's brother_.
[b] Wife's sister group. Wiha-ñ´ga, _my potential wife_.
Though "My wife's mother's sister's husband" is wiʇiga^n, _my
grandfather_ (see B*), that term, as applied to him, is seemingly
without reason.--JOSEPH LA FLÈCHE.
The husband of my wife's sister ([b]) is not always my consanguinity,
but if he is a kinsman, I call him my elder (E) or younger (F) brother.
Affinities of [Illustration] EGO, a female:
[Illustration] Wíeg¢añge, _my husband_.
e Husband's brother group. Wíci`e, _my potential husband_.
[f] Husband's sister group. Wicíʞa^n, _my husband's sister_.
The wife of "e" is my sister (wija^n¢e or wi ʇañge), my father's sister
(wiʇimi), or my brother's daughter (wiʇujañge), if related to Ego, a
female. This kinship will be expressed by E, [F], [H], or [I], according
to circumstances. See [Illustration] in the chart.
Affinities common to both sexes:
B Grandfather group. Wiʇiga^n, _my grandfather_.
[B] Grandmother group. Wiʞa^n, _my grandmother_.
[c] Son's wife group. Wiʇini, _my son's wife_.
d Daughter's husband group. Wiʇande, _my daughter's husband_.
C Son group. Wijiñge, _my son_.
[C] Daughter group. Wijañge _my daughte_r.
D--[D] Grandchild group. Wiʇucpa, _my grandchild_ (D, if male; [D], if
female).]
AFFINITIES.
§ 77. Any female is the potential wife of Ego, a male, whom my own wife
calls her ija^n¢e (E), itañge ([F]), itimi ([H]) or itujañge
([Script-J]). I, a male, also call my potential wives those who the
widows or wives of my elder or younger brothers.
I, a male, have any male for my brother-in-law whom my wife calls her
elder or younger brother; also any male who is the brother of my wife's
niece or of my brother's wife. But my wife's father's brother is my
grandfather, not my brother-in-law, though his sister is my potential
wife. When my brother-in-law is the husband of my father's sister or of
my own sister, his sister is my grandchild, and not my potential wife. A
man is my brother-in-law if he be the husband of my father's sister,
since he can marry my own sister, but my aunt's husband is not my
brother-in-law when he is my uncle or mother's brother (H). Any male is
my brother-in-law who is my sister's husband (a). But while my sister's
niece's husband is my sister's potential or real husband, he is my
son-in-law, as he is my daughter's husband (d). I, a male or female,
call any male my son-in-law who is the husband of my daughter ([C]), my
niece ([G] or [J]), or of my grandchild ([D]), and his father is my
son-in-law.
When I, a male or female, call my daughter-in-law's father my
grandfather, her brother is my grandchild (D).
Any female is my daughter-in-law (male or female speaking) who is the
wife of my son, nephew, or grandchild; and the mother of my son-in-law
is so called by me. Any male affinity is my grandfather (or
father-in-law) who is the father, mother's brother, or grandfather of my
wife, my potential wife, or my daughter-in-law (the last being the wife
of my son, nephew, or grandson). The corresponding female affinity is my
grandmother (or mother-in-law).
MARRIAGE LAWS.
§ 78. A man must marry outside of his gens. Two Crows, of the Hañga
gens, married a Weji^ncte woman; his father married a [T]e-sĭnde woman;
his paternal grandfather, a Hañga man, married a Wasabe-hit`ajĭ woman;
and his maternal grandfather, a [T]e-sĭnde man, married a
[T]e-[p]a-it`ajĭ woman. His son, Gai^n´-bajĭ, a Hañga, married an
Iñke-sabě woman; and his daughter, a Hañga, married Qi¢á-gahíge, a
[T]a-[p]a man. Caa^n´, a brother of Two Crows, and a Hañga, married a
[T]a[p]a woman, a daughter of the chief Sĭn´ac-xa^n´xa^n. Another
brother, Mi^nxá-ta^n, also a Hañga, married a [K]a^nze woman.
Joseph La Flèche's mother was a Ponka Wasabe-hit`ajĭ woman; hence he
belongs to that Ponka gens. His maternal grandfather, a Ponka
Wasabe-hit`ajĭ, married a Ponka Wajaje woman. Her father, a Wajaje,
married a Ponka Maka^n woman.
Two Crows, being a Hañga, cannot marry a Hañga woman, nor can he marry a
[T]e-sĭnde woman, as they are all his kindred through his mother. He
cannot marry women belonging to the Wasabe-hit`ajĭ and [T]e-[p]a-it`ajĭ
subgentes ("uʞig¢a[s]ne") of the ₵atada gens, because his real
grandmothers belonged to those subgentes. But he can marry women
belonging to the other ₵atada subgentes, the Wajiñga-¢atajĭ and
[K]e-`i^n, as they are not his kindred. In like manner Joseph La Flèche
cannot marry a Ponka Wasabe-hit`ajĭ woman, a Ponka Wajaje woman, or a
Ponka Maka^n woman. But he can marry an Omaha Wasabe-hit`ajĭ woman, as
she belongs to another tribe.
Gai^n-bajĭ cannot marry women belonging to the following gentes: Hañga
(his father's gens), Weji^ncte (his mother's gens), [T]e-sĭnde (his
paternal grandmother's gens), Wasabe-hit`ajĭ, and [T]e-[p]a-it`ajĭ.
Gai^n-bajĭ's son cannot marry any women belonging to the following
gentes: Iñke-sabě, Hañga, Weji^ncte, [T]e-sĭnde, or that of the mother
of his mother. Nor could he marry a Wasabe-hit`ajĭ or [T]e-[p]a-it`ajĭ
woman, if his parents or grandparents were living, and knew the degree
of kinship. But if they were dead, and he was ignorant of the fact that
the women and he were related, he might marry one or more of them. The
same rule holds good for the marriage of Qi¢a-gahige's son, but with the
substitution of [T]a-[p]a for Iñke-sabě.
Two Crows cannot marry any Iñke-sabě woman belonging to the subgens of
his son's wife; but he can marry one belonging to either of the
remaining subgentes. So, too, he cannot marry a [T]a-[p]a woman
belonging to the subgens of Qi¢a-gahige, his son-in-law, but he can
marry any other [T]a-[p]a woman. As his brother Caa^n, had married a
[T]a-[p]a woman of Sĭnde-xa^nxa^n's subgens, Two Crows has a right to
marry any [T]a-[p]a woman of her subgens who was her sister, father's
sister, or brother's daughter. He has a similar privilege in the
[K]a^nze gens, owing to the marriage of another brother, Mi^nxa-ta^n.
An Omaha Hañga man can marry a Kansas Hañga woman, because she belongs
to another tribe. A Ponka Wasabe-hit`ajĭ man can marry an Omaha
Wasabe-hit`ajĭ woman, because she belongs to a different tribe.
WHOM A MAN OR WOMAN CANNOT MARRY.
A man cannot marry any of the women of the gens of his father, as they
are his grandmothers, aunts, sisters, nieces, daughters, or
grandchildren. He cannot marry any woman of the subgens of his father's
mother, for the same reason; but he can marry any woman belonging to the
other subgentes of his paternal grandmother's gens, as they are not his
kindred. The women of the subgens of his paternal grandmother's mother
are also forbidden to him; but those of the remaining subgentes of that
gens can become his wives, provided they are such as have not become
his mothers-in-law, daughters, or grandchildren. (See § 7, 126, etc.)
A man cannot marry any women of his mother's gens, nor any of his
maternal grandmother's subgens, nor any of the subgens of her mother, as
all are his consanguinities.
A man cannot marry a woman of the subgens of the wife of his son,
nephew, or grandson; nor can he marry a woman of the subgens of the
husband of his daughter, niece, or granddaughter.
A man cannot marry any of his female affinities who are his iʞa^n,
because they are the real or potential wives of his fathers-in-law, or
of the fathers-in-law of his sons, nephews, or grandchildren.
A man cannot marry any woman whom he calls his sister's daughter. He
cannot marry any woman whom he calls his grandchild. This includes his
wife's sister's daughter's daughter.
He cannot marry the daughter of any woman who is his ihañga, as such a
daughter he calls his daughter.
He cannot marry his sister's husband's sister, for she is his iʇucpa. He
cannot marry his sister's husband's father's brother's daughter, as she
is his iʇucpa; nor can he marry her daughter or her brother's daughter,
for the same reason. He cannot marry his sister's husband's (brother's)
daughter, as she is his sister's potential daughter, and he calls her
his iʇija^n.
A woman cannot marry her son, the son of her sister, aunt, or niece; her
grandson, the grandson of her sister, aunt, or niece; any man whom she
calls elder or younger brother; any man whom she calls her father's or
mother's brother; her iʇijiga^n (including her consanguinities, her
father-in-law, her brother's wife's brother, her brother's wife's
father, her brother's son's wife's father, her brother's wife's
brother's son, her father's brother's son's wife's brother, her
grandfather's brother's son's wife's brother); or any man who is her
iʇande.
WHOM A MAN OR WOMAN CAN MARRY.
A man can marry a woman of the gens of his grandmother, paternal or
maternal, if the woman belong to another subgens. He can marry a woman
of the gens of his grandmother's mother, if the latter belong to another
subgens, or if he be ignorant of her kinship to himself.
He can marry a woman of another tribe, even when she belongs to a gens
corresponding to his own, as she is not a real kinswoman.
He can marry any woman, not his consanguinity, if she be not among the
forbidden affinities. He can marry any of his affinities who is his
ihañga, being the ija^n¢e, iʇañge, iʇimi, or iʇujañge of his wife. And
vice versa, any woman can marry a man who is the husband of her ija^n¢e,
iʇañge, iʇimi, or iʇujañge. If a man has several kindred whom he calls
his brothers, and his wife has several female relations who are his
ihañga, the men and women can intermarry.
IMPORTANCE OF THE SUBGENTES.
Were it not for the institution of subgentes a man would be compelled to
marry outside of his tribe, as all the women would be his kindred, owing
to previous intermarriages between the ten gentes. But in any gens those
on the other side of the gentile "une¢e," or fire-place, are not
reckoned as full kindred, though they cannot intermarry.
REMARRIAGE.
§ 79. A man takes the widow of his real or potential brother in order
to become the stepfather (i¢adi jiñga, _little father_) of his brother's
children. Should the widow marry a stranger he might hate the children,
and the kindred of the deceased husband do not wish her to take the
children so far away from them. Sometimes the stepfather takes the
children without their mother, if she be maleficent. Sometimes the dying
husband knows that his kindred are bad, so he tells his wife to marry
out of his gens. When the wife is dying she may say to her brother,
"Pity your brother-in-law. Let him marry my sister."
CHAPTER V.
DOMESTIC LIFE.
COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE CUSTOMS.
§ 80. _Age of puberty and marriage._--It is now customary for girls to
be married at the age of fifteen, sixteen, or seventeen years among the
Omahas, and in the Ponka tribe they generally take husbands as soon as
they enter their fifteenth year. It was not so formerly; men waited till
they were twenty-five or thirty, and the women till they were twenty
years of age. Then, when a consort was spoken of they used to refer the
matter to their friends, who discussed the characters of the parties,
and advised accordingly, as they proved good (_i. e._, industrious and
good-tempered, and having good kindred) or bad. Sometimes an Omaha girl
is married at the age of fourteen or fifteen; but in such a case her
husband waits about a year for the consummation of the marriage. When a
girl matures rapidly she is generally married when she is sixteen; but
those who are slow to mature marry when they reach seventeen. (See §
97.)
Dougherty states (in _Long's Expedition to the Rocky Mountains_, vol. 1,
p. 230) that "In the Omawhaw nation numbers of females are betrothed in
marriage from their infancy. * * * Between the ages of nine and twelve
years the young wife is occasionally an invited visitant at the lodge of
her husband, in order that she may become familiarized with his company
and his bed." But such is not the case among the Omahas according to La
Flèche and Two Crows, who say that Dougherty referred to a Kansas
custom.
§ 81. _Courtship._--The men court the women either directly or by proxy.
The women used to weigh the matter well, but now they hasten to marry
any man that they can get. Sometimes the girl told her kindred and
obtained their advice. Parents do not force their daughters to marry
against their will. Sometimes a girl refuses to marry the man, and the
parents cannot compel her to take him. All that they can do is to give
her advice: "Here is a good young man. We desire you to marry him." Or
they may say to the people, "We have a single daughter, and it is our
wish to get her married." Then the men go to court her. Should the
parents think that the suitor is not apt to make her a good husband they
return his presents. Suitors may curry favor with parents and kindred of
the girl by making presents to them, but parents do not sell their
daughters. The presents made for such a purpose are generally given by
some old man who wishes to get a very young girl whom he is doubtful of
winning. When a man courts the girl directly this is unnecessary. Then
he gives what he pleases to her kindred, and sometimes they make
presents to him.
When men reach the age of forty years without having courted any one the
women generally dislike them, and refuse to listen to them. The only
exception is when the suitor is beneficent. Such a man gets his father
to call four old men, by whom he sends four horses to the lodge of the
girl's father. If the latter consents and the girl be willing he
consults his kindred, and sends his daughter, with four horses from his
own herd, to the lodge of the suitor's father. The latter often calls a
feast, to which he invites the kindred of the girl, as well as those of
his son. When the girl is sent away by her parents she is placed on one
of the horses, which is led by an old man. There is not always a feast,
and there is no regular marriage ceremony.
A man of twenty-five or thirty will court a girl for two or three years.
Sometimes the girl pretends to be unwilling to marry him, just to try
his love, but at last she usually consents.
Sometimes, when a youth sees a girl whom he loves, if she be willing, he
says to her, "I will stand in that place. Please go thither at night."
Then after her arrival he enjoys her, and subsequently asks her of her
father in marriage. But it was different with a girl who had been
petulant, one who had refused to listen to the suitor at first. He might
be inclined to take his revenge. After lying with her, he might say, "As
you struck me and hurt me, I will not marry you. Though you think much
of yourself, I despise you." Then would she be sent away without winning
him for her husband; and it was customary for the man to make songs
about her. In these songs the woman's name was not mentioned unless she
had been a "mi^nckeda," or dissolute woman.
One day in 1872, when the writer was on the Ponka Reservation in Dakota,
he noticed several young men on horseback, who were waiting for a young
girl to leave the Mission house. He learned that they were her suitors,
and that they intended to run a race with her after they dismounted.
Whoever could catch her would marry her; but she would take care not to
let the wrong one catch her. La Flèche and Two Crows maintain that this
is not a regular Ponka custom, and they are sure that the girl (a widow)
must have been a "mi^nckeda."
§ 82. _Marriage by elopement._--Sometimes a man elopes with a woman. Her
kindred have no cause for anger if the man takes the woman as his wife.
Should a man get angry because his single daughter, sister, or niece had
eloped, the other Omahas would talk about him, saying, "That man is
angry on account of the elopement of his daughter!" They would ridicule
him for his behavior. La Flèche knew of but one case, and that a recent
one, in which a man showed anger on such an occasion. But if the woman
had been taken from her husband by another man her kindred had a right
to be angry. Whether the woman belongs to the same tribe or to another
the man can elope with her if she consents. The Omahas cannot understand
how marriage by capture could take place, as the woman would be sure to
alarm her people by her cries.
§ 83. _Customs subsequent to marriage._--Sometimes the kindred of the
husband are assembled by his father, who addresses them, saying, "My
son's wife misses her old home. Collect gifts, and let her take them to
her kindred." Then the husband's kindred present to the wife horses,
food, etc., and the husband's mother tells her daughter-in-law to take
the gifts to her parents. When the husband and wife reach the lodge of
the wife's parents the father calls his daughter's kindred to a feast
and distributes the presents among them. By and by, perhaps a year
later, the wife's kindred may assemble and tell the husband to take
presents and food to his kindred, especially if the latter be poor. This
custom is now obsolescent.
§ 84. _Polygamy._--The maximum number of wives that one man can have is
three, _e. g._, the first wife, her aunt, and her sister or niece, if
all be consanguinities. Sometimes the three are not kindred.[8]
When a man wishes to take a second wife he always consults his first
wife, reasoning thus with her: "I wish you to have less work to do, so I
think of taking your sister, your aunt, or your brother's daughter for
my wife. You can then have her to aid you with your work." Should the
first wife refuse the man cannot marry the other woman. Generally no
objection is offered, especially if the second woman be one of the
kindred of the first wife.
Sometimes the wife will make the proposition to her husband, "I wish you
to marry my brother's daughter, as she and I are one flesh." Instead of
"brother's daughter," she may say her sister or her aunt.
The first wife is never deposed. She always retains the right to manage
household affairs, and she controls the distribution of food, etc.,
giving to the other wives what she thinks they should receive.
§ 85. If a man has a wife who is active and skillful at dressing hides,
etc., and the other wives are lazy or unskillful, he leaves them with
their parents or other kindred, and takes the former wife with him when
he goes with the tribe on the buffalo hunt. Sometimes he will leave this
wife a while to visit one of his other wives. But Dougherty was
misinformed when he was told that the skillful wife would be apt to show
her jealousy by "knocking the dog over with a club, repulsing her own
child, kicking the fire about, pulling the bed, etc." (see p. 232, Vol.
I, _Long's Expedition to the Rocky Mountains_), for when a wife is
jealous she scolds or strikes her husband or else she tries to hit the
other woman.
_Polyandry._--The Omahas say that this has not been practiced among
them, nor do the Ponkas know this custom. But the terms of kinship seem
to point to an age when it was practiced.
[8] The writer knew a head chief that had four wives.
§ 86. _Permanence of marriage._--Among the Santee Dakotas, where
mother-right prevails(?), a wife's mother can take her from the husband
and give her to another man. Among the ₵egiha, if the husband is kind,
the mother-in-law never interferes. But when the husband is unkind the
wife takes herself back, saying to him, "I have had you for my husband
long enough; depart." Sometimes the father or elder brother of the woman
says to the husband, "You have made her suffer; you shall not have her
for a wife any longer." This they do when he has beaten her several
times, or has been cruel in other ways. But sometimes the woman has
married the man in spite of the warnings of her kindred, who have said
to her, "He is maleficent; do not take him for your husband." When such
a woman repents, and wishes to abandon her husband, her male kindred say
to her, "Not so; still have him for your husband; remain with him
always." Thus do they punish her for not having heeded their previous
warnings. When they are satisfied with each other they always stay
together; but should either one turn out bad, the other one always
wishes to abandon the unworthy consort.
When parents separate, the children are sometimes taken by their mother,
and sometimes by her mother or their father's mother. Should the husband
be unwilling, the wife cannot take the children with her. Each consort
can remarry. Sometimes one consort does not care whether the other one
marries again or not; but occasionally the divorced wife or husband gets
angry on hearing of the remarriage of the other.
DOMESTIC ETIQUETTE--BASHFULNESS.
§ 87. A man does not speak to his wife's mother or grandmother; he and
she are ashamed to speak to each other. But should his wife be absent he
sometimes asks her mother for information, if there be no one present
through whom he can inquire.
In former days it was always the rule for a man not to speak to his
wife's parents or grandparents. He was obliged to converse with them
through his wife or child, by addressing the latter and requesting him
or her to ask the grandparent for the desired information. Then the
grandparent used to tell the man's wife or child to say so and so to the
man. In like manner a woman cannot speak directly to her husband's
father under ordinary circumstances. They must resort to the medium of a
third party, the woman's husband or child. But if the husband and child
be absent, the woman or her father-in-law is obliged to make the
necessary inquiry.
A woman never passes in front of her daughter's husband if she can avoid
it. The son-in-law tries to avoid entering a place where there is no one
but his mother-in-law. When at the Ponka mission, in Dakota, the writer
noticed the Ponka chief, Standing Buffalo, one day when he entered the
school-room. When he saw that his mother-in-law was seated there, he
turned around very quickly, threw his blanket over his head, and went
into another part of the house.
Another custom prevails, which Dougherty described thus: "If a person
enters a dwelling in which his son-in-law is seated, the latter turns
his back, and avails himself of the first opportunity to leave the
premises. If a person visits his wife during her residence at the lodge
of her father, the latter averts himself, and conceals his head with his
robe, and his hospitality is extended circuitously by means of his
daughter, by whom the pipe is transferred to her husband to smoke." He
also said that if the mother-in-law wished to present her son-in-law
with food, it was invariably handed to the daughter for him; and if the
daughter should be absent, the mother-in-law placed the food on the
ground, and retired from the lodge that he might take it up and eat it."
(_Long's Expedition to the Rocky Mountains_, Vol. I, pp. 253, 254.) The
Dakotas have this custom and call it "wiśtenkiyapi."
PREGNANCY.
§ 88. The woman, when she perceives that the catamenia does not recur at
the expected period, begins to reckon her pregnancy from the last time
that she "dwelt alone." As the months pass, she says, "Mi^n´ gána
b¢i^n´," _I am that number of months_ (with child). If she cannot tell
the exact number of months, she asks her husband or some old man to
count for her. At other times, it is the husband who asks the old man.
They calculate from the last time that the woman "dwelt alone."
Dougherty says that he did not hear of any case of "longing, or of
nausea of the stomach, during pregnancy."
§ 89. _Couvade, Foeticide, and Infanticide._--Couvade is not practiced
among the ₵egiha. Foeticide is uncommon. About twenty-two years ago,
Standing Hawk's wife became _enceinte_. He said to her, "It is bad for
you to have a child. Kill it." She asked her mother for medicine. The
mother made it, and gave it to her. The child was still-born. The
daughter of Wacka^n-ma^n¢i^n used to be very dissolute, and whenever she
was pregnant she killed the child before birth. These are exceptional
cases; for they are very fond of their children, and are anxious to have
them. Infanticide is not known among them.
§ 90. _Accouchement._--The husband and his children go to another lodge,
as no man must witness the birth. Only two or three old women attend to
the patient. In some cases, if the patient be strong, she "takes" the
child herself, but requires assistance subsequently. Should the woman
continue in pain for two or three days without delivery, a doctor is
sent for, and he comes with a medicine that is very bitter. He departs
as soon as he has caused the patient to drink the medicine. There are
about two or three Omahas who know this medicine, which is called
Niaci^nga maka^n, _Human-being medicine_. The writer saw one of these
roots at the Kaw Agency, Indian Territory. It is used by the Kansas. The
doctor never comes of his own accord. After having given this medicine
two or three times without success, he says, "I have failed, send for
some one else." Then another doctor comes, and tries his medicine. Very
few Omaha girls die in child-bed.
After delivery the patient is bound tightly about the abdomen, to reduce
the size, as is the custom among civilized nations. Then is she washed
in cool water if it be summer time, but in tepid water if it be cold
weather. She must bathe twice a day. Mr. Hamilton was told that "the
flow of blood ceased then to a great extent, especially after a few
days; seldom lasting beyond ten days." La Flèche said that the women do
not tell about the cessation of the flow. When the woman is strong she
may go to work on the following day; but if she be weak she may require
a fortnight or three weeks for recovering her strength.
When the husband asks about the infant, and they reply "It is a boy," or
"It is a girl," he is very glad. Sometimes the husband treats a girl
infant better than a boy, saying, "She cannot get anything for herself,
whereas a son can take care of himself, as he is strong." Mr. Hamilton
says, "I have heard of cases of severe labor. Women act as midwives, and
with some skill, removing the placenta when adhering to the uterus, and
in the usual manner."
Soon after birth the child is washed all over, wrapped in clothes, which
are bound loosely around it. About two or three days after birth the
infant's father or grandfather gives it a name, which is not always a
nikie name. (See the account of the ceremony in the [T]a[p]a gens, when
a child is four days old, § 65.) Sometimes it is put into the cradle or
board in two or three days; sometimes in about a week.
_Nursing._--Another woman serves as wet-nurse till the mother's breasts
are full of milk. Mammary abscess is very rare.
§ 91. _Number of children._--In 1819-'20 Dougherty wrote thus:
"Sterility, although it does occur, is not frequent, and seems to be
mostly attributable to the husband, as is evinced by subsequent
marriages of the squaws. The usual number of children may be stated at
from four to six in a family, but in some families there are ten or
twelve. Of these the mother has often two at the breast simultaneously,
of which one may be three years of age. At this age, however, and
sometimes rather earlier, the child is weaned by the aid of ridicule, in
which the parents are assisted by visitors." In 1882 La Flèche and Two
Crows declared that there are many cases of barrenness. Children are not
very numerous. While some women have seven, eight, nine, or even ten
children, they are exceptional cases. And when a woman gives birth to so
many, they do not always reach maturity. There are women who have never
borne any children, and some men have never begotten any. One woman, who
is of Blackfoot origin, is the wife of James Springer, an Omaha, and she
has borne him twelve children; but no other woman has had as many.
CHILDREN.
§ 92. _Diseases of children._--Summer complaint from teething is rare.
Diarrhea, however, occurs frequently, even in children who walk, and
when they are about four feet high. This may be accounted for as
follows: their mothers' milk or other food disagrees with them.
Dougherty found that during their first year the Omaha children suffered
more from constipation than from any other complaint; and he said that
this was relieved by soap suppositories. This is not the case now,
according to La Flèche and Two Crows; and the writer never heard of its
prevalence when he resided among the Ponkas and Omahas.
§ 93. _Adoption of children._--The Omaha idea of adoption differs from
ours. A member of the same gens, or one who is a consanguinity cannot be
adopted; he or she is received by a relation. Two examples of this were
told to the writer: Gahige received Wacuce's eldest son when the father
died, because the former had been the potential father of the youth, who
succeeded Wacuce as custodian of the sacred pipes. Now Gahige keeps the
pipes himself for his son. A^npa^n-skă, of the Weji^ncte gens, gave his
son, Bi^nze-tig¢e, to his chief, Mahi^n-¢iñge, to be his son and
servant. Mahi^n-¢iñge having received his kinsman, the latter has become
the keeper of the treaty between the United States and the Omahas. This
boy is about sixteen years of age.
Omaha adoption is called "ciégi¢ě," _to take a person instead of one's
own child_. This is done when the adopted person resembles the deceased
child, grandchild, nephew, or niece, in one or more features. It takes
place without any ceremony. An uncle by adoption has all the rights of a
real uncle. For example, when Mr. La Flèche's daughter Susette wished to
go to the Indian Territory to accept a situation as teacher, and had
gained the consent of her parents, Two Crows interposed, being her uncle
by adoption, and forbade her departure. (See §§ 118 and 126.)
§ 94. _Clothing of children._--Children were dressed in suits like those
of their parents, but they used to wear robes made of the skins of the
deer, antelope, or of buffalo calves. When the boys were very small,
say, till they were about four years old, they used to run about in warm
weather with nothing on but a small belt of cloth around the waist,
according to Dougherty; and the writer has seen such boys going about
entirely naked. Girls always wear clothing, even, when small. When a boy
was eight years old, he began to wear in winter leggings, moccasins, and
a small robe.
§ 95. _Child life._--The girl was kept in a state of subjection to her
mother, whom she was obliged to help when the latter was at work. When
she was four or five years old, she was taught to go for wood, etc. When
she was about eight years of age, she learned how to make up a pack, and
began to carry a small pack on her back. If she was disobedient, she
received a blow on the head or back from the hand of her mother. As she
grew older, she learned how to cut wood, to cultivate corn, and other
branches of an Indian woman's work. When a girl was about three feet
high, she used to wear her hair tied up in four rolls, one on top of her
head, one at the back, and one at each side. This lasted till she was
about six years old. The girl manifested the most affectionate regard
for her parents and other near kindred.
With a boy there was not so much strictness observed. He had more
liberty allowed him; and at an early age he was furnished with a bow and
blunt arrows, with which he practiced shooting at marks, then at birds.
He had his sports as well as the girl, though it was not usual for many
boys and girls to play together. If a boy played with girls (probably
with those who were not his sisters), the Ponkas referred to him as a
"mi^nquga" or hermaphrodite. Both sexes were fond of making houses in
the mud, hence the verb, ʇígaxe, _to make lodges_, _to play games_.
Joseph La Flèche used to punish his son, Frank, by tying him to a chair
with a cord and saying to him, "If you break the cord I will strike
you."
When a boy was seven or eight years old he was expected to undergo a
fast for a single day. He had to ascend a bluff and remain there, crying
to Wakanda to pity him and make him a great man. Dougherty said that the
boy rubbed white clay over himself, and went to the bluff at sunrise.
When the boy was about sixteen years of age he had to fast for two days
in succession. This had to be without any fire, as well as without food
and drink; hence, it was not practiced in the winter nor in the month of
March. The period of fasting was prolonged to four days when the boy was
from eighteen to twenty years of age. Some youths fasted in October;
some fasted in the spring, after the breaking up of the ice on the
Missouri River. The same youth might fast more than once in the course
of the year. Some who fasted thought that Wakanda spoke to them.
Boys took part with their elders in the Hede-watci, when they danced,
stripped of all clothing except the breech-cloth.
STANDING OF WOMEN IN SOCIETY.
§ 96. The women had an equal standing in society, though their duties
differed widely from what we imagine they should be. On cold days, when
the husband knew that it was difficult for the woman to pursue her usual
occupations, he was accustomed to go with her to cut wood, and he used
to assist her in carrying it home. But on warm days the woman used to go
alone for the wood. The women used to dress the hides at home, or at the
tent in which she was staying when the people were traveling. When a
woman was strong she hoed the ground and planted the corn; but if she
was delicate or weak, her husband was willing to help her by hoeing
with her. The woman did the work which she thought was hers to do. She
always did her work of her own accord. The husband had his share of the
labor, for the man was not accustomed to lead an idle life. Before the
introduction of fire-arms the man had to depend on his bow and arrows
for killing the buffaloes, deer, etc., and hunting was no easy task. The
Indian never hunted game for sport.
CATAMENIA.
§ 97. The sexual peculiarity was considered as "Wakan´daʇa´¢ica^n,"
_pertaining to Wakanda_. In the myth of the Rabbit and the Black Bears,
Mactciñge, the Rabbit, threw a piece of the Black Bear chief against his
grandmother, who had offended him, thereby causing her to have the
catamenia. From that time women have been so affected. Among the Omahas
and Ponkas the woman makes a different fire for four days, dwelling in a
small lodge, apart from the rest of the household, even in cold weather.
She cooks and eats alone, telling no one of her sickness, not even her
husband. Grown people do not fear her, but children are caused to fear
the odor which she is said to give forth. If any eat with her they
become sick in the chest, very lean, and their lips become parched in a
circle about two inches in diameter. Their blood grows black. Children
vomit. On the fourth or fifth day, she bathes herself, and washes her
dishes, etc. Then she can return to the household. Another woman who is
similarly affected can stay with her in the small lodge, if she knows
the circumstances. During this period, the men will neither lie nor eat
with the woman; and they will not use the same dish, bowl, and spoon.
For more than ten years, and since they have come in closer contact with
the white people, this custom of refusing to eat from the same dish,
etc., has become obsolete. Dougherty stated that in the young Omaha
female, catamenia and consequent capability for child-bearing, took
place about the twelfth or thirteenth year, and the capacity to bear
children seemed to cease about the fortieth year. This agrees in the
main with what the writer has learned about the age of puberty (§ 80)
and the law of widows (§ 98). La Flèche said that the change of life in
a woman occurs perhaps at forty years of age, and sometimes a little
beyond that age.
WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS.
§ 98. _Widows._--A widow was obliged to wait from four to seven years
after the death of her husband before marrying again. This was done to
show the proper respect to his memory, and also to enable her to wean
her infant, if she had one by him, before she became _enceinte_ by her
next husband. When a woman disregarded this custom and married too soon,
she was in danger of being punished by the kindred of the deceased
husband. If they could catch her within a certain period, they had the
right to strike her on the head with knives, and to draw the blood, but
they could not inflict a fatal blow. Now, if widows are under forty
years of age they can marry in two or three years after the death of the
first husband; but if they are over forty years of age, they do not
remarry.
§ 99. _Stepmothers._--Some are kind, others are cruel. But in the latter
event there are certain remedies--the husband may separate from his
wife, or else some of the kindred of the children may take charge of
them.
§ 100. _Widowers._--Men used to wait from four to seven years before
they remarried; now they do not wait over one or two years. The kindred
of the deceased wife used to take a man's ponies from him if he married
too soon. Sometimes they became angry, and hit him; but if he waited a
reasonable time, they had nothing to say. There is a similar custom
among the Otos and Pawnees. Sometimes a man loved his wife so dearly
that after her death he remained a widower a long time. At last some of
the kindred of the deceased woman would say to one another, "See! this
man has no one to sew his moccasins; seek a wife for him (among our
women)." Then this would be done, and he would be induced to marry
again.
RIGHTS OF PARENTS AND OTHERS.
§ 101. _Rights of parents and other kindred._--Parents had no right to
put their children to death; nor could they force them to marry against
their will. Mothers' brothers and brothers seem to have more authority
than the father or mother in matters relating to a girl's welfare. They
were consulted before she was bestowed in marriage, unless she eloped
with her husband. A mother could punish a disobedient daughter when the
latter was a child and refused to learn to work. Kindred had the right
to avenge the death of one of their number.
§ 102. _Ú¢iqě, or Refugees._--They have no special rights, as such; but
they share the privileges of the people with whom they dwell, and with
whom they sometimes intermarry. Omahas have joined the Ponka tribe, as
in the case of Ma^ntcu-sĭnde-¢iñge, and Ponkas have been incorporated
into the Omaha tribe, as in the cases of Jabe-skă, [P]enicka, and Mr. La
Flèche himself.
§ 103. _Isínu._--An isínu is an unmarried youth, or man who dwells in
the lodge of one of his friends or kindred. He may be the kinsman of the
husband or of the wife. He is also called a wama^nhe.
_Wama^n´he and Áma^nhe._--The owner of a lodge, whether a man or a
woman, is the ama^nhe, and the isínu is the wama^nhe, who has no lodge
of his own, and is obliged to ask for shelter of some one who is more
favored than himself. While the wama^nhe has shelter he is expected to
do his share of the hunting of game, etc., just as all the other male
members of the household do, and he must bring it in for the benefit of
his host and the household. Sometimes the ama^nhe gives a skin tent to
the wama^nhe, who then goes elsewhere, as he has a lodge of his own.
Only those men are celibates who cannot get wives. There are no single
women, as the demand is greater than the supply.
PERSONAL HABITS, POLITENESS, ETC.
§ 104. _Personal habits._--The Omahas generally bathe (hi¢á) every day
in warm weather, early in the morning and at night. Some who wish to do
so bathe also at noon. "Jackson," a member of the Elk gens, bathes every
day, even in winter. He breaks a hole in the ice on the Missouri River
and bathes, or else he rubs snow over his body. In winter the Omahas
heat water in a kettle and wash themselves (ʞig¢íja). This occurs in
some cases every week, but when a person is prevented by much work it is
practiced once in two or three weeks. There are some who are not so
particular about washing. One chief, Wacka^nma^n¢i^n, was nicknamed "The
man who does not wash his hands," and his wife was styled "The woman who
does not comb her hair." Wacka^nma^n¢i^n heard of this, and it shamed
him into better habits. It was always the custom to brush and comb their
hair, and the writer has a specimen, "qade-mi-ʞahe," such as served
the Omahas of a former generation for both brush and comb. The Ponkas
used to bathe in the Missouri every day. The Pawnees used to neglect
this custom, but of late years they have observed it. La Flèche and Two
Crows prefer the sweat-bath to all other ways of cleansing the body.
They say that it is not a sacred rite, though some Indians pretend that
it is such; and it is so described in the myths. Cedar twigs are still
dropped on the hot stones to cause a perfume.
§ 105. _Politeness._--When friends or kindred have not met for about a
month they say, on meeting, "Hau! kagéha," _Ho! younger brother_, "Hau!
negíha," _Ho! mother's brother_, etc., calling each other by their
respective kinship titles, if there be any, and then they shake hands.
There are no other verbal salutations. Parents kiss their children,
especially when they have been separated for any time, or when they are
about to part. When the chief, Standing Grizzly Bear, met Peter Primeau,
Ma^ntcu-hi-^nqti, and Cahie¢a at Niobrara in January, 1881, he embraced
them, and seemed to be very deeply affected. La Flèche and Two Crows
did not know about this custom, which may have been borrowed by the
Ponkas from the Dakotas.
When persons attend feasts they extend their hands and return thanks to
the giver. So also when they receive presents. When favors are asked, as
when the chiefs and brave men interpose to prevent the slaying of a
murderer, each extends a hand with the palm towards the would be
avengers, or he may extend both hands, calling the people by kinship
titles, with the hope of appeasing them. If a man receives a favor and
does not manifest his gratitude, they exclaim, "Wajé-¢iñge áha^n!"--_He
does not appreciate the gift! He has no manners!_ They apply the same
expression to the master of a tent who does not show any desire to be
hospitable to a visitor.
A person is never addressed by name, except when there are two or more
present who are of the same kinship degree. Then they must be
distinguished by their names. They seldom call a person by name when
speaking about him. This rule is not observed when guests are invited to
feasts. The criers call them by name. When men return from war the old
men, who act as criers, halloo and recount the deeds of each warrior,
whom they mention by name. After a battle between the Ponkas and
Dakotas, in 1873, as the former were returning to the village after the
repulse of the latter, Na^nbe-¢iʞu, of the Wajaje gens, stopped at the
house of Ma^ntcu-ʇañga, who had distinguished himself in the fight.
Na^nbe-¢iʞu gave a yell, and after leaping a short distance from the
ground, he struck the door of the house with the blunt end of the spear,
exclaiming "Ma^ntcu-ʇañga, you are a Wajaje!" In making presents, as
after returning from war, the donor can mention the name of the donee.
People never mention the names of their parents or elders, of their
iʇiga^n, iʞa^n, etc. A woman cannot mention her iʇinu's name; but if
her isañga (younger brother) be small, she can call his name.
Mothers teach their children not pass in front of people, if they can
avoid it. Young girls cannot speak to any man except he be a brother,
father, mother's brother, or a grandfather, who is a consanguinity.
Otherwise they would give rise to scandal. Girls can be more familiar
with their mother's brother than with their own brothers. Even boys are
more familiar with their mother's brother than with their own father,
and they often play tricks on the former.
Politeness is shown by men to women. Men used to help women and children
to alight from horses. When they had to ford streams, the men used to
assist them, and sometimes they carried them across on their backs. Even
if a man is not the woman's husband, he may offer to carry her over
instead of letting her wade. One day, a young woman who was on her way
to Decatur, Nebr., with her brother, wished to stop at a spring, as she
was thirsty. The ground by the spring was muddy, and the woman would
have soiled her clothing had she knelt. But just then Maxewa¢e rode up
and jumped from his horse. He pulled up some grass and placed it on the
ground, so that the woman might drink without soiling her dress. Such
occurrences have been common.
§ 106. _Hospitality._--All who are present at meal-time receive shares
of the food. Even if some who are not on friendly terms with the host
happen to enter suddenly they partake. But only friends are invited to
feasts. Should one arrive after all the food has been divided among the
guests, the host gives part of his share to the new-comer, saying, "Take
that." The new-comer never says, "Give it to me." Should a woman come
the host gives her some of the uncooked food, and tells her to take it
home and boil it. Sometimes the host sees several uninvited ones looking
on. Then he tells his wife to boil some food for them. Or, if the wife
was the first to notice their presence, she asks her husband's
permission. He replies, "Yes, do it."
Here and there in the tribe are those who are stingy, and who do not
show hospitality. Should an enemy appear in the lodge, and receive a
mouthful of food or water, or put the pipe in his mouth, he cannot be
injured by any member of the tribe, as he is bound for the time being by
the ties of hospitality, and they are compelled to protect him, and send
him to his home in safety. But they may kill him the next time that they
meet him.
When a visitor enters a lodge to which he has not been invited (as to a
feast), he passes to the right of the fire-place, and takes a seat at
the back of the lodge opposite the door.
The master of the lodge may sit where he pleases; and the women have
seats by the entrance. Sometimes there is an aged male kinsman staying
at the lodge, and his place is on the right side of the fire-place near
the entrance. (Frank La Flèche. Compare § 112, as given by his father.)
MEALS, ETC.
§ 107. _Meals._--When the people were traveling in search of buffaloes,
they generally had but two meals a day, one in the morning before they
struck the tents, and one in the evening after they pitched the tents.
But if they moved the camp early in the morning, as in the summer, they
had three meals--breakfast, before the camp was moved; dinner, when they
camped again; and supper, when they camped for the night. During the
winter, they stopped their march early in the afternoon, and ate but one
meal during the day. When the camp remained stationary, they sometimes
had three meals a day, if the days were long. They ate ʇa (dried buffalo
meat), ʇanuʞa (fresh meat), and wata^nzi (corn), which satisfied their
hunger. And they could go a long time without a meal. Soup was the only
drink during meals. They drank water after meals, when they were
thirsty. They washed the dishes in water, and rubbed them dry with
twisted grass. The trader's story in _Long's Expedition to_ _the Rocky
Mountains_, Vol. I, pp. 322, 323, if true, relates to some other tribe.
The average amount of meat at a meal for an adult was two pounds, but
some ate three pounds. The maximum quantity was about four pounds.
§ 108. During the sun-dance, the Ponkas pretended to go without food or
drink for three days and nights; but near the sun-pole could be found a
bulbous root, which was used by the dancers for satisfying hunger and
thirst. This secret was told the writer by a man, an influential chief,
who had taken part in the dance in former years. This dance is of Dakota
origin, and is not practiced among the Omahas.
§ 109. At the present day, the Omahas use wheat, flour, sugar, coffee,
tea, bacon, and other kinds of provisions introduced by the white
people. They have been familiar with wheat for the past forty years.
Many subsist chiefly on corn, as they cannot afford to buy great
quantities of the provisions which have been mentioned. But while they
are fond of wheat bread, they cannot be induced to eat corn bread in any
shape, and they never have their corn ground into meal. All try to have
sugar and coffee three times a day, even if they are compelled to go
without meat. Within the past twenty years they have found a substitute
for tea. It is made of the leaves or roots of one of the two species of
"ʇabé-hi." One kind is called "na^n´pa-ʇañ´ga ʇabé-hi," or "large cherry
ʇabé-hi"; but the species of which the tea is made is the ʇabé-hi, which
spreads out, resembling twigs. It grows on hills, and its large roots
hinder the breaking of the prairie. The leaves, which are preferred for
making the tea, resemble those of red cherry-trees, though they are
smaller. When leaves cannot be obtained, they boil chips of the roots,
which makes the water very red. The taste resembles that of the Chinese
tea. (See § 177.)
§ 110. _Cannibalism._--Cannibalism is not practiced among the Omahas and
Ponkas, and it has been of rare occurrence among the Iowas. Mr. Hamilton
says: "I have heard of an old Iowa chief who roasted and ate the ribs of
an Osage killed in war; also of some one who bit the heart of a Pawnee,
but this was evidently done for the purpose of winning a reputation for
bravery."
§ 111. _Feasts._--See §§ 81, 83, 106, 119, 124, 130, 143, 151, 187-8,
195-6, 217, 219, 246, 249-50, 274, and 289.
During the buffalo hunt and just before starting on it the only gens
that invited guests to feasts was the Hañga. And whenever any important
matters, such as the ceremonies connected with planting corn, required
deliberation, it was the duty of the Hañga chief to prepare a feast and
invite the chiefs and other guests. (See §§ 18, 130.) On ordinary
occasions, any one can have a feast. (See § 246.) Then the principal
guest sits at the back of the lodge, opposite the door, on the right of
which are the seats of the wag¢a, the host's seat being on the left of
the entrance. As the guests enter they pass to the left and around the
circle, those coming first taking seats next the wag¢a, and the last
ones arriving finding places near the host. Two young men who take out
the meat, etc., from the kettles, have no fixed places for sitting.
They give feasts to get horses and other presents, to win a reputation
for generosity, and perhaps an election to the chieftainship; also for
social and other purposes.
_The Mandan feast._--The following is an account of a feast given by the
Mandan dancing society: "When the food has been prepared the crier or
herald calls for those to come to the feast who take part in the dance.
To bad men he says, 'Do not come to the feast at which I am going to
eat,' and they stay away. Should the guests be slow in coming, the last
one who arrives is punished. He is compelled to eat a large quantity of
food, 6, 8, or 10 pounds. The others sit waiting for him to eat all that
has been placed before him, and as they wait they shake the rattles of
deer-claws and beat the drum. This is not a sacred rite, but an
amusement. If the man finds that he cannot eat all in his bowl, he looks
around the circle and finds some one to whom he gives a blanket, shirt,
gun, or a pair of leggings, with the rest of the food saying, 'Friend,
help me (by eating this).' Should the second man fail to eat all, he in
turn must make a present to a third man, and induce him to finish the
contents of the bowl. Sometimes horses are given as presents. Should a
man come without an invitation, just to look on, and enter the lodge of
his own accord, he must give presents to several of the guests, and
depart without joining in the feast. When one smokes, he extends the
pipe to another saying, 'Smoke.' The second man smokes without taking
hold of the pipe. Should he forget and take hold of it, all the rest
give the scalp-yell, and then he is obliged to make a present to some
one present who is not one of his kindred. Should one of the men make a
mistake in singing, or should he not know how to sing correctly, as he
joins the rest, they give the scalp-yell, and he is compelled to make a
present to some one who is not one of his kindred. If one of the guests
lets fall anything by accident, he forfeits it and cannot take it up.
Any one else can appropriate it. While at this feast no one gets angry;
all must keep in a good humor. None but old men or those in the prime of
life belong to this society."
Sometimes the guests danced while they were eating. All wore deers' tail
head-dresses, and carried rattles of deers' claws on their arms. One
drum was used. There was no fixed number of singers; generally there
were six. Each one danced as he stood in his place, instead of moving
around the lodge. There was no special ornamentation of the face and
body with paint. All wore good clothing. The Omahas danced this Mandan
dance after the death of Logan Fontenelle.
Those who boil sacred food, as for the war-path, pour some of the soup
outside the lodge, as an offering for the ghosts.
§ 112. _Sleeping customs._--They sleep when sleepy, chiefly at night.
There are no sacred rites connected with sleeping. Adults occupy that
part of the lodge next to the door, having their beds on each side of
it. (See § 106.) Children have their beds at the back of the lodge,
opposite the entrance. When there are many children and few adults, the
former occupy most of the circle.
Each member of the household pushes the sticks of wood together
("abada^n") towards the center of the fire, as the ends burn off. It is
not the special work of the old women or men. Nor are the aged women
expected to sit at the door and drive out the dogs. Any one may drive
them from the lodge, except in cold weather, when they are allowed to
remain inside.
§ 113. _Charities._--The word for generous is "wacúce," meaning also "to
be brave." This is apparently the primary meaning, as a generous man is
addressed as one who does not fear poverty. He is regarded as the equal
of the man who fears no enemy. Generosity cannot be exercised toward
kindred, who have a natural right to our assistance. All who wish to
become great men are advised by their kindred to be kind to the poor and
aged, and to invite guests to feasts. When one sees a poor man or woman,
he should make presents, such as goods or a horse, to the unfortunate
being. Thus can he gain the good-will of Wakanda, as well as that of his
own people. When the Omahas had plenty of corn, and the Ponkas or
Pawnees had very little, the former used to share their abundance with
the latter. And so when the Omahas were unfortunate with their crops,
they went on several occasions to the Pawnees, who gave them a supply.
This was customary among these and other neighboring tribes.
Presents must also be made to visitors, members of other tribes. To
neglect this was regarded as a gross breach of good manners. (See §
292.)
Prior to the advent of the white man, the Omahas had a custom, which was
told the writer by Frank La Flèche. When one man wished to favor another
by enabling him to be generous, he gave him horses, which the latter, in
turn, gave away, entitling him to have his ears pierced as a token of
his generosity. The act of the first man was known as "niʇa
gíbaq¢ukí¢ě," _causing another man to have his ears pierced_.
§ 114. _Old age._--Old age among the Omahas does not encounter all the
difficulties related by Dougherty (_Long_, I, pp. 256, 257). Old men do
not work. They sometimes go after the horses, or take them to water, but
the rest of the time they sit and smoke, or relate incidents of their
youthful days, and occasionally they tell myths for the amusement of
those around them. Old women throw away superfluous ashes, pound corn or
dried meat, mend and dry moccasins, etc. Sometimes they used to bring a
bundle of sticks for the fire, but that is now done by the men in their
wagons.
The Omahas and Ponkas never abandoned the infirm aged people on the
prairie. They left them at home, where they could remain till the return
of the hunting party. They were provided with a shelter among the trees,
food, water, and fire. They watched the corn-fields, and when their
provisions gave out, they could gather the ears of corn, and procure
some of the dried pumpkins and ʇa (dried meat) that had been buried in
_caches_ by the people. They were not left for a long time, generally
for but a month or two. The Indians were afraid to abandon (waa^n´¢a)
their aged people, lest Wakanda should punish them when they were away
from home. They always placed them (i¢a^n´wa¢ě) near their village,
where they made their home during the winter.
They do not grow gray early, though Mr. Hamilton saw some children that
were gray. But gray hairs are of such rare occurrence that an Omaha
woman who has them is called "Gray Hair." When any one has white hair it
is regarded as a token that he or she has violated the taboo of the
gens, as when an Ictasanda or Wajaje man should touch a snake or smell
its odor.
§ 115. _Preparation for a journey._--When a man is about to start on a
journey he gets his wife to prepare moccasins and food for him. Then he
goes alone to a bluff, and prays to Wakanda to grant him a joyful and
stout heart as well as success. (See § 195.)
CHAPTER VI.
VISITING CUSTOMS.
§ 116. _Medicines or fetiches taken along._--Some of the ₵egiha used to
take their respective medicines with them, saying, "Our medicines are
wise; they can talk like men, and they tell us how many horses we are to
receive from the people to whom we are going." For an account of the
dance of discovering the enemy, as Dougherty terms it, see § 271. It is
danced by visitors.
§ 117. _Mode of approaching a village._--When people go to make a
friendly visit to another tribe, they stop when they are a short
distance from the village or camp of their hosts, say at about 100 or
200 yards from it. There they sit on the ground and wait for some one to
come and invite them to the village. Generally, each visitor departs
with his special friend, or with the messenger sent from the village by
that friend. On some occasions, all the visitors have been invited to
one lodge, but these have been very unusual. The Omahas, Ponkas,
Dakotas, Pawnees, and other tribes act thus when they visit.
THE CALUMET DANCE.
§ 118. _The Calumet Dance._--The generic term is "wáwa^n," in ₵egiha,
answering to the [T]ᴐiwere "waya^n´we" (the specific of which is
"ákiwa^n," [T]ᴐiwere, akíya^nwe), to dance the calumet dance for any
particular person. But the word makes no reference to dancing or
singing. It is equivalent to "waqúbe éki¢ě," _to make a sacred kinship_.
He who wishes to confer this degree is called "wáwa^n aká," the dancer
of the calumet dance, which is also the title of those who assist him.
He for whom the dance is made is the "áwa^ni aká," who becomes the
adopted son of the other man.
§ 119. _The preliminary feast._--When a man contemplates adopting
another man in this dance he invites all the other chiefs to a feast,
and consults them. When the person has not been selected he says to
them, "Wáwama^n ka^n´b¢a. I^nwi^n´¢ixi´dai-gă"--_I wish to dance the
calumet dance for some one; look ye around for me_ (and see who would be
the proper object). But if he has already selected the person, he says
to the chiefs, "Áwama^n ka^n´b¢a. I^n¢i^n´wa^nda^n´bai-gă"--_I wish to
dance for him. See for me if he is the proper one._ Sometimes they
reply, "Let him alone! He is not the right one, as he is bad;" or,
"Ni´aci^nga ¢i^n píäjĭ hă. Ji^n´äjĭ. Ákiwa^n´jĭ-gă"--_The man is bad. He
is proud. Do not dance for him._ But should the chiefs give their
approval, the man sends a messenger to the one whom he intends to honor,
having intrusted to him a buffalo bladder containing tobacco, which is
sent as a present. When the messenger reaches the place, and delivers
his message, the awa^ni aka calls his kindred together to lay the
proposition before them. Sometimes he says, "I am poor. Do not come."
In that case the messenger returns home, and the dance does not take
place. But if the awa^ni aka approve, and his kindred give their
consent, he sends the messenger back with a favorable reply. In some
instances, when one man has asked another to dance the calumet dance for
him, the other one has replied, "Why should I dance it for you? Why
should I give such a privilege to a bad man?"
§ 120. At the appointed time, the dancing party, which consists of two
leaders and many companions, repairs to the place of destination.
Sometimes the leaders take from twenty to thirty men with them. They
reach the lodge of the awa^ni aka, and there the two niniba weawa^n, or
calumet pipes, are placed on a forked support, which is driven into the
soil in the back part of the lodge.
[Illustration: FIG. 20.--The Weawa^n, or Calumet pipe.]
§ 121. _Description of the pipes, etc._--The following is a description
of the calumet pipes:
In the place of a pipe-bowl each weawa^n has the head and neck of a
"mi^n´xa [p]áhi^n-ʇú," or green-necked duck. Next to this, on the upper
side of the stem, are (yellowish) feathers of the great owl, extending
about six inches. Next are long wing-feathers of the war eagle, split
and stuck on longitudinally in three places, as on an arrow shaft. At
the end of these is some horsehair, which has been reddened. It is
wrapped around the stem, tied on with sinew, and then over that is
fastened some of the fur of the white rabbit, with some ends dangling
about six inches. The horsehair extends fully six inches below the fur
of the rabbit. This horsehair is attached in two other places, and tied
in a similar manner. The three tufts are equidistant, say, six inches
apart. Near the last tuft is the head of a wajiñ´ga-[p]a, woodcock (?),
the nose of which is white, and the head feathers are red. The bill is
turned towards the mouth-piece.[9]
[9] Frank La Flèche said that he had seen three heads of wajïñga[p]a on
one pipe, and that the number varied from one to six. There was no part
of the neck of the bird, and the lower mandible was removed. In this
respect only the above figure does not represent the _Omaha_ pipe.
The head of the duck is secured to the stem by the "ha-jíde," which used
to be made of deer or antelope skin, but since the coming of the white
men a piece of red blanket or Indian cloth has been substituted. Next to
this are suspended the two "wéʇa" or eggs, which are two hi^nqpé, or
plumes of the eagle. But the Indians compare them to the egg or to the
eaglet in the egg, to which the adopted child is also likened. The child
is still immature; but by and by he will grow, and fly like the eagle.
Next are attached a number of eagle feathers. These are secured by two
cords, called the "máca^n i¢áze ¢a^n," made of deer or antelope skin.
On one pipe the eagle feathers are white, being those of a male eagle,
and the pipe-stem is dark blue. On the other, they are spotted black and
white, being those of a female eagle; and the pipe-stem is dark blue.
[Illustration: FIG. 21.--Rattles used in the Pipe dance.]
§ 122. There are two gourd rattles, one for each pipe. Each gourd is
about five inches in diameter. A handle is thrust through the gourd, one
end of which projects about an inch beyond the top of the gourd. Blue
stripes about half an inch wide encircle each gourd; and two blue
stripes crossing each other at right angles extend half way around,
terminating when they meet the other stripe, which divides the gourd in
two parts. Around the handle is tied deer skin, antelope skin, or a
piece of buffalo skin. The ʇe-néxe, or buffalo bladder, which is sent at
first by the messenger, is painted with three blue stripes, as on the
gourd rattles. It is tied with a small, fine piece of the skin of a deer
or antelope, arranged so as to be opened very easily and with the ends
dangling a little.[10]
[Illustration: FIG. 22.--The Dakota style of tobacco-pouch used by the
Omahas in the Pipe dance.]
§ 123. When the pipes are rested against the forked stick, the heads of
the ducks are placed next the ground. A short distance from the pipes
are two sticks connected with an ear of corn, which is sacred. It must
be a perfect ear; the grains must not be rough or shriveled. If grains
are wanting on one row or side, the ear is rejected. All the people eat
the corn, so it is regarded as a _mother_. (See § 163.)
[10] This is the regular Omaha style. The above figure shows the Dakota
style. One of this kind was given to Frank La Flèche by an Omaha to whom
he had given a horse.
These sticks are reddened with wase-jide-nika, or Indian red. The longer
stick, which is nearer the pipes, is stuck about four inches into the
ground, and projects a few inches above the ear of corn. The other stick
is fastened to the opposite side of the ear of corn; the top of it is on
a line with the top of the ear, and the bottom extends a short distance
below the bottom of the ear, but it does not reach to the ground. The
ear of corn is held between the sticks by "ʇahá¢isa^n´," which is
wrapped around them all. This fastening is made of the plaited or
braided hair taken from the head of a buffalo. An eagle plume (hi^nqpe)
is fastened with sinew to the top of the smaller stick. The lower part
of the ear of corn is white, and the upper part is painted green.
[Illustration: FIG. 23.--The positions of the pipes, the ear of corn,
etc.]
§ 124. _Feasting and singing._--The next morning before sunrise some of
the visitors sing as a signal for the people to arise and assemble.
Before they sing the áwa^ni amá say to them, "Come, O fathers, sing ye."
They do not sing over an hour, perhaps not quite so long. When the men
begin to sing the pipes are taken from their support, and are not
returned till the singing is concluded. The singing is inside the lodge,
as they sit around the fire. They sing again after breakfast, a third
time in the afternoon, and once more at night. This generally continues
for two days, during which time the visitors are feasted. Sometimes they
continue the feasts for three days.
_Gifts bestowed._--The day after the feasts, which is generally the
third day, the principal visitor gives presents to his host, who
collects all of the people of his village or tribe. He addresses the
chiefs, saying, "My father has brought these things to me." Then he
gives the presents to the chiefs. The pile of gifts is often about four
feet high. One or more of the chiefs then speak to the young men who
accompany them, "These things are given to you. Do with them as you
please. Give them to whom you desire to
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