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The Mrs. Moris K. Sesup Expedition.
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i "GENERAL _DESCRIPTION.
‘ah. ‘DECORATIVE, ART AND SYMBOLISM. oes 3
BULLETIN
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New York's Sept a oe
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BULLETIN
OF THE
AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY.
Vo.tume XVIII, 1902.
THE ARAPAHO.
By ALFRED L. KROEBER.
Pirates I-XXXI.
INTRODUCTORY.
In 1899 Mrs. Morris K. Jesup generously provided the
means for a study of the Arapaho Indians, and the writer
was entrusted with the work. He visited that portion of the
tribe located in Oklahoma in 1899, the Wyoming branch and
a number of neighboring fAribes in 1900, and the Gros Ventres
and Assiniboines in 190%” The principal results of his studies
are contained in the present volume, in which the general
‘ ‘culture, decorative art, mythology, and religion of the Ara-
paho will be described. Two preliminary articles on the
' decorative symbolism of the Arapaho have been published
by the writer, —
Symbolism of the Arapaho Indians (Bulletin of the American
Museum of Natural History, Vol. XIII, 1900, pp. 69-86).
Decorative Symbolism of the Arapaho (American Anthropologist,
N. S., Vol. III, 1901, pp. 308-336).
The former is a preliminary general account of Arapaho
: symbolism and art, stress being laid particularly on the sym-
‘polism. Both decorative art. and the more or less picto-
graphic symbolism connected with religion are included in the
scope of this paper. The second paper deals with the question
of the origin of symbolic decoration.
: A. L. K.
New York, July, rgor.
[May, 1902] [1] 1
EXPLANATIONS. A
The following alphabet has been used in rendering Arapaho
words : —
a,e,i,o,u
Om > & & Hi mp
A, E,1,0,U .
& 6049)
yr ro ae
Bar a x
b,k,n,t,wy,y .
és.
¢
h
te
x
have their continental sounds.
as in that.
as in mad.
as in law.
nearly as in hot.
somewhat as in /iut, but nearer u.
between a and e.
obscure vowels.
scarcely spoken vowels.
nasalized a, d.
as in English.
English sh and s, but similar
English th as in think.
as in English, but fainter.
English ch as in church.
aspirate k.
Owing to the changed conditions under which the Arapaho
now live, and to the comparatively short time that the writer
was among them, the information presented in this paper
could not be obtained to any extent from direct observation,
but only by questioning. Unless the opposite is stated or is
obviously the case, all statements in this paper are therefore
given on the authority of the Indians, not of the writer. In
some cases explanatory remarks by the writer have been dis-
tinguished by being enclosed in parentheses.
[2]
I.—GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
The Arapaho Indians first became known at the beginning
of the last century. Since that time they have inhabited the
country about the head waters of the Arkansas and the Platte
Rivers. This territory, which they held together with the
Cheyenne, covers approximately the eastern half of Colorado
and the southeastern quarter of Wyoming. The language of
the Arapaho, as well as that of the Cheyenne, belongs to the
widely spread Algonkin family, of which they form the most
southwesterly extension. These two tribes were completely
separated from the Blackfoot, Ojibway, and other tribes
speaking related languages, by the Dakota and other tribes
inhabiting the intervening territories. In physical type and
in culture, the Arapaho belong to the Plains Indians.
The Arapaho have generally been at peace with the Kiowa
and Comanche, and at war with their other neighbors. They
had no permanent settlements, nor any fixed dwellings. They
lived exclusively in tents made of buffalo-skins. For food
they were dependent on the herds of buffalo that roamed
through their country; and much of their clothing and many
of their implements were derived from the same animal. ©
Agriculture was not practised. They had the sun-dance that
existed among most of the Plains Indians, and possessed a
ceremonial organization of warrior companies similar to that
of several other tribes. ,
The Arapaho men have generally been described as more
reserved, treacherous, and fierce, and the women as more un-
chaste, than those of other tribes. Those acquainted with
their psychic nature have characterized them as tractable,
sensuous, and imaginative.
The fullest and most accurate account of the Arapaho has
been given by James Mooney.’ On several points, however,
Mr. Mooney’s information does not agree with that obtained
1 Ghost-Dance Religion (Fourteenth Annual Report, Bureau of Ethnology, pp. 653
et seq.
[3]
4 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XV 11,
by the present writer. Other accounts of the Arapaho, as by
Hayden and Clark, are brief and sometimes vague.
One portion of the Arapaho is now settled in Oklahoma,
the other part, on a reservation in Wyoming. The Gros
Ventres, who form an independent tribal community, but are
so closely akin in language and customs that they may be
regarded as a subtribe of the Arapaho, are in northern Mon-
tana.
Nothing is known of the origin, history, or migrations of
the Arapaho. A little light is thrown on their past by their
linguistic relations.
Apart from the Cree, the western Algonkin languages belong
to four groups,— the Ojibway, Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Black-
foot.
Of these, the Blackfoot is the most isolated, and the most
differentiated from the typical Algonkin. Grammatically it
is normal: the methods of inflection and the forms of
pronominal affixes resemble those of Ojibway, Cree, and more
eastern dialects; but etymologically it seems to differ con-
siderably more from all other Algonkin languages than these
vary from each other.
Cheyenne and Arapaho are quite distinct, in spite of the
identity of habitation of the two tribes. Cheyenne, Arapaho,
and Ojibway are all about equally different one from another.
Arapaho and Ojibway seem to differ a little more from each
other than each varies from Cheyenne; but Cheyenne is by
no means a connecting link between them.
Superficially, Arapaho appears to be very much changed
from the average Algonkin, etymologically as well as gram-
matically ; butits words vary from those of Ojibway, Cheyenne,
and eastern languages largely on account of regular and con-
sistent phonetic changes. When once the rules governing
these changes are known, and the phonetic substitutions are
made, the vocabulary of the Arapaho is seen to correspond
closely to those of kindred languages. This does not seem
to be the case with the Blackfoot, which gives the impression
of being corrupted, or irregularly modified lexically.
Grammatically, Arapaho is more specialized. It possesses
1902. | — K roeber, The Arapaho. 5
three features that are peculiar to it. First, it makes no dis-
tinction between animate and inanimate nouns in their plural
forms,—a distinction which is made in the other Algonkin
languages. It recognizes this category only in the verb.
Secondly, all the pronominal particles which are used to con-
jugate the verb are suffixed. In all other Algonkin languages,
when there are two such particles (in the objective conjuga-
tion), one is generally prefixed and one suffixed; when there
is only one such particle (intransitive conjugation) it is pre-
fixed. Except in one form of the negative, Arapaho suffixes
its pronominal elements throughout. This gives a very
different appearance to its conjugation. Lastly, its pronom-
inal particle for the second person, which elsewhere in Algon-
kin is k-, is -~ in the verb, and a vowel-sound in the noun.
In this last feature Arapaho is approximated by Cheyenne,
which uses u- to indicate the second person.
Blackfoot and Arapaho, the two most western Misono
languages, thus appear to be the most specialized from the
common type, — one etymologically, the other grammatically.
They have so little in common, however, that they probably
differ more from each other than from any other languages
of the stock. On the other hand, the Arapaho declare
that one of their extinct dialects resembled the Blackfoot.
Cheyenne and Arapaho are so different that the recent asso-
ciation of the tribes must have been preceded by a long
separation. The Cheyenne appear to have been more lately
in connection with the Ojibway or kindred tribes, as is also
indicated by several resemblances in culture.
The Arapaho call themselves ‘‘ Hinanaé’ina",’”’ the meaning
of which term they cannot give. They declare that a
formerly comprised five subtribes. These were —
1. Na"wacinaha/ana*.
2, Ha"anaxawtune’na’.
3. Hinanaé’ina" (Arapaho proper).
4. Baasa*wiune’na’.
5. Hitoune’na® (Gros Ventres).
They extended from south to north in the order given.
The term Na"wacinaha’ana" has some reference to the south,
6 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History, [Vol. XVU IL,
the windward direction. The other elements in the word are
not clear. The sign for this subtribe is said to have been the
index-finger placed against the nose. This may mean “‘smell-
ing towards the south.” This sign is now the usual one for
Arapaho in the sign-language of the Plains.
Haé*anaxawtune’na" means ‘“‘rock-men.’’ It is said to have
reference to stone-chipping or the working of flint. The sign
for this subtribe is the sign for rock or rough flint.
Hinanaé’ina" (the Arapaho proper) were indicated by the
sign for ‘‘father.”’ ;
Baasa"wiune’na" means “‘shelter-men,” ‘‘brush-hut-men.”
The sign for this tribe is that indicating a round camp-shelter.
Hit6une’na® (the Gros Ventres) are indicated by the gesture
for a large or swelling belly. The word means “begging
men,” or ‘‘greedy men,” or ‘‘gluttons.”’
These five tribes were separate, though allied. Occasion-
ally they came together. Later, most of them grew less in
number, and were absorbed by the Hinanaé’ina". There is
more Baasa*wiune’na" blood among the present Arapaho than
there is of that of the other tribes. The Hitdune’na", how-
ever, maintained a separate existence. Known as Gros Ven-
tres, they are an independent tribe considerably north of the
Arapaho, The Gros Ventres have a mythical story, ana-
logues of which are found among other Western Plains tribes,
about their detachment from a previous larger tribe; but
there appears to be no reference in their traditions to any
common origin with the Arapaho. The Gros Ventres call
themselves ‘‘ Haa’ninin.”
Each of these five tribes had a dialect of its own. The
Baasa"wiiune’na® speech is very similar to the Arapaho, and
is easily understood. There are several individuals among
both the northern-and the southern portions of the Arapaho
tribe that still habitually speak this dialect.
Next in degree of similarity is the Gros Ventre. There are
several regular substitutions of sounds between the Arapaho
and Gros Ventre dialects, but they are not numerous enough
to prevent mutual intelligibility.
The N&*wacinaha’ana" is considerably different from the
1902. | Kroeber, The Arapaho. 7
Arapaho. It alone, of all the dialects, has the sound m. In
the form of its words, it diverges from Arapaho in the di-
rection of Cheyenne. Grammatically, however, it is clearly
Arapaho. This dialect is still remembered by some old
people, but it is doubtful whether it is still spoken habitually
by any one.
The Ha"anaxawitune’na’ is said to have differed most from
the Arapaho and to have been the most difficult to under-
stand. No one who knew this dialect could be found.
It is said that there was once a fight. between two of the
tribes. This quarrel was between the Hinanaé’ina® and the
Baasa"wiiune’na", over the sacred tribal pipe and a similar
sacred lance, and occurred on account of a woman. The
Badsa"wiitne’na" were the first to have the pipe and the lance.
The B&asa*witune’n keeper of them married an Arapaho
woman, and lived with her people. Since then the other
tribes have all lived together and helped each other in war.
The present condition of alliance, and of possession of the pipe
by the Arapaho, has come about through intermarriage.
Both the northern and southern Arapaho recognize these
five tribes or dialects as composing their people. There seem
to be no historical references to the three absorbed tribes,
except that Hayden, in 1862, called the southern half of the
Arapaho tribe N&"wacinaha’ana* (Nawuthiniha"). Mooney
gives these five tribes somewhat differently. —
The northern Arapaho in Wyoming are called Na*k’hda*-
séine’na" (‘‘sagebrush men”), Bda"tciine’na® (‘‘red-willow
men’’), Baakttune’na® (“‘blood-soup men”’), or Nanabine’na®™
(‘northern men”), They call the southern Arapaho in Okla-
homa Na*wuine’na® (“‘southern men”), These two divisions
of the Hinanaé’ina” appear to have existed before the tribe was
confined to reservations. The two halves of the tribe speak
alike, except that the northern people talk more rapidly,
according to their own and their tribesmen’s account. The
author has not been able to perceive any difference between
the speech of the two portions of the tribe.
There are also said to have been four bands in the tribe.
Three of these were the Wa"xué’ici (‘‘ugly people”), who are
8 = Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XVIII,
now about Cantonment in Oklahoma; the Haxda"cine’na*
(‘‘ridiculous men’’), on the South Canadian, in Oklahoma; and
the Baa"tciine’na" (‘‘red-willow men”), in Wyoming. The
fourth the informant had forgotten. Apparently correspond-
ing to these were the four head chiefs that the Arapaho for-
merly had. These bands were properly subdivisions of the
Hinanaé@’ina" subtribe, and appear to have been local divis-
ions. A man belonged to the band in which he was born or
with which he lived; sometimes he would change at marriage.
When the bands were separate, the people in each camped
promiscuously and without order. When the whole tribe was
together, it camped in a circle that had an opening to the
east. The members of each band then camped in one place
in the circle. All dances were held inside the camp-circle.
There are no clans, gentes, or totemic divisions among the
Arapaho. The local bands of the Gros Ventres seem, how-
ever, to partake also of the nature of gentes. :
All informants agree that the tribe against which the
Arapaho fought most were the Utes, the bravest (after them-
selves). An old man said that the Arapaho fought most with
the Utes because they were the strongest, and next with
the Pawnees because they were the fiercest, and that the
Osages and Pawnees were the first Indians that wished to
establish friendly ties with the Arapaho. His son has a model
of the pipe with which friendship was made with these tribes.
A younger man said that his ears had been pierced by visiting
Osages, because his father had formerly fought chiefly with
them.
The first whites with whom the Arapaho came into contact
were Mexicans. The word for “white man” is nih’a’"¢a",
which is also the name of the mythic character that corre-
sponds to the Ojibway Manabozho. This word also means
““spider.”’
The Arapaho had four chiefs, as against five of the Chey-
ennes. They also had no official Principal chief, while the
Cheyennes did have one. When one of the four head chiefs
died, another was chosen from among the dog-company, —
men about fifty years old, who have performed the fourth of
1902. ] Kroeber, The Arapaho, . 9
the tribal series of six ceremonials. If a chief was unsatis-
factory, he was not respected or obeyed, and so gradually lost
_ his position. Another informant stated that chiefs were not
formally elected: the bravest and kindest-hearted men be-
came chiefs naturally, but there were no recognized or regular
chiefs.
The following are the terms of relationship and affinity in
Arapaho and Gros Ventre. All the words given have the
prefix denoting ‘‘my.”
English. Arapaho. Gros Ventre.
father. so. seccws cleus waees so ess ooo eeemelsamnal niigina™
MoOthet, ose. sac seasons pois bub aeas es SIND neina®™
elder brother.......................... maasa/haa naacahaa
elder SiSt€r.ai..gjccnaiitn tore Se peewee eH na/bie niby®
younger brother or sister.................. nahaba’haa nathaby?
SON sj ixaiearise ia ve wesdetakwemer exe esd ne’ih’a" neih’a
daughter. ...................-....0..... . nata’ne natan
grandfather. ............................ naba’ciba nabeseip
grandmother...........................,- neiba/’ha" niip’
Stand Childs cs sie cae aee tee caw maid aoe ae Sele!” niisa
father’s brother... 66500: 2 cscs eee genes (?) niicina™
mother’s brother................-20005 na’ci nis’
father's sister sc. :c.casesasgi eget ee cia nahe’i nahei
Mother's SISbEF wi se ee See (?) neina®™
son of Breuiee ofa man t LAMA eens (?) neih’a .
son of sister of a woman :
daughter of brother of a man crak. () natan
daughter of sister of a woman
son of sister of a man er. ai
Sah GE eeshae Of rete ' ad aw tale os nae’ ea, nét’ét
daughter of sister of a man t eae naasa’bie naacibyi
daughter of brother of a woman :
father-in-law. ... 2.0.0.0... 0..eee eee eee maci’od nésit
mother-in-law. .......2.-..00..0002+--... naheiha® naheiha
sON=in-laW. aa sedesdsoiaevaceeaadnes tans naca’Ox nataos
daughter-in-law. ... 0.0.00... 00. 0.0..++ maasa’bie naacibyi
brother-in-law of a man..................naya™ nayaa"™
sister-in-law of a woman.................nato’u natou
brother-in-law of a woman ‘ voces eee eee meigd’ bie niitiby!
sister-in-law of a man
WiUshanidecisaccccc cera eee eesereereeMaae | (?)
WILE Antic Race haiae Ne ee Wate mdens hae ela ene nata’cea" naticaa
10 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History, [Vol. XV I,
The terms for ‘‘niece” and for ‘‘daughter-in-law’’ seem to
be identical. There is another word for ‘‘ younger sister’ OF
perhaps “‘sister,’”’— nata’se.
The total number of Arapaho kinship terms is thus twenty-
three. Four of these —‘‘father-in-law,’’ ‘‘ mother-in-law,”
“son-in-law,” and ‘‘ daughter-in-law ’— are clearly related to
four others,—‘‘uncle,’’ ‘aunt,’ ‘‘nephew,” and ““niece.”’
Several others appear to have common elements: -abi® occurs
in the words for ‘‘elder sister,’ ‘‘niece,’’ and “sister-in-law
of a man.”’
In this series of terms the distinction between elder and
younger is confined to the brother and sister relationships.
The terms for the consanguinities of a man and for those of
a woman are alike, except in the case of brother-in-law and
sister-in-law. Here the category according to which terms
are differentiated is not so much absolute sex as identity or
contrariety of sex. Thus, a man calls his sister-in-law
neicdbie, and she calls him the same; brothers-in-law call
each other naya"; sisters-in-law, natou.
Cousins, even of remote degrees of kinship, are called
“brothers and sisters.’’ Among the Gros Ventres, the father’s
brother is called ‘‘father;” the mother’s sister, ‘‘mother;’’ so
that the terms for ‘‘uncle” and ‘‘aunt”’ are used only for
mother’s brother and father’s sister. The same is true of
“nephew” and “niece; a man calls his brother’s children
“son and daughter,’”’ but his sister’s children ‘‘nephew and
niece;”” conversely with a woman. Even a cousin’s or a
second cousin’s children are called ‘‘son and daughter” in-
stead of ‘“‘nephew and niece,” if the cousin is of the same
sex as the speaker. The same may be true among the
Arapaho.
The restrictions as to intercourse between certain relations,
which are so widespread in North America, exist also among
the Arapaho. A man and his mother-in-law may not look at
or speak to each other. If, however, he gives her a horse, he
may speak to her and see her. The same restrictions exist
between father and daughter-in-law as between mother and
son-in-law, say the Arapaho (though perhaps they are less
1902. ] Kroeber, The Arapaho, Il
rigid). A brother and sister must not speak to each other
more than is necessary.’ A sister is supposed to sit at some
distance from her brother. A woman does not speak of child-
birth or sexual matters in the presence of her brother, nor he
in hers, but in other company no such delicacy is observed.
Obscene myths are freely told, even in the presence of chil-
dren of either sex, except that a man would not relate them
before his mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, sister, or female ~
cousin, nor a woman before her corresponding male relatives.
Brothers-in-law joke with each other frequently; often they
abuse each other good-naturedly; but they may not talk
obscenely to each other. If one does so, he is struck by the
other. _A brother-in-law and sister-in-law also often joke each
other. They act toward each other with considerable free-
dom: a woman may pour water on her brother-in-law while
he is asleep, or tease him otherwise, and he retaliates in
similar ways.
When a man died, his brothers took from their sister-in-law
as many horses as they pleased. Sometimes they were gen-
erous and allowed a grown-up daughter or son of the dead
man to keep some.. Another informant stated that after a
man’s death, his brothers took all the property they could,
especially horses. The family tried to prevent them.
There are no fixed rules as to inheritance. When a wealthy
man dies, there is generally some jealousy as to who is to take
his property and his family. Those who are not satisfied
sometimes kill horses or destroy property of those who took
the belongings of the dead man. Each one tries to get as
muchashecan. There is little generosity or charity towards
the wife and children. Adult sons of the deceased may be
anxious to secure some of the property; but, as they are in
mourning, they cannot resist. It is generally brothers and
sisters of the deceased who go to take his property.
In the absence of any gentile or other organization regulat-
ing marriage, the only bar was that of known relationship.
Cousins could not marry. As to distant relations the rule
was not so strict. If relationship was discovered after a
marriage, the marriage was not annulled.
12 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History, [Vol. XVIII,
The following are statements by the Arapaho on the
subject of marriage.
When a young man wants to marry, he sends a female
relative to the tent of his desired father-in-law with several
horses (from one to ten), which may be his own or his friends’.
She ties the horses in front of the tent, enters, and proposes
the marriage. The father has nothing to say, and refers the
matter to his son. The son decides upon the proposal, unless
he wishes to refer it toan uncle or other relative. The woman
goes back and reports her success. If the proposal of mar-
riage has been refused, she takes the horses back. If the
suitor has been accepted, he waits until called, which is done
as soon as the girl’s mother and relatives have put up a new
tent which is given her, and have got property together. This
may be the same day or the same night that the proposal was
made. The girl’s brothers and father’s brothers’ sons all give
horses and other presents. They bring the things inside the
new tent, the horses in front of it. Then the girl’s relatives
notify the young man’s father to come; sometimes they send
the bride herself. Then the young man’s relatives come over
with him to the new tent, and enter it. His entering this
tent signifies that he and the girl are married. He sits down
at the head of the bed, which is on the left as one enters the
tent (the entrance to Arapaho tents is always at the east; the
owner’s bed, along the southern side, with the head toward
the west). The girl sits next to him at the foot of the bed,
the other people all around the tent. The girl’s father, or,
if he is still young, an old man, stands before the door and
cries out the names of those invited, calling to them to come
and feast. Then they eat and smoke, Sometimes an old
person that wants to, prays. Any one of the girl’s male rela-
tives makes a speech to her. He says to her that she is a
woman now, and tells her to be true to her husband. The
visitors leave whenever they please. The friends of the young
man each take away as many horses as they gave (to the
girl's relatives). Sometimes he gives his friends other pres-
ents besides, Now he is married. He pitches his tent by his
father-in-law's. The young wife at first does not know how
1902. | Kroeber, The Arapaho. 13
to cook, and goes to her mother’s tent for food. The young
man, however, does not enter this tent, because he and his
mother-in-law may not look at or speak to each other.
Sometimes a young man and a girl run off without the
knowledge of their parents. They remain some time in the
tent of the young man’s father or of some friend. Then his
friends contribute horses and other property. The girl.
mounts a horse and leads the rest. Accompanied by her
sister-in-law or mother-in-law, she brings the horses and other
gifts to the tent of her parents. Then her parents are not
angry any longer, and send her back with horses and presents
of property, sometimes witha tent. They also give her food,
with which a feast is held in the young man’s tent. Then
his friends take the horses and goods which he has received.
Sometimes a young man, after taking a girl away, abandons
her on the prairie. _
Relatives know nothing about the courtship of a young
man anda girl. This is kept secret by them until she is for-
mally asked for by his relatives.
When a man wishes to run off with another’s wife, the two
make plans. They go off together a long distance. At first
the husband, perhaps, does not know what has happened.
When he becomes aware of it, he is angry. He may follow
his wife; but he is not allowed to enter the tent where she
and her lover are, because he might do them injury. If he
finds them and speaks to them, they do not answer him, in
order not to enrage him more, because they may not make
any resistance to him. The lover tries to find the (ceremo-
nial) grandfather of the husband. He gives him a pipe and
two or three horses. The old man takes the pipe, the horses,
and the wife to the husband. When the man sees his grand-
father, he must do no violence nor may he become angry.
The grandfather hands him the pipe. If he takes it, his wife
is safe from harm. Sometimes he keeps her, sometimes he
sends her back to her lover to keep. Often the husband cuts
off the tip of her nose, slashes her cheek, or cuts her hair.
Both men and women are jealous. A man will hit his wife
for looking at a young man too much.
14 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. (Vol. XVIII,
If a man treats his wife badly, her brothers may take her
back to her father, tear his tent down, and take away his
household property. Sometimes the man and woman live
together again, sometimes she marries some one else. But the
man still has a claim on her; and if another takes her, he must
pay her first husband one or two horses to relinquish his claim.
Sometimes a husband, to show his love for his wife, gives
away several horses to her relatives.
A wife’s next younger sister, if of marriageable age, is
sometimes given to her husband if his brother-in-law likes
him. Sometimes the husband asks and pays for his wife's
younger sister. This may be done several times if she has
several sisters. If his wife has no sister, a cousin (also
called ‘‘sister’’) is sometimes given to him. When a woman
dies, her husband marries her sister. When a man dies, his
brother sometimes marries his wife. He is expected to do so.
Sometimes she marries another man.
In courting women, men cover themselves completely with a
blanket except the eyes. Often they exchange blankets, so
as not to be known. They wait on sand-hills, or similar
places, until the women leave the camp for water or wood.
Sometimes at night they turn the upper flaps of the tent, so
that the smoke of the fire remains in the tent; when the
woman goes outside to open the top of the tent, the man
meets her. At night men catch women outdoors and hold
them, trying to persuade them to yield to their wishes. (The
Arapaho affirm this of the Cheyenne, but have the practice
themselves.) Courting is much easier and more open now
than formerly. In making advances to a woman, a man often
begins by asking for a drink of the water she is carrying.
It is said, that, on account of fear of unchastity, women are
married at an earlier age now than formerly. The Omaha,
according to Dorsey, make a similar statement. This seems
to be an Indian opinion which is not founded on facts.
A man with two wives generally has a tent for each. An
Arapaho in Wyoming lived with his two wives, who were
sisters, in one tent. His wives’ relatives wanted to give him
a third sister. The girl objected, and he did not get her.
1902.]' Kroeber, The Arapaho. 15
Once a young man was said to have sat with the women too
frequently, and to have teased them too much, A number
of them seized him, stripped him, and then buffeted and mal-
treated him without delicacy. Young men were ashamed to
be alone with a number of women too long. There were a
few bachelors, who were half-witted, or considered so.
At the sun-dance an old man, crying out to the entire camp-
circle, told the young people to amuse themselves; he told
the women to consent if they were approached by a young
man, for this was their opportunity; and he called to the
young men not to beat or anger their wives, or be jealous
during the dance: they might make a woman cry, but mean-
while she would surely be thinking of some other young man.
At such dances the old women say to the girls: ‘‘ We are old,
and our skin is not smooth; we are of no use. But you are
young and plump; therefore find enjoyment. We have to
take care of the enildten; and the time will come when you
will do the same.’
Women do not spend several days in solitude Hos men-
struation, as is the case among the Sioux, the Utes, and many
other neighboring tribes. They sit quietly, keeping away
from other people, especially from women and young men.
But they eat with other people, and cook for them. They
wrap their clothes tightly about the waist. They change
their clothes every day, and wash themselves. There is no
practice or ceremony connected with a girl’s first menstrua-
tion. A menstruating woman is not allowed to enter the
mescal (peyote) tent; and if a man who has had intercourse
with a menstruating woman takes part in this ceremony, he
is found out by the smell. Sickly people and menstruating
women are not allowed to enter a tent in which there is a sick
person, The smell of the discharge would enter the body of
the patient and make him worse. A woman just delivered
also refrains from going into the tent of a sick person. Medi-
cine-women, after delivery, go into the sweat-house (steam-
bath) to cleanse themselves. Menses were called baata’ana"
(‘‘medicine,” ‘supernatural,’ ‘‘mysterious’’), or naniicge’hina®
(naniicext, baataat, “she menstruates’”’).
16 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History, (Vol. XVII,
A woman nursing a child does not drink coffee because it
burns or cooks the milk. She may not go into the heat of
the sun, or work near the fire. She covers her breast and
sometimes her back as thickly as she can from the heat. Ifa
mother dies, an old woman takes the infant to another woman
who is already nursing a child. This is advantageous to the
woman, as it prevents her surplus milk from becoming bad.
For this reason pups are sometimes applied to the breast.
Early in the morning a man sometimes drains a woman’s
breast, spitting the milk on the ground; or a child some years
weaned drinks from her. This is done that her infant may
have the newly formed milk.
If a man is married, his sister may want to make a cradle
for his child. She provides food for a number of old people,
shows them her materials, and asks how she is to make the
cradle. The old people tell her how to make it, and show her
the designs with which it is to be decorated. Then they all
pray in turn that the child’s cradle may be made perfectly,
and that it may be for the good of the child. After the
woman has finished the cradle, she repeats her invitation to
the old people. Then the child is put into the cradle and
taken to its father. He receives it, and makes a gift to the
maker.
Cradles are embroidered with porcupine-quills or beads.
They are used for carrying the child. Some can also be sus-
pended on ropes from two tent-poles, and swung. Several are
described on p. 66.
When a person dies, his relatives cry and unbraid their hair.
Sometimes they cut their hair. The greater their love for
him, the more hair they cut off. Women tear off a sleeve;
they gash themselves (lightly) across the lower and upper
arm and below the knee. The dead body is allowed to lie so
that all the dead person’s friends can see it. It is dressed in
the best clothing, some perhaps being contributed by friends.
Those who thus contribute toward dressing a dead man re-
ceive one of his horses or other property. A horse is also
given for digging the grave and for similar assistance. The
body is buried on the hills, being taken there on horseback.
1902.] — Kroeber, The Arapaho, 17
The grave is made deep enough to prevent coyotes from dig-
ging out the corpse; with this object in view, thorny brush
is also put on the grave. ‘The relatives go out to the grave
for several days. They mourn there, crying while sitting in
one place. Hair that has been cut off by friends and rela-
tives is wrapped up with the body and buried. The dead
man’s best or favorite horse is shot next to his grave, and left
lying there. The tail and mane of the horse on which the
body was taken to burial are cut off and strewn over the grave.
Before the body is taken away to be interred, an old man
speaks encouragingly to the relatives. The dead man’s family
move to another place. They give away the tent in which
he died. If he happened to die in a brush shelter, it is
burned. Clothing, beds, and other articles that were where
he died, are burned, in order that his shadow (spirit) will not
come back. Sticks that may have touched him while he was
dying are buried with him or laid on the grave. Immediately
after the burial the relatives bathe because they have touched
the corpse. For several nights they burn cedar-leaves; the
smoke or smell of this keeps away the spirit. For some time
they wear old clothing and do not paint. They seek no
amusements. At first they eat little. As long as they wear
old clothes and keep their hair unbound, they are in mourn-
ing. This period is not fixed. When they have finished
mourning, they provide food and invite in old men and
women. An old man paints their entire faces and their hair
red. This is called cleaning; it is done in the morning, so
that they may be under the care of the sun all day. Now
they braid their hair again, and go about as before.
For a murder or accidental killing, horses were given to the
relatives of the dead. The murderer had no influence or posi-
tion, and was shunned. He was not, however, excluded from
tribal affairs. He could camp in the camp-circle, and enter
dances. Everything that he ate was supposed to taste bad
to him.
The name of the dead was apparently as freely mentioned
as that of the living. Old men sometimes gave their own
name to young men. Red-Wolf (haaxabaani) gave his name
[May, 1902.] 2
18 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History, [Vol. XVIII,
to his son, and was then called ‘‘One-Crow” (houniisi). Names
are not infrequently changed.
The giving of presents is a very extensive practice among
the Arapaho, as among all the Plains Indians. Horses are
given to visitors from other tribes, especially by chiefs, in
order to show their position and rank.
Me
1902. ] Kroeber, The Arapaho, 43
consisting of two triangles touching at their vertices, repre-
sent rough places in the path: those that are red denote
prominences; those that are blue signify holes. Crosses
are the morning star. A horizontal stripe at the heel repre-
sents a caterpillar. :
On the moccasin shown in Fig. 2 of Plate 1 the white
groundwork of beads represents sand. The parallel angles
on the instep of the moccasin are tents. Small rhomboidal
marks are stars. At the toe a wide cross is the morning star.
At the sides claw-shaped figures represent hakixta" (buffalo-
hoofs). Between each pair of these figures is a yellow and
red rectangle, which represents an eye. Small squares on
the transverse stripe at the instep, and at the heel, repre-
sent tracks.
On the moccasin shown in Fig. 3 of Plate 11 the white
background represents snow. The dark-blue triangles with
squares in them are tents and their doors. The two large,
greenish-blue triangular areas on the instep represent lakes.
Between them a diamond represents the navel (or perhaps a
child’s navel-amulet). Triangles at each end of this diamond
are arrow-points. A greenish-blue stripe around the ankle
represents both smoke and water. Small squares at the in-
step and at the heel represent tracks.
The moccasin illustrated in Fig. 4 of Plate 1 is one of the
few solidly-beaded Arapaho moccasins of which the ground
color is not white. It is a rich blue, and the figures upon it
are chiefly pink and red. The blue represents the sky. The
large parallelograms are clouds with white edges, piled up
one on the other. Red crosses or diamonds in these are
stars. Larger, white-edged rhombi in the blue are also stars.
A triangle at the toe isa tent. In the middle of the front, a
red figure represents a crayfish or scorpion.
Fig. 5 of Plate 11 shows another solidly-beaded moccasin.
Green squares, enclosing a smaller square that is white and
red, are life-symbols (hiiteni). Small red triangles in contact
with the life-symbols are tents. Small black squares in
several places on the white ground are rabbit-tracks in snow.
The triangular figures represent seats (giéku’utaana"). The
44 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. (Vol. XVUL,
stripe around the ankle represents biisa", any snake or worm.
Separate parts of this stripe have other additional significa-
tions. The forward portion is yellow, and denotes sunlight.
Black squares are again rabbit-tracks. Five red squares in
quincunx on a white ground are a turtle. The posterior por-
tion of the stripe is green, and denotes the earth.
Three children’s moccasins are shown in the first three fig-
ures of Plate 11.
In Fig. 1, Plate 111, the two lateral convexly triangular areas
on the front of the moccasin are green, and represent horse-
ears. It may be noted that analogous areas on other moccasins
represent buffalo-horns, lakes, and fish. The figure between
these two green areas represents a lizard. The head is sup-
posed to be at the toe. Two blue slanting lines are legs.
White and yellow spots on the red body are the markings of
the animal. Below the ankle, a red stripe with two blue diag-
onal lines represents a butterfly.
Fig. 2 of Plate 111 shows a moccasin which is beaded around
the edges, but has its front surface traversed by a number of
quilled lines (cf. Fig. 5, a). The white beadwork repre-
sents the ground. Green zigzag lines upon it are snakes.
The quilled lines represent sweat-house poles. These lines
are red, blue, and yellow, and the colors represent stones of
different colors, used for producing steam in the sweat-house.
‘At the heel of the moccasin, which is not shown in the figure,
are two small green squares. These represent the blankets
with which the sweat-house is covered.
The design of a snake was embroidered on this moccasin
in order that the child wearing it might not be bitten by
snakes. The symbols referring to the sweat-house were em-
broidered on the moccasin in order that the child might grow
to the age at which the sweat-house is principally used;
namely, old age.
The moccasin shown in Fig. 3, Plate 111, bears a design sim-
ilar to several that have been described. All the stripes
represent paths.
Fig. 4 of Plate 111 shows an unusually large moccasin. The
two large convex, triangular areas on the front are barred
Vor. XVIII, Prats IT,
Buiietin A. M.N. H,
We
y
Ean
MOCCASINS.
46 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. (Vol. XVIII,
dark blue and white. They represent fish. The similarly
barred stripe around the ankle also represents a fish (or the
markings ona fish). Small figures, some red, some blue, con-
sisting of a pair of triangles joined at the vertices, represent
butterflies. The double tongue over the instep represents
a horned toad (1. e¢., its markings).
On the moccasin shown in Fig. 5 of this plate the zigzag
band across the front represents lightning.
What may be considered a typical solidly-beaded moccasin
is shown in Platerv. The white represents snow. The green,
both in the triangular areas and in the stripe around the
ankle, represents grass-covered earth. The blue and yellow
figures consisting of three triangles represent the heart and
lungs. The white stripe bisected by two shorter ones, inside
the green triangular areas, is a dragon-fly. Groups of three
small light-blue squares near the instep were described as
halves of stars (five squares in quincunx sometimes represent
a star). Atthe heel, four small green rectangles (invisible in
the illustration) represent caterpillars. The design on this
moccasin was embroidered as it was previously seen in a
dream.
Fig. 6 shows two views of one of the leggings worn by a
little girl, The moccasin is attached to the legging. The
skin of which the legging is made is painted yellow wherever
it is not covered by beads, excepting in the white-bordered
stripe running alongside the shin of the leg; in this the skin
is painted red. The designs worked on the legging were
seen in a dream or vision. This pair of leggings was con-
sidered exceptionally handsome by the Arapaho; it always
attracted attention at once. The design on each side of the
legging, consisting of two connected triangles, represents a
mountain with the morning star above it. (The figure of the
mountain is symmetrically duplicated, which gives the star,
represented by a cross, the appearance of being between
two mountains, the upper one inverted.) At the back of
the legging the rhombus represents the morning star when it
is rising; the two crosses are the morning star when it is high
up above the horizon. The contact of the crosses with the
Voi. XVITT, Prate IV.
Butietin A. M,N. H,
a STR a
AND PoucH,
MOCCASIN
1902.] Kroeber, The Arapaho. 47
line signifies that the star appears just before daybreak. The
yellow painting of the skin represents daylight. The two white
beaded stripes up the front of the legging represent the partly
divided milky way. The colored designs in these stripes de-
Te
o
Fig. 6 (#%). Girl’s Leggings.
note small stars of many colors along the edge of the milky
way. On the moccasin the large, green triangular areas rep-
resent the earth in spring. The diamond situated between
these green areas is a star supposed to be visible directly over-
head atnoon. The six diamonds connected by a line passing
Vor. XVIII, Prats V.
Buctetin A. M, N. H.
Ta
de
al)
Ny), Nis
Mins EZ
Y,
@
Hl
) i!
yy
UU
;
—— >
d
SS
Sy
Hi
L
er
PARTS OF GIRLS’ AND WoMEN'S LEGGINGS,
1902. | Kroeber, The Arapaho. 49
around the edge of the moccasin are a ring of stars, probably
the constellation Corona.
Another legging worn by a little girl is shown in Fig. 1 of
Plate v. The moccasin has been removed. The design
appears twice, once on the vertical band, and again on the
horizontal band extending around the ankle. The two rows
of small triangles represent ranges of hills. The red stripe
along the middle of the white band of beads represents ground.
Two green squares in this are springs. Four blue lines issu-
ing from each of these squares are streams flowing from the
springs. A small yellow bar bisecting the red stripe is a
river; its dark-blue border is timber along its course. A row
of green and blue beads along the edges of the legging repre-
sents game of various kinds.
Fig. 2 of Plate v shows another girl’s legging and moc-
casin. The three diamonds in the centre of the figure that is
on the side of the legging are the life-symbols. Above and
below the three diamonds are figures, each consisting of
two dark-blue right-angled triangles. These represent deer-
tracks. Two similar figures, wider and green in color, touch
the middle one of the three diamonds; they represent elk-
tracks. This whole design is repeated on the opposite side
of the legging. At the back, also invisible in the illustration,
is a long red line crossed by nine short lines; this represents
a centipede. Along the front of the legging the triangular
designs are tents; and the red rectangles, life-symbols. The
tin rattles are attached to the legging in order that by their
noise they may frighten away insects or snakes that would
bite the child wearing the legging. On the lower border of
the moccasin are rectangles of red and green beads. These
are again life-symbols. This symbol thus has three different
forms on one object. Dark-blue triangles, two of which are
near each of the life-symbols last mentioned, represent the
designs, largely composed of triangles, with which rawhide
bags and parfleches are painted. The red lines of quill-work
extending across the toe of the moccasin represent the
paths of children.
Embroidered portions of girls’ and women’s leggings are
[Aay, 1902.] 4
50 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. (Vol. XVII,
shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, of Plate v. In Fig. 3 the triangles
represent. arrow-points. Those that have three small dark
triangles at their base also represent tents. The cross is the
morning star. The line with which it is in contact is a path. At
the back of the legging, invisible in the illustration, is a figure
of a buffalo-leg, symmetrically duplicated; the hoof of this re-
sembles the deer-track design on the legging last described.
In Fig. 4, Plate v, the triangles denote tents. Between
the two triangles on the side of the legging, whose points are
directed toward each other, are two figures which coalesce in
the middle. These figures represent the ha"tcAciihi teihiiha®,
a powerful dwarf cannibal people several times mentioned in
Arapaho myths. The tents are supposed to belong to them.
The blue bar at the base of the wide vertical stripe of em-
broidery indicates the range or limit of habitation of the
dwarfs. The dark Y-shaped marks are horse-tracks; they
imply (in this connection) human beings (as opposed to
monstrous or supernatural people). At the back of the leg-
ging there is a vertical row of these horse-tracks. The green
beads at the edges of this legging represent vegetation.
In Fig. 5 of Plate v the yellow and green right-angled tri-
angles, each with a small square of the opposite color at the
base, represent tents. The white stripe dividing them is a
path. Between the figures of tents, a green and a yellow
isosceles triangle are each a cactus-plant. The projections
arising from them represent the cactus-spines. On one of the
figures these projections are red, and therefore represent also
the red edible fruit of the cactus. This whole design is re-
peated on the opposite side of the legging. At the back of
the legging is a vertical row of seventeen (green and red)
isosceles triangles, the base of one resting upon the point of
the next lower one. These represent ant-hills. They are not
shown in the illustration. Along the front of the legging the
flat triangles represent brush-shelters. The small upright
marks at the ends of each figure are the tent-pegs at the sides
of the shelter.' The rows of beads along the edges of the leg-
ging represent animals or variety of game.
! The brush-shelter is often partially covered with canvas. Formerly hides were
used for this purpose. This cover may be pegged down like a tent.
1902. ] Kroeber, The Arapaho. - gl
Fig. 7, a, represents one of a pair of armlets covered with
beadwork, Such armlets or sleeve-holders are generally worn
chiefly on gala occasions; that is, at dances. The red and
green bisected squares represent black beetles with hard
elytre. Small loops of beads along the edge represent worms
or maggots. The large beads on the two attached strings rep-
—_—
i
\hs
ih
Uf
l
\
i
fi
!
i
il
ru
3
.\
i
a
“To
\)
(
A
l
mn
Ti
"
fl
)
See
Fig. 7, a (offs), 5 (x80), ¢ (y's). Armlets.
resent ants. These various insects were represented because
they are constantly moving and crawling, just as the people
travelled and roamed over the earth.
One of another pair of armlets is shown in Fig. 7,b. The
figure of a bird represents both an eagle (on account of the
crooked beak) and a swallow (on account of the forked tail).
The squares, both blue and red, are stars. The white ground-
work of beads represents haze or smoke; the blue beading at
the edge represents clouds or the sky.
52 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. (Vol. XVUIL,
Fig. 7,¢, shows an unembroidered armlet, made of the
skin from an elk-foot. A round piece of green cloth attached
to the skin represents the sun. The two pieces of hoof repre-
sent the long, curving nails of old persons. The small holes
in these hoofs represent the various things possessed by the
owner of this armlet. These holes also have another sig-
nification: those around the edges of the hoofs denote stars;
and five holes in quincunx in the middle of each hoof repre-
sent (the five fingers of) the hand, which is symbolically
equivalent to possession of property.
One of a pair of red quill-embroidered armlets is shown in
Fig. 1 of Plate vi. It was worn in the ghost-dance. The
black squares represent buffalo. The red quill-wound strings
falling from the armlet are kakau’cetcana" (thoughts, reason,
imagination, hope, desires, or anything mental). The orna-
ments at their ends represent naii’tate’ihi (fulfilment of desire).
Fig. 2 of Plate v1 shows a woman's ghost-dance armlet,
embroidered with yellow quill-work. The bird embroidered
in green quills represents a magpie. The red cross is the
morning star. The red rectangle is the symbol of life.
The fringe of green-dyed buckskin represents rays of light,
and (on account of its color) the earth. The attached magpie-
feathers represent persons (presumably spirits); and small
yellow plumes attached to these represent the sun.
Fig. 3 of Plate v1 shows a head-dress. It consists of a
small hoop wound with yellow quills. Two owl-feathers are
attached to it. It is worn on the side of the head. The cir-
cular quill-wrapped portion with four black spots on it
Tepresents a sun-dog.
A peculiar head-dress, which is found among many of the
Plains tribes, consists of a strip of skin, measuring about two
inches by eight, which is covered with beads or quills, and
has various strings or appendages attached to it. It is worn
hanging from the scalp-lock, at the back of the head. Among
the Arapaho, a horse-tail is generally attached to the lower
end of this head-dress. It is worn by young men on festive
occasions and at ceremonials at which uniform regalia are not
prescribed. Many of these head-dresses represent animals.
Boutetin A. M.N.H. Vor. XVIII, PLate VI.
ARMLETS AND HEAD-DRESS.
54 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. (Vol. XVUI,
The specimen shown in Plate vii, Fig. 1, represents a rat.
The possessor and maker of this head-dress explained his
choice of this animal as an object of representation, by the
occurrence of the rat in a number of tales about the mythic
personage Nih’a’ca". It is a fact, however, that all the objects
of Arapaho manufacture which represent animals at all, de-
note small animals such as the lizard, frog, fish, or rat. The
cross on this specimen is the conventional na"kaox, or morning
star.
Fig. 2 of the same plate shows one of these head-dresses
worked in quills. The horse-tail is dyed golden-yellow. This
color was chosen by the wearer of the head-dress because he
was desirous of possessing a horse of this color. The horse-
hair is also a symbol of good luck, because horses are the
usual gifts when presents are made.
The animal symbolism is fairly well worked out in this
specimen. The quill-work is the body of a rat; the horse-
tail, its tail. The long pendants at the four corners are of
course the legs. Two loops at the top of the head-dress are
the rat-ears, and two strings of red beads at the top represent
the pointed mouth. Down the middle of the red quill-work
runs a green stripe, which isa path. Blue, yellow, and green
squares at the sides of this stripe represent (the tracks of?)
rats running into the path.
Fig. 3 of Plate vii shows a similar head-dress representing
a lizard. It is worked in beads, and the tail is twisted and
dyed red. The bead-work design is the morning-star cross.
The navel-strings of Arapaho girls are preserved and sewed
into small pouches stuffed with grass. These pouches are
usually diamond-shaped and covered on both sides with beads.
The child wears this amulet, which contains its navel-string,
on its belt until it is worn out.
Such amulets are found among many tribes. Among some
they are worn by boys as well as girls, or two are worn by one
child. Among the Sioux these amulets sometimes have the
shape of horned toads. Among the Assiniboine they are gen-
erally diamond-shaped, but less elongated than among the
Arapaho. Among the Gros Ventres they are often diamond-
BuLieTIn A.M. N.H. Vor, XVII, Prate VII.
H¥eAbD-DRESSES,
56 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. (Vol. XVIII,
shaped; they sometimes represent a person, but more usually
a horned toad, and sometimes have the figure of this animal.
Among the Utes these navel-amulets are also diamond-shaped,
but they are attached to the infant’s cradle. Among the
Arapaho they usually represent a small animal.
In connection with the usual diamond shape of these amu-
lets, it may be observed that throughout the decorative sym-
bolism of the Arapaho the navel is represented by a diamond-
shaped symbol.
Fig. 1 of Plate vi11 shows the only example of navel-amulets
possessing realistic shape, seen among the Arapaho. It is
further unique in not being beaded on the under side. It
represents a lizard (sani’wa"). This word, in Gros Ventre,
means ‘‘horned toad,’”’ but in Arapaho seems to signify
“lizard.” The Arapaho regard the horned toad, which they
call by the same name as a mule (bihiiha"x), as a good animal,
and do not kill it.
The more decoratively conventionalized form of navel-
amulet is seen in Fig. 2 of Plate vir. This object represents a
fish. The diagonal lines indicate its appearance (1. e., the
markings of the fish).
The amulet shown in Fig. 3, Plate v111, represents a tadpole
(hiseindta", literally ‘‘ woman's belly ’’), Two figures upon it
in dark-blue beadwork represent stars. - These forms appear
to be modifications of the cross, which usually denotes the
morning star. The red ornament in the middle represents
the butterfly, or possibly the dragon-fly; it could not be
determined which. The white beaded background represents
snow.
Fig. 4 of Plate virr illustrates another amulet representing a
lizard (sani’wa"). The dark blue and yellow areas signify its
markings, while the bisecting lines represent paths.
The previous specimens are alike on both sides. eas 5
and 6 of Plate vir, however, represent the two differing sides
of one navel-amulet. The whole object represents the navel
itself, also a frog. The two dark-blue trapezoidal ornaments
in Fig. 5 represent miniature or toy bags, resembling those
ordinarily used, but made for children. Below, a (red and
Butietin A. M,N. H. i Vou. XVII, Prats VIII.
NAVEL-AMULETS.
58 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XVIII,
pale-blue) triangle with a stripe across its point represents a
female dress (evidently that of the little girl who wore the
amulet). The golden-yellow background and the black stripe
around it represent (the color of) the girl’s hair respectively as
it is now in her youth (her hair being light brown) and as it
will be when she has grown older. On the other side (Fig. 6)
the stripes or lines represent navel-strings. The green
and blue single lines of beads at the seam or edge of the
pouch represent sinew. The loose pendants of large beads
represent navel-strings; the shells at their ends represent
teeth.
In addition to the representation of a frog, there are three
lines of symbolism in this object. First, teeth and color of
hair are often used in symbolism to denote age, and express
a wish for old age; the toy bags, and possibly the dress and
navel-strings, also refer to the age of childhood. Secondly,
the dress, and perhaps the sinew (which serves as thread,
and therefore denotes sewing, woman’s occupation), sym-
bolize sex. Thirdly, the navel, and therefore also the navel-
strings, symbolize the human being (ini’ta*).
It will be seen from these figures that the navel-amulet of
the conventional diamond form has a pair of strings at the
sides, which denote the legs or fins of the animal represented.
When a lizard, frog, or fish is represented, these strings aid
the slight similarity of the pouch to the animal; but when a
tadpole is represented, as in Fig. 3, it is evident that their
effect is the opposite, and that their presence is due to
the prevalence, in this point, of stylistic convention over
accuracy of symbolism. But a specimen like the first one
described (Fig. 1) shows the opposite predominance of repre-
sentative accuracy over decorative convention. From this it
would seem that there is always some tendency toward real-
istic symbolism, and some toward ornamental convention, but
that the relative proportion of the two varies considerably in
different individuals making decorated objects.
One-half of the front of a bead-covered waistcoat is shown
in Fig. 8. This garment is of course modern. The figures
that may be described as inverted Y's are sticks or racks set
1902.] Kroeber, The Arapaho. 59
up inside the tent to hang saddles and blankets upon. The
designs above them are saddle-blankets. The cross is the
morning star. A row of blue squares represents rocks. A
blue stripe represents a rope. Be-
low this are ornaments consisting
of a line with a hollow square at
the bottom. These represent
men’s stirrups. On the back of
the waistcoat, instead of these
ornaments, are others consisting
of a line with a triangle at the
bottom. These represent women’s
stirrups. The Arapaho at present
use saddles of their own manu-
facture for women. These have
triangular stirrups of wood and
rawhide. The men ride Ameri-
can saddles, which usually have
oval wooden stirrups. Thus, as
in many other cases (the sky, the
earth, the sacred hoop), the square
or rectangle here represents some-
thing circular or oval. In sym-
bolism anything four-sided or
four-cornered is equivalent to a
circle, and anything circular is
considered to have four ends.
Tents, even now that canvas Fig. 8 (:§83). Front of Beaded Waist-
has replaced buffalo-hides, are cot.
still often decorated with a con-
ventional set of ornaments. These ornaments are the fol-
lowing.
’ x, Acircular piece of hide about eight inches in diameter,
covered with embroidery of beads or quills (Plate 1x, Fig.
2). This is sewed to the back of the tent at its very top, just
below the place where it is fastened to the hiinana’kaya", —
the pole in the middle of the back which is used to raise the
tent into position. To the bottom of this ornament are
60 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XVIII,
attached two buffalo (or cattle) tails. This ornament is
called ka*eibiihi.
2. Four similarly embroidered pieces of skin considerably
smaller (Plate 1x, Fig. 1). These are attached to the sides
of the tent, several feet above the bottom, at the southeast,
southwest, northwest, and northeast (the tent always facing
east). To the middle of each of these ornaments is attached
a buffalo-tail and a pendant consisting of three quill-wrapped
strings which have at their ends the small dew-claws of buffalo
and a quill-wrapped loop.
3. A series of pendants, each triple, with dew-claws and
loops at the ends (Plate 1x, Fig. 3). These resemble the
pendants just described, except that instead of strings, wider
strips of skin are wound with porcupine-quills. When quills
are not to be had, corn-husk or plant-fibres are used. These
pendants, called xaxanaahihi, are attached in two vertical
rows to the front of the tent, where it is fastened together
above the door; also to the edge of the two flaps or ears at
the top (which give light and ventilation, but can be closed
when it rains).
These three sets of objects constitute the regular orna-
mentation of a tent.
These tent-ornaments are of three different kinds, the pat-
terns in the circular embroidery varying slightly.
Fig. 9, a, shows one of the three kinds. The design consists
of alternating black and yellow concentric circles and of four
black-edged white radii.
Fig. 9, 6, shows a second style, which contains four colors,
whereas the first contains three. This may be described as
similar to the preceding, excepting that the two sectors en-
closed by the four radii are solidly red instead of continuing
the black and yellow circles that cover the main part of the
surface. The specimen figured has teeth around its edge.
Such teeth may be either present or absent in any of the
three styles.
The black and yellow concentric rings represent the whirl-
wind, or perhaps more exactly the course of Whirlwind-
Woman. When the earth was first made (and was still small),
1902. ] Kroeber, The Arapaho. 61
Nayda"xati’sei (Whirlwind-Woman) did not know where to
stop (to rest), and went from place to ee As she circled,
the earth grew until it
-reached its present ex-
tent. When she stopped, Yo
she had gone over the Us a
whole earth. It was she ite et LT Cs J is
who first made this tent- SS Te if , WM Re io Bi Zs
ornament, which repre- a YI Ve ee
sents what she did.
uTHII|
s ‘black’ on account
of their black circles.
The third style lacks
these, and is therefore
called “‘white.”’ It is
also called xana"kii’baa,
1.é@., ‘ straight-standing-
red,’’ on account of its
two opposite red sectors.
This third style is like
the second except that
instead of being banded
black and yellow, it is
solid yellow.
The specimen shown
in Fig. 2 of Plate 1x is
of this third kind. It
represents the sun, on
account of both its shape
and its prevailing yellow
color. The two red
sectors are tents con-
taining persons (red dee oe ate & Aaifea). Tent-ornaments. Longest
sometimes signifies man-
kind in Arapaho color-symbolism). The teeth at the cir-
cumference represent persons.
My
The two preceding =
styles are both known = RY;
ae,
\S
Vou. XVIM, Prats IX,
Butretin A. M,N. H.
a
Sol
SS
PLU Tr VON
ur
wl
ae o / i ” ~~
ST ®,
DA)
BN
ae
A? 4 Bi
ee
TENT-ORNAMENTS,
1902] | Kroeber, The Arapaho. 63
Another specimen of this third kind, worked in beads, was
said to represent, as a whole, the sun. The red sectors, at the
opposite sides (ends) of the circle, are the red of sunrise and
sunset. The white and black radii bordering these sectors
can be regarded as two intersecting diameters, forming a cross.
Therefore they are the morning star.
The four small circular ornaments going with each of the
large ones that have been described are miniature reproduc-
tions of these, except that the small ornaments of the first
two styles omit radii and sectors, consisting only of con-
centric black and yellow circles.
The pendants are more variable than the circular tent-
ornaments. Sometimes they are entirely yellow. Generally
they contain some red. Very frequently there is a white por-
tion with black edgings. The one shown in Plate 1x, Fig. 3,
has green upon it. The rule seems to be to employ only the
four colors red, yellow, black, and white.
One kind of pendant is entirely orange; another (Fig. 10),
from the upper part downward, yellow, purple, white, purple,
orange. The purple probably stands for black. The arrange-
ment of colors in Fig. 10 is similar to that shown in Plate 1x,
Fig. 3, except that the middle strip is white and of greater
width. Generally the upper part, at which the three pend-
ants hang together, is wrapped with quills of the same color
as the upper parts of the pendants. The rings at the
lower ends: of the present specimen are red, white, and
black,
Instead of the large circular embroidery, a rectangular or
trapezoidal figure of beadwork is sometimes attached to the
top of the back of the tent. Fig. 11 shows such an ornament.
It is called niha"xa’haya®" (‘‘yellow-oblong’’?). It is worked
in red, yellow, black, and white.’
This rectangular form is probably more typical of the Chey-
enne than of the Arapaho, though the Cheyenne also have the
circular ornaments. The Gros Ventres formerly possessed
circular ornaments similar to those of the Arapaho, but no
longer use them; merely a few detached specimens are still
1 By mistake the yellow in this specimen is indicated as green in the illustration.
64 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. (Vol. XVIII,
in existence. Among the Shoshone, Bannock, and Ute, the
writer has not seen any tent-ornaments. The Blackfeet also
did not use them.
A Cheyenne tent-ornament in the American Museum of
Natural History exactly resembles the Arapaho one illus-
trated in Plate 1x, Fig. 2, except that blue is substituted for
the white. Another Cheyenne tent-ornament seen by the
Fig. 10. Fig. ur.
Figs. 10 (y§85b), 11 (gifs). Tent-ornaments. Length, 27 cm., 23 cm.
writer was identical with these two, except that it was green
where these were respectively white and blue.
It appears that the combination of red, yellow, black, and
white, while not confined to the Arapaho, is more character-
istic of their tribal ornamentation than of that of their neigh-
bors. When green is used by the Arapaho in the embroidery
of such tribally-decorated objects, it may replace either red
or white.
Designs and color combinations very similar to those of
tent-ornaments are found on other objects in which a highly
conventional style of quill-embroidery formerly prevailed.
1902. | Kroeber, The Arapaho... 65
These objects are particularly. buffalo-robes, buffalo-skin
blankets or pillows, and cradles.
Fig. 12 shows one of twenty lines embroidered in quills
across a buffalo-robe, previously mentioned on p. 34, The
line represents a buffalo-path. The four colors—~the con-
ventional red, yellow, black, and white — represent the four
lives (generations or periods) since the beginning of the
world, one for each color.
If one follows the circumference of one of the circular tent-
ornaments (as of Fig. 2, Plate 1x), excepting the first style,
which lacks red, one meets in the course of this circumference
the same succession of colors, and the same relative amount
or proportional width of each, as on this straight line on the
buffalo-robe. In each case the bulk or body of the line is
Fig. 12. Quill-embroidered Line.
yellow; there are red spaces of considerable size; these are
bordered by smaller white spaces; and these, finally, are
bordered by still narrower black spaces.
Buffalo-skins, from the head and neck of the animal, were
used to hang over the head of the bed. One of these skins
seen by the writer was ornamented in the following manner.
1. The horns were not attached to the skin. Where the
eye had been there was sewed one of the small circular tent-
ornaments consisting of yellow and black concentric rings.
2. The place of the top of the head was covered by a quill-
work ornament called the ‘‘brain,’’ which was nothing else
than one of the large circular tent-ornaments of the style that
lacks the black concentric rings. 3. The place of 1e ear
was covered by a figure embroidered in beads an. quills.
This was trapezoidal, the smaller of the bases being convexly
rounded. This ornament is shown in Fig. 13. Most of it is
yellow. The middle portion is red; this is bordered by two
white stripes, which are edged by black lines. 4. Along the
“throat,” that is, along one of the sides of the piece of skin,
was a fourth ornament, This consisted of two strips of hide
_extending the length of the skin, parallel to each other at a
66 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. (Vol. XVIII,
distance of about six inches. Connecting these were about
thirty short strips of hide, each about half an inch wide. These
strips were wound with corn-husk of the four colors,— red,
yellow, black, and white. The arrangement and proportion
of colors on these strips were identical with those on the orna-
ment representing the ear. In addition, three or four smaller
strips, with the same color-pattern, were put on each of the
long pieces of hide, extending in the same direction as these;
that is, vertically. This entire ornament, in its general char-
acter, somewhat resembled the long orna-
ment hanging from the cradle shown in
Fig. 14, 0.
These buffalo-skin pillows with the tribal
ornamentation were decorated, like tents
and robes, under the direction of the old
women possessing the sacred seven work-
bags. Itis probable that the last specimen
of this kind has now perished.
Cradles, or infant-carriers, are also deco-
ok ta Butsose pated in a style similar to tent-ornaments.
The embroidery is altogether in quills.
Sometimes, however, only three colors are used on these
cradles, instead of four. There are two chief lines of sym-
bolism connected with this ornamentation. According to
one interpretation, the various ornaments represent the child
that is in the cradle. According to the other interpretation,
these ornaments represent parts of the tent. When the child
grows up, it will inhabit its own tent as now it inhabits the
cradle. Therefore this symbolism serves to express a wish
that the child may reach the age of manhood or womanhood.
Fig. 14, b, shows such a cradle. The round ornament near
the top of the cradle, situated over the top of the child’s head,
represents the head or skull of the child. The long ornament,
consisting of two strips of hide connected by red, black, and
white quill-wrapped strips, represents the child’s hair. The
smooth, slippery quills denote the greasy hair of the child.
At the lower part of the cradle the long quill-covered thongs
represent ribs. The lowest pair, however, are the legs. Of
[Fune, 1902.] &
au
1902.) . Kroeber, The Arapaho. 67
the three colors in the embroidery, red represents blood;
black, the hair (of youth and middle age); white, (the hair of)
old age. Of the sticks forming the framework inside the
cradle, one is unpeeled, the other peeled. The unpeeled one
cradle;
Fig, 14, 2 (x8?x), & (ei), ¢ (x580). Cradles.
the peeled stick represents its subsequent more cleanly
condition.
The round ornament at the top of this cradle, besides de-
noting the head of the child, represents also a tent-ornament,
which indeed it closely resembles. The tent-ornament signi-
fies that the child, when it has grown up, will have a tent.
Above the round ornament are pendants having small hoofs
and quill-wrapped loops at their ends. These represent the
68 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XVIII,
pendants or rattles above the door of the tent. Still higher
up than these on the cradle, are two quill-wound strips lying
parallel to each other. These represent man and woman,
since a man and a woman own a tent together. On the orna-
ment representing hair are several pairs of pendants having
loops at their ends. These loops represent the holes in the
bottom of the tent through which the tent-pegs pass. The
whole cradle, owing to its shape and the fact of its being
stretched on a framework of sticks, resembles a tent-door, and
therefore represents it.
Both of these extensive symbolic interpretations were given
by one and the same person to the ornamentation of one
cradle.
Fig. 14, a, shows a cradle like the preceding, except that in
place of the round ornament over the head there is a rectangu-
lar one of red quill-work on which is a white cross. The
shape of this probably has reference to the rectangular tent-
ornaments sometimes used.
Very similar to the two cradles just described are two in
the Field Columbian Museum in Chicago. One of these con-
tains green in its quill-work. ;
Fig. 14, c, shows a cradle worked in yellow quill-embroidery
instead of red. The rectangular ornament containing a white
cross is similar to that on the cradle last described, but in
several other respects this cradle differs in ornamentation.
The oblong ornament at the top represents the head of the
child. Yellow wool embroidered upon it is hair. A stripe of
blue beads surrounding this ornament represents face-paint.
At the lower part of the cradle are the ribs of the child.
The oblong ornament also represents a tent-ornament. The
pendants above it are the rattles at the top of the tent. They
signify that it is wished that the child may become old enough
to possess a tent. Yellow strips surrounding the opening of
the cradle represent the circumference of the base of the tent.
Tufts of wool at intervals between these strips represent the
places of the tent-pegs. The ornaments that are called ribs
are also the pins used for fastening together the front of the
tent, just above the door. Rattle-pendants attached to them
1902.] sa Kroeber, The Arapaho. 69
represent the pendants on the tent alongside of these pins,
lower down than those referred to at the top of the tent.
Quill-embroidered cradles have been seen by the writer only
among the northern Arapaho. Beaded cradles, which are
used among both portions of the
tribe, are very different in design
and symbolism.
. A beaded cradle is shown in
.Fig. 15. Dark-blue triangles rep-
resent tents. Green rectangles,
with three projections at each
end, represent brush-shelters or
sun-shades, with the poles on which
they stand. A long red stripe is
a path. Around the edge of the
cradle are marks that are blue,
red,and yellow. These represent
piles of stones marking the extent
of the camp-circle. At the bot-
tom a border passing completely
around the cradle represents the
camp-circle of tents. At the very:
top an attached square with a
broad cross in it represents the
morning star. Ina similar square
from the top of a Cheyenne
cradle, Ehrenreich' found designs
that. had a highly abstract sig-
nificance.
A Sioux cradle in the American
Museum of Natural History bears
a resemblance to this one that
is very remarkable. Nothing is Fig. 15 (g#). Beaded Cradle.
known of the symbolismattached ‘sth 69cm.
to this cradle by the Sioux.
Fig. 16 shows a figure in the shape of a tent-ornament,
which was intended to be attached to the head of a cradle.
1 Ethnologisches Notizblatt, 1899, II, 1, p. 27.
70 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XVIII,
Fig. 17 shows the tent-ornament design slightly altered, and
used to cover one side of a ball.
Tent-ornaments are generally attached to the tent with a
certain amount of ceremony. This is done by an assemblage
of old women, one or more of whom are possessors of one of
the seven sacred women’s bags that have been referred to.
The ceremonies are similar to those that have been described
as taking place in connection with the transfer of one of the
sacred bags or with the embroidering of a robe (pp. 30 et seq.).
Fig. 16 ($$). Cradle-ornament. Fig. 17 (sf). Beaded Ornament for Ball.
Diam., 14.5 cm. Diam., 15 cm. ‘
The following is a description of the ceremonies accompany-
ing the ornamentation of a tent, as witnessed by the writer.
A middle-aged woman who wished her tent decorated had
prepared the ornaments.. These consisted, when the cere-
mony began, of a piece of skin on which the large circular
ornament had been beaded; of the four smaller ornaments,
also of embroidered hide; of cow-tails to be attached to the
circular ornaments; of four sets of thin pendants, to be at-
tached, with the tails, to the four small circles; of fourteen
quill-wound yellow pendants, bearing small hoofs at the ends;
of sixteen similar yellow pendants which were ornamented
with the design black, white, black, red, black, white, black,
that has been previously described (p. 34); and of red flannel
to be cut into pieces to be hung on the pendants next to the
hoofs. The canvas tent which was to be ornamented had
1902.] . ' Kroeber, The Arapaho, 71
been taken down, but the poles had been left standing, and
all the household property was still in place under them. The
ceremonial attachment of the ornaments took place in another
- tent, perhaps a hundred feet away from the bare framework
of poles. The camp broke and moved that morning, and soon
these two tents were the only ones left standing. The woman
who had been called to preside over the ceremony was the
one from whom the account of the use of the sacred bags
was obtained by the writer (see p. 30). She was called Cedar-
Woman.
The owner of the tent that was to be ornamented sent a
wagon to bring Cedar-Woman. She, however, was not ready,
and remained in her tent, painting herself and putting on a
good dress. Finally she came on foot, followed by another
old woman who possessed a sacred bag, and by a third elderly
woman. The food, which is a requisite of the ceremony, was
already in the tent, set on the ground around the fireplace.
There was now a delay in order that more elderly women
might be secured. At last enough were found. With the last
comers the writer entered the tent, from which men are
ordinarily supposed to be excluded. Cedar-Woman, the head
of the ceremony, sat at the back of the tent (i. ¢., opposite
the door, which, as always, faced east). At each side of the
tent sat four women, the owner of the tent sitting next to the
door. The women were cutting the red cloth into strips and
attaching it to the ends of the pendants. The entirely yellow
pendants were being worked upon on one side of the tent, the
four-colored ones by the women on the other side. Cedar-
Woman had the piece of hide on which the large circular
beaded ornament was embroidered, and was cutting out the
ornament from it. Later she fastened the thin pendants to
the cow-tails. While at work putting the ornaments together,
all the women seemed to speak and laugh freely. The owner
of the tent once went out to get an awl.
The owner of the tent now arose from her place by the door
and kneeled before Cedar-Woman, who took medicine from
her sacred bag and began to chew it. The kneeling woman
held out her two palms together. Cedar-Woman touched her
»
72 Bulletin American Museum of slong History. (Vol. XVULI,
finger to the ground, and then placed it five times on the
other woman’s joined palms, in four spots forming a circle. and
then in the middle. The course of her finger was from right
to left, contrary to the usual ceremonial order. Then she spit
a minute quantity of medicine on the same places on the
woman’s two hands; the latter then rubbed herself all over
with her hands.’ Cedar-Woman spit on her two cheeks, and
then on her own hand, which she placed on the kneeling
woman's breast and then on the top of her head. She also
took some of the medicine from her own mouth and put it
into the other’s. The woman then rose and walked around
past the fire and the dishes (which occupied the centre of the
tent) to the door. Then she took up a dish of food that stood
towards the southeast (7. e., not far from the door), and, hold-
ing it just above the ground, walked around the fireplace
from left to right. Then she gave it to the woman before
whom it had stood. Going to the southwest quarter of the
tent, she took up a dish there, and, after having made a com-
plete circuit with it, gave it to the woman nearest whom it
had stood. Then she did the same at the northwest and
northeast. The rest of the food, other than these four dishes,
was not moved. The women all produced plates or kettles,
and the owner of the tent ladled out food to them from one
dish. The remaining dishes she set before Cedar-Woman.
Cedar-Woman took five crumbs from one of the dishes and
laid them on the tent-owner’s palm. This woman then went
around the tent, laying one crumb on the ground at each of
the four ends or sides (southeast, etc.) of the tent. The fifth
she placed on the fire in the middle. Then she came back to
Cedar-Woman, who placed five pieces from another dish on
her palm. The woman then rubbed her hands together, and,
going around the fire, stood before a tent-pole on the south-
east side of the tent. She moved her hands down in front of
it with a motion as if she held it and were letting her hands
glide down along it. She went successively to the southwest,
northwest, and northeast of the tent, and made the same mo-
* This is a common practice in ceremonials; a root called hAgawaanaxu is used for
the purpose.
1902. ] Ki roeber, The Arapaho. 73
tion before the tent-poles there. The fifth motion she made in
the same way before the door. Then, going to Cedar-Woman
a third time, she received five grains of corn on her hand, and
placed them on the ground and on the fire, just as she had
placed the first food given her by Cedar-Woman. The fourth
time, Cedar-Woman put pieces of a soft food on her hands,
which she ‘‘fed”’ to the poles as previously. Then she brought
Cedar-Woman a pot of food standing northeast of the centre
(4. e., to the left of the door, viewed from inside the tent), and,
having had a little of the contents placed on her hands, made
the same motions in front of the four tent-poles and the door
as before. From a dish at the southeast (to the right of the
door), she then again “‘fed’”’ the ground. Occasionally she
mistook the place or made a wrong motion, whereupon all the
other women laughed at her. After she had sat down, a
young woman, apparently her daughter, entered the tent and
kneeled before Cedar-Woman. She also had her palms
touched by the old woman’s finger after it had been placed
on the ground, and she also had chewed medicine spit upon
her. Then Cedar-Woman fed her with a spoon; she passed
her hand lightly down over Cedar-Woman’s arm several
times, apparently as a sign of thanks. Rising, she carried
several dishes of food to the door; then took a dish from Cedar-
Woman to the other old woman who possessed a sacred bag.
Leaving the tent, the young woman returned with plates on
which the food in the dish last mentioned was distributed.
She went out for more plates, and all the food was dished out.
Then she sat down against the door. All now ate. The
second old woman with the sacred bag once held up a piece
of food and said a short prayer, and one of the other women
did the same. When they had nearly finished eating, the
young woman left the tent, taking several dishes with her.
Several women were now called in from outside, and food was
given to them to carry away. At last all the food had been
removed from the tent.
Then the owner of the tent, who had again been sitting near
the door, went out and brought in live coals, which she put
on the fireplace. (As it was summer, there was no fire in the
74 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History.[Vol. XVUI,
tent.) Cedar-Woman took out from her bag a root which
looked like that called niaata", and sliced pieces from it. The
owner of the tent now took two forked sticks and with them
picked up two live coals from the heap which she had brought
in; she laid them on the bare ground before Cedar-Woman,
and kneeled before her. With her arm guided by Cedar-
Woman, she slowly took a small amount of the finely-cut
toot from Cedar-Woman’s other, outspread hand. Still
guided by Cedar-Woman, she moved her arm up and down
four times, then four times made a motion as if dropping
the root on the two coals, and with the last of these motions
dropped it. Then she returned to her seat by the door.
Cedar-Woman put the remainder of the finely-cut root on the
two coals, and, as the smoke rose, began to pray. She prayed
a long time. All the women in the tent bowed their heads,
and some covered their eyes. Most of them wept a little.
The owner of the tent then replaced the two coals in the
fireplace:
This done, she brought in the cover of her tent. It was
laid on the ground, to the south of the fireplace, folded so that
it was about a foot wide and perhaps twelve feet long. The
head was next to Cedar- Woman, the other end near the door.
Cedar-Woman rose, and, followed closely by the owner of the
tent, walked around the fire, touching the canvas with the
two forked sticks that had been used to pick up the coals.
Again she circled around the fire, followed by the woman
owning the tent, who carried the ornaments that were to be
attached. This time, in walking around the fire, they stepped
over the tent four times (see Fig. 18). Then the top of the
tent was spread out. The owner of the tent stood up, mo-
tioned four times with the bundle of ornaments, and threw
them on the canvas. Cedar-Woman gathered them together,
and holding them up, spoke a short prayer. Then she
handed the four smaller circular ornaments to four women.
All now gathered around the canvas, which was rolled out
somewhat, though not fully spread. All the participants
were now on the south side of the fire, where the canvas lay,
except Cedar-Woman, who kept her place at the middle of
1902. ] Kroeber, The Arapaho. Zo
the back of the tent, west of the fire, and one woman who
remained idle on the other side of the tent, north of the fire.
' The five circular ornaments were now sewed on the canvas.
The large one at the top of the tent was attached under Cedar-
Woman’s direct supervision, but neither she nor the other
old woman possessing a bag sewed. The owner of the tent
‘also did not sew. As one woman remained idle, there thus
were five who were sewing on five ornaments. While they
worked, they conversed freely. Cedar-Woman never exposed
her bag plainly, but kept it covered and wrapped even while
taking something from it. This caution may have been
due to the presence of the writer.
When the circular ornaments had
all been sewed to the canvas, Cedar-
Woman took two of the cow-tails,
and directed one of the women
how to attach them to the large
ornament. When this had been
done, the part of the canvas that
would be at the front of the top of
the tent was spread out and held
flat. on the ground. Then seven y : : ;
of the yellow pendants were laid eee yore ye
in a row upon it, and their places ;
marked with a bit of charcoal. In these places holes were
then made in the canvas with an awl. The tent had been
folded so that it was pierced twice, which made two rows
of seven holes. By means of strings of buckskin and small
squares of hide, the fourteen yellow pendants were then
attached in these places. Then the four-colored pendants
were attached in the same manner, below the others, and
just above the door; they formed two vertical rows of eight
each.
The tent was now bundled together and taken out by the
woman who owned it. ’ Together with her daughter, she at
once began to put it up on the poles that were already stand-
ing. This was done, as usual, by taking out the pole at the
middle of the back (called hiinana’kaya"), laying it on the
76 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. (Vol. XVII,
ground, and tying the canvas to it near its top, so that by
raising the pole the canvas was elevated to the proper height.
The other women now all came out from the tent in which
they had been. Cedar-Woman took the pole that was lying
on the canvas and partially raised it four times. Then the
owner of the tent, unassisted, raised it altogether, put it in
its place, and spread the canvas around the framework of
poles, though without fastening it either in front, over the
door, or at the bottom edge; so that it sagged and hung
loosely.
Cedar-Woman now took the four tails which had had em-
broidered pendants attached to them, and which were to be
fastened to the four small cir-
cular ornaments that were a few
feet above the ground on the
southeast, southwest, northwest,
and northeast sides of the tent.
Starting from before the door,
and followed by the owner of the
tent, she took a complex course
that finally brought her before
the northeast side of the tent,
ee pie ' where one of the tails was to be
ig. 19. Diagram showing Cere-
monial Circuit around Tent. attached to the beaded ornament.
Her course is shown in Fig. 19.
Altogether she walked past every part of the circumference of
the tent three times (excepting the distance between the place
where she stopped and the door from which she started);
crossed the tent four times from north to south or south to
north, lifting up the canvas once at each of the places where
the ornaments were, going under it, and emerging under the
ornament directly to the north or south; and in all her course
kept turning from left to right, making five complete revolu-
tions. When the two women had stopped on the northeast
of the tent, the owner pierced the ornament with an awl, and
Cedar-Woman fastened the tail to it. The remaining par-
ticipants in the ceremony, together with several other per-
sons who had been watching outside, looked on from a
1902. | Kroeber, The Arapaho. Ot 77
distance, sitting on the ground. The two women then went
to the ornament on the southeast side of the tent, and, having
fastened a tail to it in the same manner, did the same at the
southwest and then at the northwest. Then Cedar-Woman
sat down with the others; and the owner of the tent, assisted
by her daughter, took down the now completely ornamented
tent.
Ordinarily this would have ended the ceremony; but the
same woman had another tent to be ornaniented. Accord-
ingly the women re-entered the tent in which they had been,
and the owner brought in to them a second canvas. Pre-
sumably this was decorated and set up like the first, although
without another meal preceding.
This ends the account of the tribal decoration of the
Arapaho, —
Plate x represents two of the gut cases or pouches used to
hold porcupine-quills. Generally these pouches are not em-
broidered. On the larger one (Fig. 2) the blue and yellow
triangles in the beadwork at each end represent rocks. On
the other one (Fig. 1) red and blue lines on the white bead-
work represent leeches.
The Arapaho keep the dry finely pulverized paint, which
they use to put on their persons, in small pouches of soft skin.
Old people may have plain little sacks without any decora-
tion. Generally, however, the pouches are about half cov-
ered with beadwork. They take two main forms. One has
a fringe hanging from the bottom of the pouch. The other
typical form has, in place of the fringe, a pointed triangular
flap of skin about as long as the pouch itself. These paint-
bags are usually intended to represent other objects. Many
represent one half of a saddle-bag. Saddle-bags were made
of soft skin, deep, beaded, and with a long fringe. They
were double, so that one end hung on each side of the horse.
One half of a saddle-bag had much the shape and appearance
of many of the paint-pouches. Others of these paint-pouches
represent small animals. The pouch itself is the body of the
animal, its opening is the mouth, the strings with which the
Burzietin A. M. N. H. Vor. XVIII, Prate X,
4
PouCHES FOR HOLDING PORCUPINE-QUILLS,
1902. ] Kroeber, The Arapaho, 79
opening is tied together are limbs, other strings or attach-
ments are hind-limbs or tail, and so on. The beadwork on
the pouch is generally entirely independent in its symbolism,
but sometimes has reference to the animal symbolism of the
whole pouch. Thus the beadwork may represent the mark-
ings or habitation of the animal, or parts of its body.
Fig. 20 shows four paint-pouches in outline. The strings
that represent legs, fins, etc., are extended, to make the simi-
larity to an animal as apparent as possible. arepresents both
a beaver and a fish. With the latter signification, the upper
pair of strings are barbels; the lower pair, fins. 06 is a lizard.
The sound made by the small tin rattles that are attached to
Fig. 20, @ (si), 8 (ds), ¢ (fie), 2 GEPx). Paint-pouches About } nat. size.
flap and strings denotes the cry of the lizard. c and d are
pouches with a fringe in place of a flap. c¢ represents a frog;
the fringe is grass in which it is sitting. The beadwork
design of this pouch is shown in the illustration; the four
triangles represent the four shoulder and hip joints of the
frog; the square is food in its stomach. d represents one-
half of a saddle-bag.
It is evident that the pouches are similar in their general
pattern, however diverse their symbolic significance.
Unless otherwise specified, the paint-bags to be referred to
are ornamented alike on both sides,
80 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. (Vol. XV UI,
The paint-pouch shown in Plate x1, Fig. 1, represents a
saddle-bag. The triangular design upon it is a tent. The
stripe along the side of the pouch is a snake. The beads at
the edge of the opening are variously-colored rocks. The
five-pointed mouth of the pouch represents a star.
The pouch shown in Figs. 2 and 3, Plate x1, represents a
beaver. The triangular design in beadwork is a tent. It
rests upon a green horizontal line, which represents the ground
when the grass is green. On the other side of the pouch is
another, differently-colored triangular design, which is also a
tent. This rests upon a yellow band, which represents the
ground in autumn, when the grass is yellow. Light-blue
stripes at the two sides of the pouch represent the sky. On
the flap, the two converging white stripes are an arrow-head.
The small dark-blue triangles are also arrow-heads. The line
of beads projecting from the edge of the flap represents the
scales on the beaver’s.tail. It will be seen that one side of
this flap is left bare, which is unusual.
In the pouch shown in Fig. 4 of Plate x1 the opening is four-
pointed, and represents the morning star.
The pouch shown in Fig. 5 of Plate x1 represents a saddle-
bag. The triangular design is a mountain. The gray-blue
area on which it is imposed is hazy atmosphere. The blue-
and-yellow border represents mountain-ranges. This pouch
is beaded on one side only.
The pouch shown in Fig. 6 of Plate x1 represents a greenish
lizard. For this reason the ground-color of the beadwork is
green. In most pouches it is white. The design represents a
mountain: this species of lizard lives mostly on mountains.
The whole bag with its opening, besides being the lizard itself,
is also the hole in which the animal lives; and the vertical
green stripe with two bands across it represents the lizard
with the markings of its skin. The opening of the pouch is
also the lizard’s mouth; and the projections at the opening,
its ears.
The bag shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of Plate x11 represents a
lizard. The rectangular design (Fig. 1) with six projections
represents a cricket. Below it, the crosses are stars, and the
Butvetin A. M. N. H. Vou. XVIII, Prats XI,
PAINT-POUCHES,
Butvetin A. M,N. H. Vor. XVIII, Pirate XII.
PAINT-POUCHES.
£902. | Kroeber, The Arapaho, 83
lateral figures pipes. On the other side (Fig. 2) is a repre-
sentation of a turtle and of several pipes. The two narrow
stripes extending to the mouth of the pouch are caterpillars.
The bag shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of Plate x11 represents both
a saddle-bag and a prairie-dog. On one side (Fig. 3), four
right-angled triangles represent mountain-peaks. Small white
patches on these represent snow. Dark figures at the points
of these triangles are eagles on the mountains. The figure
between the mountains represents the crossing of two paths.
On the other side (Fig. 4), the diamond in the middle repre-
sents a turtle. The two three-pronged figures are turtle-
claws. Small white spots on these are turtle-eggs.
It will be noticed that identical white spots mean on differ-
ent sides of the bag respectively snow-patches and turtle-eggs.
What signification they have depends in each case on the
symbolic context. Similarly a three-pronged figure like that
on this bag often signifies the bear’s foot, but here, when
adjacent to a turtle-symbol, a turtle’s foot. Such represen-
tation of different objects by the same symbol — or such
different interpretation of the same figure, according as one
may wish to state it — is constantly found in the decorative
art of this tribe. ’
The pouch shown in Figs. 5 and 6, Plate x11, again repre-
sents a lizard. The large ornament about the middle of the
bag (Fig. 5) represents a butterfly. The two triangles are
its wings, and the rhomboidal figure of beadwork projecting
on the leather surface is its body. On the flap is represented
the centipede. The rows of small squares are its tracks. On
the other side (Fig. 6) there is the butterfly again. On the
flap is a dragon-fly, or perhaps two. The detached, some-
what triangular figures, at the sides of the dragon-fly, are its
wings.
The pouch shown in Fig. 21, a, represents a saddle-bag.
The design is a tent. The conventional stripe towards the
opening, only part of which is shown in the illustration, is a
snake.
In the paint-pouch shown in Fig. 21, b, each of the triangles
with the two lines at its ends represents a tent. The space
84 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XVII,
enclosed by the triangle and the two lines represents the place
where the tent is. In the stripe reaching to the opening of
the bag are representations of worms, each row or thread of
Fig. 21. Paint-pouches. About # nat. size.
a (dtr), 5 Crt to)s © (Mia), 2 (cB 8s), © (Fea) FC 8¥a), & (BRL) A Coe), f (rb Ee).
beads being a worm. The beading at the edge also repre-
sents worms.
The bag shown in Fig. 21,c, represents asaddle-bag. The
large diamond, as well as the crosses on the vertical stripes,
1902, | : Kroeber, The Arapaho. “ 85
are the morning star. Metallic beads in these figures ex-
press the lustre of the star.
The pouch shown in Fig. 21, d, represents a horned toad.
The design represents chiens (cf. Plate xvi1). The white
Tepresents snow.
The pouch shown in Fig. 21, e, also represents a’ horned
toad. The triangles are mushrooms.
On the paint-pouch shown in Fig. 21, f, the ground-color is
yellow, instead of the usual white, and represents ground.
The pattern represents rocks. More accurately, dark blue
in this design indicates rocks; red and pink, earth; and green,
grass among the rocks. The stripe toward the opening sym-
bolizes a narrow range of hills, and dark blue on this stripe is
again rock.
The pouch shown in Fig. 21, g, represents a rat. Two tri-
angular pink marks just below the mouth are ears. The rest
of the design is very dilapidated, most of the beads having
been worn off.’
The paint-pouch shown in Fig. 21, h, fopuasenta a saddle-
bag. The ornamental design represents a lizard. Stripes
along the sides, toward the opening of the pouch, are worms.
Red squares on these stripes are the holes of the worms. The —
- beading at the edge of the opening represents light and dark
colored maggots.
The paint-pouch shown in Fig. 21, 7, represents a reddish
bivalve mollusk, probably a mussel.
Representation of an animal by an entire object which
bears little visual resemblance to the animal, is not confined
to paint-pouches or navel-amulets. An awl-case, made of
hide wound with black and white beads, was intended to rep-
resent a lizard (Plate x111, Fig.1). Here, as in other cases, the
particular animal represented could not well be recognized
even by an Indian; and that this awl-case represents a lizard,
and not a snake or fish or rat, is a matter of the individual
purpose or interpretation of the maker. Perhaps even a dis-
tinct motive or intention for this symbolism was lacking in
1 By mistake the design ‘shown in the figure below the ears is the one on the
opposite side of the pouch; that on the same side as the ears is similar but less
dilapidated. —
Bucietin A. M. N. H. Vor, XVIII, Prats XIII.
po
Ce
oe
peor
perirenconn
v
-———}
ria
nia
IN
rh
cin
aH
Ser
ea aS
Ras
ox
WSR RUTH
Se
SN
S
KNIFE AND AWL CASES.
1902. ] Kroeber, The Arapaho. ° 87
this person’s mind, for the lizard is the most common of all
animals represented in this way; so that the symbolism of
this awl-case may have been as conventional as its form.
A small knife-case is shown in Plate x1, Fig. 2, The
crosses have the usual meaning of the morning star. The
triangles are tents. At the bottom end of the case is a small
design that looks like half of the double figure occurring
above it-three times. The triangle in this design again repre-
sents a tent, but the T-shaped figure denotes the sun over-
head, with its rays shining into the tent. All the figures are
repeated in different colors, but with the same signification,
on the other.side. The white background represents sand or
light-colored soil; the separate green beads along the edge
are biiséana” (insects or worms); and a yellow stripe of bead-
work at the side of the case, which, however, is invisible in
the figure, is a path.
A similar knife-case (Fig. 3 of the same plate) represents,
as a whole, a fish. The design upon it represents mountain-
ranges. The T-shaped figures are trees. On the other side
of the specimen the mountain-ranges are repeated in other
colors, while the trees are replaced by crosses, signifying the
morning star.
A larger knife-scabbard is shown in Fig. 4 of Plate x11. At
the top is the figure of a tent. A wavy red line enclosing the
rest of the design is a path. The green triangles inside are
buffalo-wallows, and the stripes connecting them are buffalo-
paths. The white background represents snow. The little
attachment at the end of the scabbard is called the tail. The
other loose thongs represent small streams of water. At the
upper edge, around the rim of the opening, are red beads, to
signify that the bloody knife used in butchering reddens that
part of the scabbard.
On the knife-case shown in Fig. 5 of Plate x111, the symbol-
ism is so incoherent that it must have been secondary, in the
mind of the owner, to the decorative appearance. The green
lines forming a square at the top represent rivers. The
figure within it is an eagle. The two larger dark portions of
this figure are also cattle-tracks. The two rows of triangles
88 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History.[Vol. XVII,
on the body of the scabbard represent arrow-points. The
squares in the middle are boxes, and the lines between them
are the conventional morning-star cross. The small squares
on the pendant attached to the point of the scabbard are
cattle-tracks.
The signification of the ornamentation on another knife-
case (Fig. 6, Plate x11) is as follows. The yellow background
is the ground. The
dark blade - shaped
line is a mountain, its
small projections be-
ing rocks. The light-
blue squares arelakes,
The lines forming the
rectangle at the top
and the horizontal line
within it are rivers,
The two triangles are
tents.
Fig. 22 shows two
sides of a small bead-
ed knife-scabbard, At
the top is the cross,
na"kaox. In this case
Fig. 22 (y#{y). Beaded Knife-scabbard. Length, 12 cm. it represents a person.
Adjacent to it are
two triangles, which represent mountains. Below, are three
green squares. These are the symbol of life or abundance.
Red slanting lines pointing toward the squares are thoughts
or wishes (kakaugetcana"), which are directed toward the
desired objects, represented by the life-symbols. On the
other side the colors are different, but the design is identical,
except that instead of the red lines there are blue triangles,
which represent knife-scabbards such as this specimen itself.
Small pouches are worn by the women, hanging from their
belts. In these they keep matches, money, or other small
articles. These bags are generally partly covered with bead-
work, and are often further decorated by the attachment of
1902. | Kroeber, The Arapaho. 89
leather fringes, tin cylinders, or buttons. A number of these
belt-pouches are illustrated in Fig. 23 and Plate xiv.?
In Fig. 23, a, the white beadwork represents ground. The
ornament in the middle represents mountains. The two
dark-blue rectangles connected with this ornament symbolize
rocks on the mountains. On the flap that closes the pouch,
red and blue squares denote piles of rock or monuments
(ciayaana”). ,
In Fig. 23, b, the large triangular figure, the red lines form-
ing a rectangle, and the variously-colored beading along the
Gg
Fig. 23, @ (gis), 4 (u's), ¢ (x88). Women's Small Belt-pouches. 4 nat. size,
edge of the pouch, all represent rocks. Red and blue are
often employed to denote rocks. On the point of the large
triangular rock is a representation of an eagle. On the flap
of the pouch is a white stripe which represents rocks, and
blue figures on this are eagles sitting on the high rocks where
they nest.
Similarly, on the pouch shown in Fig. 23, c, two triangles
represent tents, while cross-like figures at their ends represent
1 These pouches, as well as the larger ones shown in Figs. 25-28, are made of
dark leather, while the body of the beadwork is white. n the illustrations the
leather appears lighter in color than the beadwork.
90) Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XVII,
eagles sitting on the tent-poles. Between them is the morn-
ing-star cross. Above, covered in the illustration by the
fringe of tin rattles, is a beaded design representing a rack on
which meat is dried. It consists of a stripe of blue beads,
from which three inverted T-shaped figures descend, the stem
of the T being composed of four beads, while the cross-bar has
three beads. The figures in the white stripe on the flap
denote stars.
In Fig. 24, a, the large design near the lower edge is the
bear’s foot, generally conventionally represented by the
Fig. 24, @ (sk), 5 Cosy), ¢ (oo). Women’s Small Belt-pouches. 4 nat, size.
Arapaho with only three claws. Square pink spots on the
body of the design are the bare skin on the sole of the foot.
The white beadwork is sand or soil. The curved band on
the flap isa mountain. The leather fringe at the bottom of
the pouch represents trees.
On another pouch (Fig. 24, b) the white is sand. Green
beading at the edges, on account of its color, denotes timber.
Two designs that may be described as compressed crosses rep-
resent the morning star. Squares on the flap are rocks. The
1902.] - Kroeber, The Arapaho, 9!
large figure near the bottom is a mountain, with a tree on its
summit; below it are four small red and blue rectangles
which denote little streams flowing from a spring near the
foot of the mountain. This spring is represented by a green
square in the large triangle.
In Fig. 24, c, the rectangle of beadwork on the front of the
. pouch represents the earth or the world.!. The white denotes
snow; and the red and blue triangles, rocks. The stripe on
the flap is continued around the edge of the back of the pouch.
It represents an ant-hill. The small squares on it represent
dirt. The tin cylinders are ants. Stripes at the two sides of
the pouch are ant-paths.
The signification of the design on the belt-pouch shown in
Fig. 1 of Plate xiv is the following. The six triangles all rep-
resent tents. The lines enclosing the trapezoidal area within
which these triangles are, represent trails. In the two stripes
immediately above this area, stars are represented both by
red rectangles crossed by a green line, and by green crosses
on a red field. The white zigzag line on the flap of the
pouch is a snake; the beaded stripes along the seams denote
rivers.
Sometimes these small bags are made to hold the cards or
tickets which entitle the bearer to the rations issued by the
government. When this is the purpose of the bag, the flap
or cover is sometimes left off. Such a pouch is shown in
Fig. 2, Plate xiv. All the figures are geographical represen-
tations. The pink border is a large river, the triangles are
islands init. The green area within this represents the earth.
Two large red A-shaped marks represent a stream, called by
the Arapaho Fox-Tent Creek. The two rectangles represent
mountains, called by the Arapaho House Mountains. The
short yellow stripe connecting these represents Yellow Canyon. —
All these natural features are said to be situated to the north
or northeast of the present location of the tribe in central
Wyoming. Such representation of actual specific moun-
tains, valleys, and rivers, is uncommon, though this case
is not unique. It will be noted that the ornamentation is
1 The same word means ‘“‘world,” “earth,” “land,” “ground,” ‘'soil.””
*saHONOd
“AIX BLV1d ‘ITIAX “TOA "HN WY NILaTIng
1902. ] Kroeber, The Arapaho, 93
symmetrically duplicated, in spite of the quasi-map-like nature
of the design.
Another of these ration-ticket pouches is that shown in
Figs. 3 and 4, Plate xiv. On the front are represented flint
arrow-points. On the other side (back and flap) the stripes
represent arrow-shafts, the colored portions being the prop-
erty-marks with which arrow-shafts are painted. Arrows are
the means of securing game; game is used as food; so is the
beef that is issued by the government, and this is obtained
by means of the ration-card kept in the pouch. Such is the
reason for representing arrows by the ornament on this little
bag. Associations of this sort (arrows, game, meat, beef,
ration-card) are not uncommon among the Arapaho, espe-
cially among the speculative and the old. They remind one
strikingly of the symbolic identification, on account of anal-
ogies in single respects, that is so prominent in the religion of
the Indians of the Southwest, and which has been treated of
extensively by Cushing among the Zufii, and lately, in more
detail, by Lumholtz among the Huichols.
Another pouch is shown in Fig. 5, Plate xiv. The squares
along the sides are bee-holes. The figure at the bottom is
a bee. The red beads at the lower edge of the pouch are
bees. The white edges on the sides are trails, the red spots
denoting holes.
Fig. 6, Plate x1v, shows another pouch in which ration-
cards were kept. The black beads covering the lower half of
the bag represent coffee, which is obtained at the ration-issue.
The light-blue bands at the sides, on account of their color,
represent the sky. The ornaments upon them are mountains.
The single lines of dark-blue beads along the edges represent
wolves.
On the tasteful pouch shown in Fig. 7, Plate xiv, the red
diamond in the centre of the design represents a person. The
four forked ornaments surrounding it are buffalo hoofs or
tracks.
In Fig. 8 of Plate x1v the main ornamentisatent. The rec-
tangle above the apex of the triangle represents the spreading
upper flaps or ears of the tent, and the two lateral hand-shaped
94 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. {Vol. XVUI,
designs are buffalo-tails attached to the top of the tent.
The white background denotes ground;
On the cover is a design which
water (evidently streams).
its red border,
is continued as a border on the back of the pouch. This
is mostly red, and, on account of this color, denotes flame,
and therefore, by a series of symbolic equations, matches,
ZS
aS
Te wm ,
in
nf iy
i
i \
lh [| ve os
ik ni
- 7
,
62. h)
63. “a as)
64. Worms. Gt, h)
65. ae variety of animals.
66. Bear-frot. 24, a)
67. 27)
68. " 26)
69. Buffalo-intestine. (5, e)
70. Buffalo-hoof. a 2)
71. a v, 7)
72. Buffalo-track. i. 7)
73. Buffalo-path. {31}
74. XIII, 4)
75. Buffalo-wallow (xi, 4)
76. Buffalo-horns. (5, /)
77. Mythic cave of the buffalo.
(Cat. No. &%)
EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXVII.
ARAPAHO SYMBOLISM IN EMBROIDERED DESIGNS.
»*» Numbers in parentheses, when accompanied by Roman numerals, refer to plate
figures, otherwise to text figures. the
trated, reference to its catalogue number is given.
FIG.
78.
79:
80.
81.
82.
. Elk-hoof.
. Deer-hoof.
. Rabbit-tracks.
. Beaver-rib.
. Scales on Beaver-tail.
100.
Tor,
102.
103.
104.
105.
106.
107.
108.
109.
Ilo.
Itt.
112.
113.
14.
. Beaver dam and huts.
(xl, 5)
(xulr, 5)
(111, 1)
(v, 4)
(xv, 2)
(v, 2)
(¥.2)
(it, 5)
(20, a)
Cattle-track.
Horse-ears.
Horse-track.
Elk-leg.
(x1,
2)
(20,
a)
. Turtle-claw. (xi, 4)
. Turtle-egg.
. Snake skin - markings.
(xu, 4)
(5,
A
. Horned-toad skin-markings.
(111, 4)
. Joints and stomach of frog.
(20, ¢)
. Markings of lizard. (20, b)
. Bee-hole. (xiv, 5)
. Ant-hills. (24, c)
; it (v, 5)
. Ant-hill. (xvii)
. Ant-path. (24, ¢)
Dragonfly-wing. (x1, 6)
Spider - web. (Cat. No.
0
)
Centipede-tracks. (x11, 5)
)
Worm-hole. (21,
Tree. (XIII, 3) ‘
Trees on mountain. (24, b)
a Osos a (it, 1)
ae “6 ‘
: (5, 6)
Leaf of ‘ Yellow-herb” (27)
Willow-leaf. (xvi)
Mushrooms. (21, e)
Cactus. (v, 5)
Mountain. (6)
# (Bull. Am. Mus.
Nat. Hist., x1, p. 83)
Mountain. (25)
FIG.
115.
116.
117.
118.
119.
120.
121.
122,
123.
124.
125.
126,
127.
128.
129.
130.
131.
132.
133.
134.
135.
136.
137%
138.
139.
140.
I4t.
142.
143.
144.
145.
146.
147.
148.
149.
150.
Ist.
152.
153.
. Lake.
Where the specimen bearing the symbol is not illus-
Mountain. (x1, 6)
a (xIv, 6)
a (24, a)
a (xuII, 6)
Mountains. (23, a)
i (11, 1)
ae ; (x1, 5)
Mountain. (xIv, 2)
Snow - covered mountain.
(Bull. Am. Mus. Nat.
Hist., x11, p. 83)
Snow - covered mountain.
(xu, 3)
Valley or canyon. (xiv, 2)
The Earth. (Cat. No. gs)
ms - (xu, 5)
2. ear
Dirt, clay. (24, ¢)
Rocks. (24, 0)
. (11, 1)
i ae
i. (8)
i (1, 1)
2 (24, ¢)
» (x, 1)
oe (21, Dd
= (23, 5)
“ (23, b)
Path. (1, 4)
*E (xv, 2)
ne (xv1)
Crossing paths. (x1, 3)
Holes in a path. ( (XIV, 5)
uu a as 1)
Path going over a hill. (1, 3)
River. (v, 1)
7 (24, )
x (Iv, 2)
River with islands. (x1v, 2)
River. (xrv, 2)
Spring. (24, b)
Lake. (Bull. Am. Mus. Nat.
Hist., xu, p 83)
(11, 3)
Butuetin A. M.N. A. Vor. XVIII, Prate XXVII. :
a
‘i .
78 79 80 81 82 83 84
&
a $
ie
: :
85 86 87 88 89 90 ot
XX = a
92 93 95 6%
ae
se
i oO
es
se
99 100 101 102 103
Leet eas Oa
106 107 108 109 no
\ :
3 4 115 116 117 118 19
120 121 122 123 12400 125 126
CO em tt
127 128 129 i30 . 131 132 133
7
py
D>d<
?
194. 135 136 137 138 139 140
\
x
145 146 : 147
ARAPAHO SYMBOLISM,
«*, Numbers in parentheses, when accompanied b
figures, otherwise to text fgur . Where the specimen bearing the symbol is not illus-
_ trated, reference to its catalogue number is given.
FIG.
155.
156.
157.
158.
159.
160.
161.
162.
163.
164.
165.
166.
167.
168.
169.
170.
171.
172.
173.
174.
175.
176.
177.
178.
179.
180.
181.
182.
183.
184.
185.
186.
187.
188.
189.
190.
gt.
192.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXVIII.
ARAPAHO SYMBOLISM IN EMBROIDERED DESIGNS.
Lake.
Scum.
Sun.
(xutt, 6)
(28)
(xr, 2)
Sunrise. (1, 3)
Sun-rays. (xu, 2)
Star.
Morning star. (8
Morning star at the horizon.
(1v, 2)
(111, 1)
(iv, 1)
(Cat. No. #s)
(6, a
(7, 5)
(x, 1)
(vir, 3)
7, a a)
21, Cc)
(6, a)
Morning star with rays.
a, 8
Constellation. (6, a)
Milky way. (6, b)
Cloud.
“
27)
I, 4)
(Cat. No. 93%)
Lightning. (111, 5)
(Bull. Am. Mus.
Nat. Hist., x11, p. 8
Rainbow. (20, Behe)
Rain.
(Bull. Am. Mus. Nat.
Hist., x11, p. 83)
Tent.
“a
se
es 2)
I
Gc 2)
FIG.
193.
194.
195.
196.
197.
198.
199.
200.
201.
202,
203.
204.
205.
206,
207.
208.
209.
210.
' 2mr.
212.
213.
214.
215.
216.
217.
218.
219.
220.
221,
222.
223.
224.
225.
226,
229.
228.
220.
230.
231s
y Roman numerals, refer to plate
Tent. (x1II, 2)
C (v, 2)
(x11I, 4)
(21, a)
a“ (xiv, 8)
ie (ar, bd)
(v, 3)
Camp-circle. (15)
“46
3) i
Boundary of habitation.
(v, 4)
Brush-hut. (15)
Vv,
Pole of sweat-house. (III,
2)
Covering of sweat-house.
(111, 2
House. (xv, 1)
Fence. (25)
Rock monuments. (23, a)
(zs)
Soft bag. (vir, 5)
Box. (xu, 5)
Knife-case. (22)
Sinew. (vu1, 6)
Rack for saddlery. i )
at ee 4eé Il, I
Rack for meat. (23, c)
Rope. (8)
Saddle-blanket. (8)
Man’s stirrup. (8)
Woman’s ee (8)
Lance. (Cat. No. 7$%5)
Bow. (1, 4)
Arrow. (xiv, 4)
Arrow-point. (xvuir, 5)
7 (x1, 2)
(x1, 2)
I, 4)
XIV, 3
IT; 3)
Buuretin A. M.N. H. VoL. XVIIT PraregX XVIII.
iy a — xX a 4
“| 161
155 156 157 158 159
162 163 164 + 165 166 167 168
169 170 W71 172 173 174 175
176 7 178 179 0 LT Vigs
204 205 206 207 208 209 210
ae f 5
| So a es .
‘ on 212 213 214 215 26 217
218 219 221 222 223 224
225 226 297 228 229 230 231
ARAPAHO SYMBOLISM.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXIX.
ARAPAHO SYMBOLISM IN EMBROIDERED AND PAINTED DESIGNS.
«*s Numbers in parentheses, when accompanied by Roman numerals, refer to plate
figures, otherwise to text figures.
Where the specimen bearing the symbol is not illus-
trated, reference to its catalogue number is given.
FIG.
232.
2:33.
234.
235.
236.
237.
238.
239.
240,
241.
242.
243.
244.
245.
246.
247.
248.
249.
250.
251.
252.
253-
254.
255.
256.
257-
258.
250.
260.
261.
262,
263.
264.
265.
266,
267.
268.
Arrow-point. (x1II, 5)
Pipe. XII, 2)
Garnibting -counters. (20, d)
Female dress. (vill, 5)
Hiiteni (life, prosperity).
(Cat. No. ys)
Hiiteni (life, prosperity).
(v, 2)
Hiiteni (life, prosperity).
(11,
Hite! (life, prosperity).
’ )
heraht: (22)
Person. (xxv, 2)
- (xxv, 2)
os (43)
eb (43)
“| (43)
Persons in tent or sweat-
house. (xx, 2)
Persons in tent or sweat-
house. (XVIII, 3)
First human beings. (xx1II,
2)
Woman. (xrx, 1) ‘
Imaginary human figure °
(36)
Imaginary human
(40)
Body. (xxXI, 1)
(
Navel. ee 4)
Heart. (35)
Matted hair. (42)
Eye. (xx, 4)
“ (41)
(40)
Buffalo. (Bull. Am. Mus.
Nat. Hist., x111, p. 85)%
Buffalo. (xxv, 2)
0 (40)
(xIx, 2)
figure
Coyotes.
Lizard. (xx, 5)
Frog. (32)
Water-beetle.
(xvitl, 3)
Bear-foot.
(XVIII, 5)
FIG
269
270.
271.
272.
273.
274.
275:
2706.
277.
278.
279.
280.
281.
282.
283.
284.
285.
' 286.
287.
288.
289.
290.
' 2gt.
292.
293.
2094.
295.
296.
297-
298.
299.
300.
301.
302.
303.
304.
305.
300.
307.
308.
. Bear-foot. (x1xX, 2)
- (34, @)
“a (34, b)
a (x1x, 5)
Bear-ear. (xX, 2)
: (xx, 2)
Bear-den. (34, @)
Coyote-tracks. (XIX, 1)
Buffalo-eye. (xx, 2)
Buffalo-skull. (xxv, 2)
Buffalo-scrotum. (xx, 5)
Buffalo dew-claw. (xx, 2)
Buffalo-track. (xx, 3)
(33)
Buffalo-path. (xxI, 4)
Buffalo-wallow. (37)
Buffalo-dung. (xxiv, 2)
Mythic cave of the buffalo.
(Cat. No. 94%5)
Mythic cave of the buffalo.
(xx, I
Mythic cave of the buffalo.
(xIX, 4)
Abundance of buffalo. (Bull.
Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., x11,
p. 85)
Horse-tracks. (39)
Wild-cherry. (34, 0)
pe Watemplant, (XXIII,
I
Mountain. (xx, 4)
“GS
35
ee (xvii, 4)
ee (xx, 1)
os (XXIII, 2)
i (XXI, 4)
A (xxv, 2)
a (XXIV, 3)
Mountains. (32)
(33)
me (XXIV, 2)
#4 (xx, 2)
ei 37)
ee XXIII, 4)
Mountain-peak. (xx1v, 4)
VoL, XVIII, Prate XXIX.
246
I,
I,
281,
288
g
Mm Ax —
295
Aetna
302
247
The tte tie
9
o
e
296
TO
303
283
290
297
304
249
nm
a
a
Peeevacee
iJ
&
ARAPAHO SYMBOLISM.
306
252
ul
y
«
279 280
286 287
au
293 294
cal
301
307 308
EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXX.
ARAPAHO SYMBOLISM IN PAINTED DESIGNS.
«"s Numbers in parentheses, when accompanied by Roman numerals, refer to plate
figures, otherwise to text figures.
Where the specimen bearing the symbol is not illus-
trated, reference to its catalogue number is given.
FIG.
309.
3I0.
gir.
312.
313.
314.
315.
316.
317.
318.
319.
320.
32t.
322.
323.
324.
325.
326.
327-
328.
329.
330.
331.
332.
333:
334.
335:
330.
337:
338.
339.
340.
341.
342.
343-
344.
345-
Mountain-peak.
Cave. (36)
(XxXI, 5)
Valley or Canyon. (xvitr, 4)
oe 46 oe (xxI, 5)
“ce “ “ (xxIII, 4)
Meadow. (Cat. No. si)
The earth. ae 2)
os 6c XIX, 6)
(xxit, 4)
Ends oftheearth. (x1x, 1)
The earth at its first emer-
gence. (XXIII, 2)
Cracks in the ground. (xxiv,
2)
Rock. (37)
wo xx, 3)
a (XXIV, 3)
Path. (xxiv, 4)
“ (xxu, 3)
(xx1I, 3)
oe oe 3)
s XXUI, 3)
Crossing paths. (xxII, 3)
Path with tracks. (xx, 2)
(xxI, 5)
sc “
rs
2
Path going over a nit : (35)
Circle worn by dancing.
(46, @)
River. (XXII, 4)
(XXIV, 3)
G9)
32
River with islands. (xxiv,
2
River with islands. (xrx, 2)
Lake. (32)
a (xx; :
te (xX;.-5
(xx1Vv, 2)
FIG.
346. Lake (xxu1I, 4)
347. . (xx1n, 4)
348." (36)
349. (36)
350. Ocean. (32)
351. Sun. (44)
352. “ (xxv, 2)
353. Sun-rays. (XXIII, 1)
354. 7 35
355. Star. (44)
356. Morning star. (xx1, 1)
357: 4a 39)
358. Sky. (36) (38)
359. Sky. (3
360. Cloud. (xxv, 4)
361. Rainbow. (38)
362. Flame. (xix, 4)
363. Smoke. (xxu1I, 1)
364. Tent. (xxIv, 1)
365.“ (42)
366. $43,
367. - (43)
368. (XVIII, 4)
369. (33)
379. (46, a)
371. XIX, 1)
g72., * oe No. gx)
a7. (XXII, 3)
374: 39)
goes: | oe XIX, 6)
376.‘ (x1x, 6)
377, oe 4)
78... oF Xx,
379. (XX, 3
380. Tent-door. (xxv, 1)
381. Tent-pin. - ee 6)
382. a XIX, 1)
383. “ (xxv, 1)
384. “ (xvuir, 4)
385. es for tent-pins. (xx1I,
3
Buiietin A, M.N. H.
310 ait 312 a8
316 317 318 319 sis
aN
oe se 325 326 327
e t
'e t
+ :
: ’
@' {
330 _ 331 a
a
937 338 oe ae
379 380 381
382
383
ARAPAHO SYMBOLISM.
VoL, XVIII, PratzE XXX.
a)
314 315
©
321
a
a
it
o
oO
28
“ 329
xs
SB.
a
e
oe
an
342
384
EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXXI.
ARAPAHO SYMBOLISM IN PAINTED AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL
DESIGNS.
«*» Numbers in parentheses, wh
figures, otherwise to text figu
res.
anied by Roman numerals, refer to plate
‘Where the specimen bearing the symbol is not illus-
trated, reference to its catalogue number is given.
FIG.
386.
387-
388.
389.
390.
391.
392.
393.
394.
5. Brush-hut.
396. oe
397.
398.
399.
400.
401.
402.
403.
404.
405.
406.
407.
408.
409.
410.
4Ir.
412.
413.
414.
39
415.
416.
417.
418,
419.
420.
421.
Tent-poles. (xxiv, 1)
Tent-flaps. (xxIVv, 1)
Tent-pendant. (32)
Interior of tent. (35)
Tent-site. (x1x, 6) -
Camp-site. fan)
‘ 36)
(xIx, 1)
(XVIII, 2)
(xxmI, 3)
Camp-circle.
35)
Sweat-house. (XVIII, 3)
a (xxv, A
(46, 5)
(xx, 4)
American tent.
Rock monument.
Bed. (xix, 3)
ie (XXIII, 1)
Parfleche. (35)
Soft bag. Gs
Bucket or vessel. (xx11I, 3)
Medicine-case. (xxv, 2)
Awl-case. (XXIII, 3)
Paint-stick. (xvuII, 3)
Rope. (xvuI, 3)
: (42)
Bow. (xxIIl, 2)
Bullets. (44)
Ceremonial wheel. (34, a)
Ceremonially used robe. (xx,
4
Robe design. (xx, 2)
Metal hair-ornaments. (42)
Hiiteni (life, prosperity).
(XVIII, 3)
Hiiteni dite, prosperity).
(xx, 5
Hiiteni (life, prosperity).
wet M4 ;
jiteni (life, prosperit
(Bull. Am. Mice Net.
Hist., x11, p. 85)
Hiiteni (life, prosperity).
(XVIII, 5)
FIG.
422
423
424
456.
457-
458
. Hiiteni (life, prosperity).
(xx, 4)
. Contents (of bag). (36)
. Centre. (xxuII, 1)
“ XVHI, ic
bo oye XXIII, 4
. Stops (in a course). (Cat.
oO.
. The four hills (periods) of
life. (xxIV, 2)
. Supernatural instruction.
XXV, 2)
. Persons dancing in a circle.
‘ (46, Q). ( )
. Navel-strings. (vim,
. Hair. Gas} .
. Tooth. (vu, 5)
. Fingers. (7, ¢)
. Legs. (14, 6)
. Ribs. (14, 5)
. Ants. (7, a)
(24, ¢)
. Burrs in buffalo-hair.
. Snake-rattle. (5, f)
. Snake-tongue. (5, f)
. Paths. (27)
. Rivers. (x11, 4)
. Sun. (7,0),
Sun-dog. (v1, 3)
. Stars. (7, ¢)
. Star. (xr, 1)
. Tent-pin. (14, 6)
. Loop for tent-pins. (14, b)
: Tent-pendants. oe b)
. Camp-circle. (46, 6)
. Dry meat. (xvi)
. Ear-pendant. (xrv, 8)
. Coffee. (xiv, 6)
The many things unknown,
(xx111, 1)
Property possessed. (7, c)
; ae accomplishment,
VI, 1
(30)
a ee eS ee eee, ee
\
e ecocee D
386 387 338 390 391
— ™ ad)
393 394 395 396 397 398
TH
tit
V Pe 4
bai)
q Hu)
400 401 402 403 404 405
410 o .
| (a
414 415 416 417 418 i. —
® 7
426 re
; :
: e
oo °@
433 ie
440 =
| : TEI,
- 448
i
3 |
al
= 455
140 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. se
EmBrot- THREE-
peice. | Deane. | HONE
OBJECTS REPRESENTED. Dgsicns. EB | On ae
Fig. No. Fig. No. | Fig. No.
Buffalo-path. 73-74 283 =
Buffalo-wallow. . i Dea coaie ass 75 284 aed
Buffalo-horns. .........22eeeeeee 76 —= —
Burrs in buffalo-hair............. = 439
Buffalo-dung...........0cceeeee _ 285 =
Mythic cave of the buffalo......... 77 286-288} —
Abundance of buffalo............ _ 289 —
Cattlest®ack ncedsici senna sageesé sues 78-79 _ —
Horsecears iis ist ob nc a oie Aoganceew 80 _ —
Horse-tracks...... 0.0 cc cseeeeaees 81 290 =
Elkleg. os. cei eens eeetewe cava es 82 a _
BEIM ER OE tee csssis aia aster aioe. dieiesa eras: eae 83 _ _
Deer-hoof.......... ccc cee ese eeees 84 _ =
Rabbit-tracks........ 85 _ —
Beaver-rib oie caece 3,6 b-0e bie eae 20 86 = _
Scales on beaver-tail 87 — —
Beaver dam and huts 88 — _—
Turtle-claw. . mrorestiana Wier ere aes 89 “Sy a
Turtleep gsi: cicswled its herve Paseusce ac go = _
Snake-rattle. sastevsamvane dna clegtereiien 7 — 440
Snake-tongue. Sisiecae Times era-ayateeatiers _ _ 441
Snake skin-markings sare 91 = =
Horned-toad slein-cnacia oe ea iavdns 92 = _
a and stomach of ioe. 93 — _
arkings of lizard............... 94 = —
Bee-holes)ic.'s saved swale sevsiowne ns 95 = _—
Am t-Dills oss smcaaees meng gee aie 96-98 _ _
Ant-paths. Soy Dn An: Boa cekeceandasonensoce4 99 = =
ape eng ase tissn eis aah amen 100 a _
Spider-web ardor ee 101 _ =
Centipede-tracks. . 102 — —
Worm-holes. . 103 = _
Plants.
Tree... a 104 _ a
Trees on mountain..... 002.1221! 105-107 a =
Leaf of ‘‘Yellow-herb”’........... 108 _— _
Willow-leaf...............0000, 109 _ ——
bi naeele ae a0 es i _ 291 _
Mushrooms. . 110 _ =
Cactus.... 1II _ —
Fibrous water-plant.. —_ 292 =
Earth,
Mountains, hills, and ranges...... 112-122 |293-30 _
Mountain-peak. . nee eager _ 5 noe >
Snow-covered mountain i iat ata 123-124 = =
Ve Jo nis wieerwes sasnai suave sibs gecsreee. is = SrO-gIr) —
Fae OF
Occurrences. |
HHH HORM HHH MRH H DRHHN
Me HH NO
1 & B&W
1902. ] Kroeber, The Arapaho. 141
&
Emsrol- THREE- | °
DERED Pantep | Dimen- | 8a
OBJECTS REPRESENTED. Desicns. | Dzsicns.| sionaL | 9%
Desicns. | § 2
Fig. No. | Fig. No. | Fig. No. |8
Valley or canyon....0.......000, 125 -|312-314| — 5
Meadows ss. sisi srcwaseong crea _ 315 — I
Theearth vscisesassuseeiagtewss 126-128 |316-318| — 16
Ends of the earth............... _ 319 —_ 4
Visible world. . sae = — = I
The earth at its first emergence. ie _ 320 _— I
ee in the ground............ _ 321 _— I
DiILE, Cla Yr sie is seas gig nae oa leg tee tees 129 —_— _— I
/ Rocks. GUN Niece ghe Erne gwetes -130-139 |322-324| — 20
Path sacsoniaaus ¢auaearaisnns Mia dues aan 6 140-142 |325-329| 442 39
Crossing paths. . 143 330 _— 2
Path with tracks.............005 _ 331-332| — 2
Holes in a path.............000- 144-145 —_— —_— 2
Path going over a hill. 146 333 —_ 3
Circle worn by dancing. . _ 334 — I
Water.
Rivers or streams. -|147-149, 1511335-339| 443 33
River with islands............... 150 340-341) — 3
Springs govsqeae cies cass eae os 152 —_— — 3
Lakes cteutia acccng meant ore 6 153-155 |342-349| — 14
SOUT 65s pee oes sit eae e ees ER 156 —_— l= I
OCC AT ae ic aS airade Romana less saree & —_ 350 _— I
Heavens, Light, Fire
SUNS oi deste de eee ee yeti 157 351-352) 444 5
Sunrises eijy saeis-aers ne Riese eee ae 158 _— — I
Sun-rays.. 159 353-354] — 4
Course of the sun..s..... sce ee —_— —_ _— I
‘Sun-dog. . seas _- —_ 445 I
Stafeccieiieda scams ote RMA 160-167 355 |446-447| 13
Morning stdr..... 00... cee eee eee 168-178 |356-358| — 25
Morning star at the horizon. 179 —_— _— I
Morning star with rays........... 180 = _ I
Constellation..............4.05- 181 _— _ I
Milky Ways sec is cesses eta gvemees 182 _ — I
SKY: sadsay oniaavornedes base ee _— 359 — 3
Clow. viaccess Lee see taces aera ecs| ITB9=TS5 300 — 4
Lightning. . 186-187 — —_— 3
Rambow. ..... 0.066 c eee ee ee ees 188 361 = 3
FRAG ics i ey cision ot leis nateeos 189 — — I
Wl ame ising sis b se ee os ia — 362 —_ I
Smokesucheu cvs paceegs wr aenes He _— 363 = I
Manufactured Articles.
TENS ccicicsctne areas ears ee eecase en! —IQO=T9D 3645379 _— 55
Tent-door.... 02. cee eee ens = 380 a I
Tent-pins....... 2... c cece eens _— 381-384| 448 6
142 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XVUI,
OB)ECTS REPRESENTED.
Loops for a Sbianaustimeuete
Tent-poles. Bsiey Deneve selosoavaunbeaans
Dent Hapsle. ac toc s stenaacdnduraneleas
Tent-pendants of rattles.........
Tent-pendants of buffalo-tails.....
Spaces between tent-poles........
Interior of tent.............000.
Tent-site. . iGeaghii tan tale wale wh3 He
CAnIp ss bey ch avsercaiasGsaeaneene
Camp-circle.........-. cece cece
Boundary of habitation
Brush hu tins i accdsace seute swe tdare ve
Sweat-house........... aan sD Sai te
Covering of sweat-house.........
House. sai lags Badia wis Ae ate arshudl Reaver So
American tent......-...........
Fence. # Shida ue) Raat ae
Rock monuments...............
Bed.. Scdanthanaeenione hau ate
Triangular h head-rest.........0...
Parfleche. sie ahiacdre disc dacs
Bucket or vessel........ 02...
Medicine-case. Aga Mead het eee
Knife-case. .... 5 e448 FE RRR «thal goes
Awl-case. .
Sinew.. Sees eAavaea tees sti)
Rack for saddlery . sie ae Ged hed aed
Rack for meat... .............0.
Paint-stick. .
Diihia chee ae ee
Saddle-blanket....... 0.0.0.0...
Man’s stirrup. . eerie ee
Woman's s stirrup. area
Lance. ia Rae BR RE ck wae waves
BOWrteud ie vie ew Sosa Sanmarenusutneaes
Arrow- ne
Bullets. .
Pipe. eines genet
Ceremonial wheel. pivewns toa 24H
Gambling-counters. . ag duaayretwaa Bey
Fetnalé dress: o.ciscpisen weateee ees
Ceremonially used robe..........
Robe design
Dry aieat GMA Ra teURG aeada alae Grane
EmMsBro!- THREE-
DERED PAaInTED | DimEN-
DESIGNS. DgsicGns. | SIONAL
DESIGNS.
Fig. No. Fig. No. | Fig. No.
sg (385 449
= 386 es
4 = 450-451
= 388 pa
os 389 =
i 390° =
= 391-393} —
200-202 394 452
203 —_ —
204-205 395-396] —
== 397-398) —
206 — sas
207 — <=
208 — sects
ee 399 —
209 _— —
210-211 400 _
_ 401-402| —
ie 403 —_
212 404 —
213 — =
a2 405 aa
_— 406 —
214 — —_
es 407 wae
215 = =
216-217 — =
218 —_— ae
— 408 —
219 409-410) —
220 —_ —
291 7 —
222 — =
223 ee —
224 4II —
225 — ==>
226-232 —_— oe
i 412 —_
233-234 = = |
ra 413 a
235 == outs
236 — a
= 414 =
—_ 415 —
=— 416 _
>
wa
we
NuMBER OF
OccuRRENCES.
RRR RR EN NE OR ND HM HN HR DRE HHH RNR OOD HHH EDD
1902. | Kroeber, The Arapaho. 143
Emsrol- TureeE- | °°
DERED Paintep | Dimen- | #3
OBJECTS REPRESENTED. DEsIGNns. Desicns. | sronat | &&
Dusicns. | 25
a
Fig. No. Fig. No. | Fig. No. a2
Ear-pendant.................... —_ — I
COREE aise es asig cele heat ats —_ — I
Abstract Ideas.
Hiiteni (life, prosperity)......... 237-240 |417-422| — 14
The many things unknown....... — — 456 I
Property possessed.............. — —_— 457 - I
Contents (of bag)............... —_ 423 — I
CONtie soi. ee cence pe kane tinnel fr —_— 424-426| — 3
Stops (in a course).............. _— 427 — I
Direction whence............... —_ —_ — I
Direction whither............... — —_— — I
The four hills (periods) of life..... _— 428 — I
Desire of accomplishment........ _— —_ 458 I
Supernatural instruction......... _— 429 — I
Thought... as case satie eee tet 241 — —_ I
Although the technique of embroidering and of painting,
and the appearance of the objects made in these two styles,
are quite different, yet a comparison of the two series of
symbols (Figs. 1-241 with Figs. 242-429) shows that the
individual symbols of the same meaning are generally con-
siderably alike, whether they are embroidered or painted.
The embroidered symbols, while often very simple, some-
times reach greater elaborateness and realism than any of the
painted ones. Painting is of course capable of much further
development in these directions than is beadwork, but the
decorative painting of the Plains Indians is more convention-
alized and less realistic than their embroidery.
It is apparent that there is much individuality in the inter-
pretation given to the decorative designs employed by the
Arapaho. One person attaches a certain significance to the
ornaments on an article belonging to him; another person
may possess an article ornamented in a similar fashion, and
interpret the ornamentation entirely differently. Even the
identical symbol may have many different significations to
the various owners of different objects. For instance, on the
144 Bulletin American M useum of Natural History. (Vol. XVII,
objects that have been described in this paper, the rhomboid
or diamond-shaped symbol can be found with the following
ten significations: the navel, a person, an eye, a lake, a star,
life or abundance (hiiteni), a turtle, a buffalo-wallow, a hill,
the interior of a tent. All of these meanings, except the first
two, are totally unrelated. If the significance of the decora-
tion on a larger number of specimens had been obtained, it
is probable that the known number of meanings attached to
this symbol would be still larger. What makes the varia-
bility of this system of decorative symbolism appear still
more plainly is the fact that nearly all of these ten significa-
tions have also been found attached to very different sym-
bols. Thus a person is denoted, on other specimens that have
been described, by a small rectangle, triangle, square, or
cross, by a dot, by a line, as well as by rudely realistic de-
signs. The eye is represented by a rectangle, and again by a
nearly triangular figure. A lake is represented on different
specimens by a square,-a trapezoid, a triangle, a pentagon,
a circle, or other figures. A star is often represented by a
cross; the life-symbol by a trapezoid, hills by triangles.
In fact, of these ten significations, that of the navel is the
only one that was found several times and always represented
by the same symbol.
It thus appears that there is no fixed system of symbolism
in Arapaho decorative art. Any interpretation of a figure is
personal. Often the interpretation is arbitrary. Much de-
pends upon what might be called symbolic context. In a
decoration which symbolizes buffalo-hunting, a stripe natu-
rally represents a bow; on a parfleche whose decoration repre-
sents such parts of the landscape as mountains, rocks, earth,
and tents, an identical stripe would naturally have the
signification of a river or of a path; but whether a path or
a river, would depend on the fancy of the maker of the par-
fleche. On another man’s parfleche such a stripe may repre-
sent a rope; on still another, red paint or the blue sky, because
the maker of this particular article thought of the color of
the stripe before he did of its shape. N aturally one person
cannot guess what the decorations on another person's par-
1902. | Kroeber, The Arapaho. | 145
fleche or moccasin or pouch signify. Usually an Indian re-
fuses to interpret the ornamentation on an article belonging
to some one else, on the ground that he does not know; but
‘he may give a tentative or possible interpretation.
Where such a wide variability exists, and where every in-
dividual has a right to his opinion, as it were, it follows that
it is impossible to declare any one interpretation of a given
ornamental design as correct or as incorrect. Even the
’ maker or possessor of an article can give only his personal
intention or the signification which he individually prefers.
Since the decorative symbolism on his article is not intended
as a means of communication, he is satisfied to follow his own
fancy in private; and if any one else chose to attach a differ-
ent meaning to his ornamental designs, he would probably |
make no objection. He might criticise the other for his pre-
sumption, but he could not well prove him incorrect.
Naturally there is great difference in the degree of interest
shown in the symbolism of decoration by different individuals.
One person thinks about the significance of his designs,
another chiefly of their appearance. The former will prob-
ably give a coherent interpretation of his designs if he is
questioned; the symbols of the latter will have their most
common conventional meaning, without much reference to
each other. Young people especially are likely to think and
care little about designs that they make or see. On the other
hand, a person interested in symbolism sometimes has two or
three interpretations for one symbol or for a design. Such
double sets of significations given by one person are generally
not hesitating or doubtful, but apt and happy, as well as
elaborate and coherent; the reason being that the maker of
the design has planned it with more than the usual amount
of attention to its meaning, or has subsequently studied it
with interest. One must not be misled on this point by
analogy with the pictorial, undecorative, unceremonial art of
our civilization. The Indian, in embroidering a moccasin or
painting a parfleche, never dreams of making a picture that —
can be recognized by every one at sight.
It is probable that, among the hundred and fifty and more
[August, 1902.] 10
146 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History, (Vol. XVIII,
specimens whose symbolism has been described, there are
some whose owners were not their makers, and had never
given a thought to the significance of their decorations pre-
vious to the occasion on which they explained these decora-
tions at the request of the author. That this should not have
happened, can hardly be expected; but in all such cases,
these persons undoubtedly fell back upon the common con-
ventional symbolism that is current in the tribe. This is
shown by the fact that all the decorative symbolism that
was learned runs along certain lines. For instance, tents
are very frequently represented; but in only one single
case was a house, such as the Indians now largely live in,
represented by the decorations. Hence there seems to be
a conventional system of symbolism, a fairly distinct and
characteristic tribal manner of viewing and thinking about
decoration. What this way of thought is among the Arapa-
ho, it has been the purpose of the preceding pages to show
by bringing together as large a mass of individual cases of
decorative symbolism as possible. That here and there an
interpretation may be poor, even from the Indian’s stand-
point, or another untrustworthy, is of little moment. As has
been said, no interpretation of a design can be considered
really right or wrong. If the explanations of decorated
objects, taken all together, illustrate one method of thinking,
and are evidences of one system of symbolism, the purpose
of their presentation will have been achieved.
The lack of desire or attempt to represent realistically in
art which is in any degree decorative, and the accompanying
lack of absolute or fixed meaning of designs, are not new and
unparalleled phenomena. On the northwest coast of America,
Dr. F. Boas has told the author, an Indian is often unable
to state what a carving or painting represents, unless he has
made or is using the object. This is really a more remarkable
case than among the Arapaho, for the art of the North Pacific
coast is far more realistic than that of the Plains Indians.
While highly conventionalized and always decorative, it
remains sufficiently realistic to enable a white man to see in
nearly every case that a representation of something is in-
1902. ] Kroeber, The Arapaho. 147
tended (which in the case of Arapaho art, if he had no knowl-
edge of the subject, he would probably not suspect); and with
a little practice the student can often recognize, without the
Indian’s help, the particular animal or object represented.
In northwestern California the situation is analogous. Here
the principal art is basketry. The number of names of bas-
ket-patterns is small, and they are known to most of the
women. The patterns on many baskets will be given the
same names by every member of the tribe. On other baskets,
the design will be differently called by two persons. It is
then usually to be seen that the design is of a form more
or less intermediate between two patterns, and that both
persons who gave differing names for it were right: each had
as much reason as the other. Moreover, both the names
given in such a case are generally taken from the limited
list of standard and well-known pattern-names of the tribe.
So in this part of the continent, also, there is a conventional
system of decorative symbolism; and, though this system is
much more narrow and rigid than that of the Arapaho, there
is a similar variability of interpretation among individuals.
Corresponding to individual variability of symbolism in
Arapaho art, is the almost infinite variation of the decora-
tion. Narrow as are the technique and scope of this art,
almost every piece of work is different from all others. There
seems to be no attempt at accurate imitation, no absolute
copying. An Arapaho woman may make a moccasin resem-
bling one that she has seen and liked, but it is very seldom
that she tries to actually duplicate it. Of common objects, the
writer does not remember to have seen two that were exactly
identical, or intended to be identical. Two classes of articles,
however, do not fall under this rule. These are, first, certain
ceremonial objects, which naturally are made alike, as far as
is possible, for ceremony is the abdication of personal choice
and freedom; secondly, objects which are decorated with a
more or less fixed tribal decoration. These objects are tents,
robes, bedding, and cradles. It has been shown, however,
that at times there is some variation even in the decorations
of these objects. This distinctly tribal ornamentation forms
148 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History, [Vol. XVII,
a class quite apart from the more personal ordinary orna-
mentation. For instance, the seven sacred work-bags that
have been mentioned, and the ceremonies connected with
them, are used only in the making of the “‘tribal’’ ornaments.
This endless variety and absence of direct copying are com-
mon in American Indian art. Dr. Boas has seen only very
few pieces of art of the North Pacific coast that were dupli-
cates. In California the author has found that, unless baskets
are made for sale, a basket is rarely reproduced exactly
by the same woman, and just as rarely by another. The
same seems to be true of the pottery of the Southwest.
Everywhere each piece is made independently, though always
under the influence of the tribal style.
Conventionality of decoration has been referred to repeat-
edly in descriptions of specimens. It can often be followed
out into minute detail. A glance at Plates 1, xx, xx1, and
Figs. 5, 23-28, 32-34, will show to what extent it obtains.
The conventionality of symbolism which has been men-
tioned appears most clearly in the frequency of certain classes
of objects in the symbolism, and the almost total absence of
others. The scope of this symbolism may be briefly described
as follows.
Plants are very rare in representation; human beings are
not abundant; while animals, in comparison with these two
classes, are numerous. Of plants, trees are most frequently
represented, flowers not at all. Of animals, the larger mam-
mals are rare. Only the buffalo and wolves and coyotes have
been found, and these generally represented in a very simple
manner, as by dots or small rectangles. Deer, elk, horses,
and dogs are not represented. Almost all the animal repre-
sentations are of small animals,— the reptiles, fish, rats, and
especially insects and invertebrates in considerable variety.
It may be remembered that paint-pouches, navel-amulets,
knife-cases, and other articles which are representative in
their entirety, generally represent small animals. Of parts
of the body, of man, the navel is the most frequent in sym-
bolism; of animals, the foot or track. Of the total number
of symbols, animal Tepresentations, however, form only a
1902. | Kroeber, The Arapaho. 149
minor part. Of natural objects, mountains and hills, singly
and in ranges, are very frequent. Rocks, earth, vegetation,
ravines, and the world are also found often. Representa-
tions of water are less frequent than the preceding; but
rivers, creeks, lakes, and springs are all not rare. Of celestial
objects, the sun, moon, clouds, sky (except as denoted by
color alone), rainbow, and milky way are all represented in-
frequently. Stars, and especially the morning star, whose
name and symbol is the cross, one of the simplest and most
obvious geometric figures, are exceedingly abundant. Paths
are common symbols. Of objects of human use or manufac-
ture, tents are most frequently represented. Of symbols of
abstract ideas, the hiiteni, which seems to signify life and
abundance, is the most common.
The symbolism of colors irrespective of forms is generally
the following. Red represents most commonly blood, man,
paint, earth, sunset, or rocks. Yellow denotes sunlight or
day, or earth. Green usually symbolizes vegetation. Blue
represents the sky; haze, mist, fog, or smoke; distant moun-
tains; rocks; and night. White is the normal background;
when it has any signification, it denotes snow, sand, earth, or
water. Black and brown rarely have any color significance;
they are practically not used in Arapaho decorative art ex-
cept to give sharpness of outline to colored areas, and occa-
sionally in very minute figures. Water does not seem to be
associated very strongly with any color. Clouds are as rarely
symbolized by color as by forms.
The symbolic decoration that has been described is of
course far from pictography. A pictograph serves as a means
_ of record or communication, and is normally not decorative;
while this art is too decorative to allow of being read. Yet
there is considerable similarity in the symbols used in both
systems. Moreover, the significance of a piece of decoration
is at times as extended and coherent as that of a pictograph.
There is a class of ceremonial objects, used especially in the
modern ghost-dance and related ceremonies, whose form and
decoration are not fixed and prescribed, but depend upon the
taste and desire of their owner. Many of these objects are
150 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History, (Vol. XVIIL
nearly pictographs, yet are made with a considerable attempt
at ornamentation: they may, as a class, be described as dec-
orative — but not geometrically decorative — and highly sym-
bolic. Usually these objects are painted or carved in outhne,
with free lines. Ceremonial articles of this class are not
described in the present chapter, but are mentioned here.
because they reveal a form of art that is midway between
symbolic decoration and picture-writing.
Another variety of symbolism that is found chiefly in con-
nection with ceremonial objects, but which it may be well to
refer to here, attaches signification to various parts or ap-
pendages of such objects. For instance, feathers sometimes
denote spirits, or again clouds, or wind, and hence breath and
life. Fur, hoofs, sticks, strings, bells, pendants, fringes, etc.,
are often symbolic in this way.
In closing this discussion of Arapaho decorative symbolism,
it is desired to state that the closeness of connection between
this symbolism and the religious life of the Indians cannot
well be overestimated by a white man. Apart from the
existence of a great amount of decorative symbolism on
ceremonial objects not described in this chapter, it should be
borne in mind that the making of what have been called
tribal ornaments is regularly accompanied by religious cere-
monies; that some styles of patterns found on tent-ornaments
and parfleches are very old and sacred because originating
from mythic beings; that a considerable number of objects
are decorated according to dreams or visions; and, finally,
that all symbolism, even when decorative and unconnected
with any ceremony, tends to be to the Indian a matter of a
serious and religious nature.
NOTE.
After p. 9 had been printed, I secured the missing t -
tionship in ihe Arapaho dialect, eee
father's brother wi. secesisean seine se neisa’naa
MOther's: SSCEL 6 ieee s.soe vise culee Sb ess ne’ina®
son of brother of a man peat
son of sister of a woman ('°**t- ttre ee ne’ih’a5
daughter of brother of a man
daughter of sister of a woman t
It will be seen from these terms that the Arapah rst i
identical with that of the Gros Ventres. fe
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