FOOTNOTES:
[74] Told by Hawk.
73. HOW A SIOUX WOMAN’S SCALP WAS SACRIFICED.[75]
In the fall there were five or six of us who went on the war-path. We came to the Pine Ridge Agency, and there hid, close to where the Sioux got their water. Two women came down to the spring to get water. We all ran towards the women. The women ran. One young man caught up with one woman, grabbed at her hair, took his knife, and took the scalp off from the right side of the woman’s head. The woman ran into the camp.
We returned to our leader and gave the scalp to him. The leader then said, “We must hurry home.” We walked all day and all night, and another day and night. The next day we found the thick timber, and there we lay down to rest. When we woke up, the leader took the fat off from the scalp. He then called one of the men. He then cut the fat, making it into five pieces. Facing the east, he placed four of the five pieces in his hand—one on each corner of his palm—and the fifth piece he placed in the center of the palm. He then took the pieces, one at a time, beginning with the one on the southeast corner, then the southwest corner, then the northwest corner, then the northeast corner, and placed them in a similar position upon the ground, which was to show that the scalp was to be offered to the gods. We then went home.
We gave the scalp to one of the high priests, who held the scalp ceremony. At this ceremony we used the fire-sticks to make the fire for burning this scalp. The scalp was burned. After the burning of the scalp the people turned out, passing their holy bundles and medicine bags over the smoke. The priest stood to the west of the burning scalp and recited a ritual, calling on the gods. The young men and children who wanted their names changed gave presents to the priests, who changed their names for them.