RELIGIOUS LAW.

§ 308. The rules of the buffalo hunt, the consecration of the hearts and tongues, the ceremonies pertaining to the anointing of the sacred pole, etc., and those connected with the planting of the corn, were customs which were regarded as laws received by their ancestors from Wakanda; hence, they pertained to religion as well as to the government of the tribe. (See §§ [128]-[163].)

§ 309. The following are of a religious character: The worship of the thunder, when first heard in the spring (§ [24]), and when the men go to war (§ [196]); the style of wearing the hair in childhood (§ [30], etc.); most of the governmental instrumentalities enumerated in Chapter [XI], and non-intercourse with a woman during her catamenial seclusion (§ [97]).

The Omahas were afraid to abandon their aged on the prairie when away from their permanent villages lest Wakanda should punish them.

The most common offenses against religious law were murder and accidental killing.

§ 310. Murder.—Murder of a fellow Omaha has been of rare occurrence. Drunkenness alone has caused two men to kill each other in a few cases; but owing to it there have been more instances of murder and manslaughter. Before liquor was introduced there were no murders, even when men quarreled. The murder of a fellow clansman was unknown, except in a few cases of parricide, caused by drunkenness. Parents never killed their children. About thirty-two years ago a man killed his uncle to avenge the murder of another uncle by a drunken son. Over sixty years ago a Ponka married an Omaha woman, and remained with her tribe. His mother-in-law was a very bad old woman, so he killed her. No Omaha ever killed an affinity.

Murder might be punished by taking the life of the murderer, or that of one of his clansmen. When one man killed another, the kinsmen of the murdered man wished to avenge his death, but the chiefs and brave men usually interposed. Sometimes they showed one of the sacred pipes; but they always took presents, and begged the kinsmen to let the offender live. Sometimes the kinsmen of the murderer went alone to meet the avengers; sometimes they took with them the chiefs and brave men; sometimes the chiefs, braves, and generous men went without the kinsmen of the murderer. Sometimes the avengers refused to receive the presents, and killed the murderer. Even when one of them was willing to receive them, it was in vain if the others refused.

When the life of the murderer was spared, he was obliged to submit to punishment from two to four years. He must walk barefoot. He could eat no warm food; he could not raise his voice; nor could he look around. He was compelled to pull his robe around him, and to have it tied at the neck, even in warm weather; he could not let it hang loosely or fly open. He could not move his hands about, but was obliged to keep them close to his body. He could not comb his hair; and it must not be blown about by the wind. He was obliged to pitch his tent about a quarter of a mile from the rest of the tribe when they were going on the hunt lest the ghost of his victim should raise a high wind, which might cause damage. Only one of his kindred was allowed to remain with him at his tent. No one wished to eat with him, for they said, "If we eat with him whom Wakanda hates, for his crime, Wakanda will hate us." Sometimes he wandered at night, crying and lamenting his offense. At the end of the designated period, the kindred of the murdered man heard his crying and said, "It is enough. Begone, and walk among the crowd. Put on moccasins and wear a good robe." Should a man get a bad reputation on account of being quarrelsome, his gens might refuse to defend him. Even if the kindred were sad when he was slain, they would say nothing, and no one tried to avenge him. The murder of a child was as great a crime as the murder of a chief, a brave, or a woman. There was no distinction in the price to be paid.

Should the criminal escape to another tribe, and be absent for a year or two, his crime would be remembered on his return, and he would be in danger.

§ 311. Accidental killing.—When one man killed another accidentally, he was rescued by the interposition of the chiefs, and subsequently was punished as if he were a murderer, but only for a year or two.

§ 312. Profanity.—Cursing and swearing were unknown before the white men introduced them. Not one of the ₵egiha dialects contains an oath. The Omahas are very careful not to use names which they regard as sacred on ordinary occasions; and no one dares to sing sacred songs except the chiefs and old men at the proper times.

§ 313. Drunkenness became a crime, because it often led to murders; so the Omaha policemen determined to punish each offender. Each one of the ten gave him several blows with a whip, and the drunkard's annuity for that year was taken from him. In 1854 this vice was broken up, and since then there has been no instance of its occurrence among the Omahas.[22]

§ 314. Falsehood.—In 1879 Standing Hawk and a few others were noted for this vice; but in 1882 La Flèche said that there were many who had lost all regard for the truth. Formerly, only two or three were notorious liars; but now, there are about twenty who do not lie. Scouts were expected to speak the truth when they returned to report to the directors, the keepers of the sacred tents, etc. (See §§ [23], [136], and [137].) Warriors were obliged to undergo the ordeal of the wastegistu (Osage, watse-ʞistu), before receiving the rewards of bravery. If one told a lie, he was detected, as the Indians believed that the stick always fell from the sacred bag in such a case. (See § [214].)

INDEX.

Accouchement among the Omahas[263]
Adoption of children among the Omahas[265], [281]
Adultery among the Omahas[364]
Affinities in Omaha kinship[255]
Age, Omaha life in old[274]
Agriculture among the Omahas[302]
Amusements of the Omahas[334]-[342]
; Cards[341]
; Children's[341]
; Diving[341]
; Hitting the stone[339]
; Plumstone shooting[334]
; Shooting at the rolling-wheel[335]
; Stick and ring[337]
; Stick counting[338]
; Women's game of ball[338]
Animals, how divided among Omaha hunters[300]
Anba-Hebe cited on tradition of the pipes[222]
Archery, Omaha skill in[291]
Arrows, Each Omaha has his own set of[291]
Assembly, The Omaha tribal[361]
gentile[362]
Attack in war, Omaha preparation for making[326]
receiving[313]
Bags, Ordeal of the sacred[328]
Ball, Omaha woman's game of[338]
Bashfulness of Omahas[262]
Bandolier, A.T., on Cochiti Indian weaving[361]
Bathing among Omahas[269]
Beans as a food among Omahas[308]
Begging dance[355]
Berries as a food among Omahas[306]
Birth, Omaha ceremony on the fifth day after[245]
Birthnames, Omaha[227], [231], [232], [236], [237], [239], [240], [243], [244], [245], [248]
Black Shoulder gens of Omahas[228]-[233]
; Birthnames[231]
; Myth of creation.[229]
; Mythical origin of[229]
; Names[231]
; Style of wearing the hair.[230]
; Subgentes[230]
; Taboo.[230]
Boys, Birthnames of Omaha[227], [231], [236], [237], [239], [240], [243], [245], [248]
Bravery, Anecdotes of Omaha[332]
, Omaha rewards of[329]
Buffalo dance, Omaha[347]
hearts and tongues collected[289]
feast on[290]
killed in hunt, Division of[291]
, Order of approaching a herd of[289]
Calumet dance, The[276]-[282]
pipe, The[277]-[279]
Cannibalism of Indians[272]
Captives by Omahas, Treatment of[313], [332]
Cards[341]
Catamenia among the Omahas[267]
Celibacy among the Omahas[269]
Ceremony on the fifth day after birth, Omaha[245]
at death, Omaha[229], [233]
Charities, Omaha[274]
Charts of Omaha kinship[254]
Chiefs are religions officers during the buffalo hunt, Omaha[357]
, Omaha deposition of[362]
election of[358]
head[357]
in the Omaha state, Position of[216]
, Powers of Omaha[362]
, Sacred inauguration of[359]-[360]
, Subordinate[357]
, Who can be elected Omaha[358]
Child-birth among Omahas[263]
Children, Omaha, Adoption of[265], [281]
, Clothing of[265]
, Diseases of[265]
, Games of[340],[341]
, Life of[265]
, Number of[264]
Circle, Omaha tribal[219]-[220]
Clothing, Omaha[310]-[311]
Preparation of[310]
Children's[265]
Dressing hides for[310]
Consanguineous kinship of Omahas[253]
Corporations among Omahas[218], [342], [355], [367]
; dancing societies[330], [342]-[355]
; feasting societies[342]
Council, The Omaha tribal[361]
Courtship, Omaha[259]
Couvade[263]
Cultivation of the ground regulated by the Hañga gens[302]
Customs, Curious Omaha, during a fog[240]
harvest[238]
Omaha fishing[301]
hunting[283], [301]
marriage[259]
post-marriage[261]
sleeping[273]
visiting[276]-[282]
₵atada Gens, The[236]-[241]
[T]e-[p]a-it'ajǐ subgens[239]-[240]
; Birthnames[240]
; Sections[240]
Turtle subgens[240]-[241]
; Birthnames[240]
; Custom during a fog[240]
; Decoration of tents[240]
; Sections[240]
; Style of wearing the hair[240]
; Turtle men[240]
; Wajiñga ¢ataji subgens[238]-[239]
; Birthnames[239]
; Curious custom[238]
; Names[239]
; Sections and subsections[239]
; Style of wearing the hair[238]
; Wasabe Hit'aji subgens[236]-[238]
; Birthnames[237]
; Mythical origin[237]
; Names[238]
; Style of wearing the hair[237]
; Taboo[237]
₵egiha tribes, Early migrations of[211]-[213]
Dance, Alaskan dress,[344], [348]
ornaments[344]
, Painting for[348], [350]
societies of Omahas[330], [342]-[355]
, The begging[355]
, buffalo[347]
, buffalo head-dress[352]
, calumet[276]-[282]
, ghost[353]
, grizzly bear[349]
, He¢ucka[330]
, Hede-watci[297]
, Hekana[353]
, Hewatci[331]
, horse[348]
, make-no-fight[352]
, Mandan[332], [354]
, Padañka[353]
, scalp[330]
, sun[272], [355]
, T'égaxe-watci[352]
, Visitors', of relating exploits[352]
, Wacicka[342]
, Witcita[349]
, wolf[348]
Death, Omaha ceremonies at[229], [233]
Deer Head gens, The Omaha[245]
Differentiation of organs in the State[216]
Diseases of Omaha children[265]
Distribution of parts of animals[300]
Diving, Omaha[341]
Domestic etiquette among Omahas[262]
Domestic life among the Omahas[258]-[275]
Dorsey, Rev. J. Owen, Omaha Sociology[205]-[370]
Dougherty on Omaha child-bearing age[267]
games with cards[341]
killickinnick[310]
marriage customs[259], [263]
number of children[264]
plumstone shooting[334]
Dress of Omaha dancers[344], [348], [346], [349], [350], [352], [353]
Drinks of Omahas[309]
Drunkenness broken up among Omahas[370]
Early migration of ₵egiha tribes[211]-[213]
Elections of Omaha chiefs[358]
Elk gens, The[225]-[228]
; Names[227]
; Scouts[226]
; Style of wearing the hair[225]
; Taboo[225]
; The sacred tent[226]
; Worship of thunder[227]
Elopement, Omaha marriage by[260]
Etiquette, Omaha domestic[262]
Falsehood detected among Omahas by ordeal[328], [370]
Fasting in sun-dance[272]
Feasting societies, Omaha[342]
Feasts[270], [272]
Feasts after return from war[331], [332]
at election of chiefs[361]
, Calumet[279]
preliminary[276]
, Hekana[354]
Mandan[273]
, Marriage[260]
, The Wacicka[342]
war preparatory[315], [319]
Fetiches, Omaha[270]
Fishing customs, Omaha[301], [302]
traps[302]
Fletcher, Miss A.C., described Dakota dances[298], [355]
Fœticide among Omahas[263]
Food among Omahas[303]-[310]
; Beans[308]
; Berries[306]
; Corn[304]
; nelumhium luteum[308]
; Modes of cooking corn[304], [305]
fruits[306]
meat[303]
melons[306]
nuts[307]
pumpkins[306]
roots[307]
Fornication among Omahas[365]
Fort, Old Ponka[313]
Fruit as food among Omahas[306]
Gahige cited as to creation myth[229]
origin of Buffalo people[229]
red corn[231]
tradition of the pipes[222]
Gens, The ₵atada[236]-[241]
, Deerhead[245]-[247]
, Elk[225]-[228]
Hañga[233]-[236]
Ictasanda[248]-[251]
Iñg¢e-jide[247]
Iñke-sabe[228]-[233]
, Kansas[241]
, Ma¢iñka-gaxe[242], [243]
[T]e-sinde[244]
Gentile assembly, The Omaha[362]
system, The Omaha[215], [219]-[251]
Ghost dance, The Omaha[353]
Gifts bestowed at Omaha feasts[279], [281], [332]
Government, The Omaha[356]-[363]
Governmental instrumentalities[356]
functions[356]
Grizzly bear dance, The Omaha[349]
Ground; Cultivation regulated by the Hañga gens[302]
Hamilton, Rev. W., on Omaha customs after childbirth[264]
gray Omaha children[275]
cannibalism of Iowas[272]
Hañga gens; Ceremony at death[233]
; Mythical origin of[233]
; Names[236]
regulates certain feasts[272]
regulates cultivation of the ground[302]
regulates sacred pipes[221]-[224]
regulates the buffalo hunt[284]
; Sacred pole[234]
; Sacred tents[233]
; Style of wearing the hair[235]
; Subgentes[235]
; Taboo[235]
Harvest customs, Curious Omaha[238]
Hede-watci dance, The Omaha[297]
Hekana dance, The Omaha[353]
Henshaw, H.W., Indian studies on Omaha native tobacco[309]
Hides for Omaha clothing, Dressing[310]
Horses in Omaha warfare, Capture of[326]
Horse dance, The Omaha[348]
Hospitality among Omahas[271]
Hunting; Anointing the sacred pole[293]
; Approaching a herd of buffalo[289]
; Collecting the hearts and tongnes[289]
customs[283]
, Departure for[285]
, Directors of[280]
; Disposition of parts of a buffalo[293]
; Division of a slain buffalo[291]
tribe into summer parties[299]
, kinds of[283]
; buffalo eaten[292]
; Policemen[288]
party attacked[300]
preparations before departure[285]
, Return from summer[300]
scouts[287]
seasons[283]
, Sham fight after[295]
the larger animals[300]
; Trapping[301]
, Thanksgiving before return from[293]
tribal circle[286]
; Two tribes together[299]
Ictasanda gens; Names[240]-[251]
; Subgentes[249]
; Taboo[248]
Industrial occupations of the Omahas[283]-[311]
Industries among the Omahas, Protective[312]-[333]
Regulative[356]-[363]
Infanticide[263]
International law among Omahas[368]
Iñg¢e-jide gens, The Omaha[247]
; Decoration of skin-tents[248]
; Names[248]
; Subgentes[248]
; Taboo[248]
Journey, Omaha preparation for a[275]
Kansas gens, The Omaha[241]-[242]
; Subgentes[241]
; Taboo[241]
Kinship, Omaha affinities of[255]
, classes of[252]
, consanguineous[253]
, partial[252]-[258]
, peculiarities of[254]
Law among Omahas[364]-[370]
as to maiming[365]
quarreling and fighting[364]
social vices[364]-[365]
witchcraft[364]
; Corporation[367]
for membership of gens[225]
Government[367]
, International[368]
, Marriage[255]-[258]
, Military[368]
, National[367]
, Personal[304]-[365]
, Property[366]
, Religious[368]
Life of Omahas, Domestic[258]-[275]
Make-no-fight dance, The Omaha[352]
Mañ¢iñka-gaxe gens, The Omaha[242]
Mandan dance, The[332]
feast, The[273]
Marriage, Age for Omaha[259]
; Celibacy among Omahas[269]
customs among Omahas[259]
feasts[260]
laws of Omahas[255]-[258]
, Permissive[257]
, Prohibitory[256]
; Remarriage[258]
; Rights of parents[268]
; Widowers[268]
; Widows[267]
among Omahas, permanence of[261]
Meals, Omaha[271]-[273]
Meat as food among Omahas[303]
Medicines or fetiches carried on journeys by Omahas[276]
Melons as food among Omahas[306]
Membership of gens among Omahas, Law of[225]
Migration of ₵egiha tribes[211]-[213]
the Omahas[213]-[214]
Military law of Omahas[368]
Mode of approaching a village when visiting, Omaha[276]
Murder by Omahas, Punishment of[369]
; accidental killing among Omahas[370]
Musicians, Omaha[341]
Names, Omaha birth[227], [231], [232], [236], [237], [239], [240], [243], [244] ,[245], [248], [249]
, gentile[227], [232]-[233], [235] ,[236], [238], [239], [240], [241], [243], [244], [246], [248], [250], [251]
, New, taken in war by Omahas[324]
Narcotics, Omaha[309]
Nikie names, meaning of[227]
Nursing, Omaha[264]
Nuts; Food among Omahas[307]
Omahas, Accouchement among[263]
, Agriculture among[302]
; Amanhe[269]
Amusements. (See Amusements.)
; Calumet dance[276]
pipe[277]
, Catamenia among[267]
; Charities[274]
; Chiefs[357], [358]
, Child-bearing[263], [264]
; Classes in the state[216]
, Clothing of[310]
; Corporations[218], [342]
; ₵atada gens[236]
Dances[342]-[355]
; Deerhead gens[245]
; Domestic etiquette[262]
life[259]
; Drinks[309]
; Elk gens[225]
; Fasting[266], [317], [319]
Feasts among. (See Feasts.)
; Fetiches[270], [317]
; Fishing[301]
; Food[303]-[309]
; Games[334]-[341]
; Gentes[215]
; Gentile system[219], [251]
; Government[356]-[363]
; Hañga gens[233]
, Hunting among[283]
; Ictasanda gens[248]
, Industries among[283]-[303], [310]-[311]
; Iñke-sabe gens[228]
; Iñg¢e-jide gens[247]
; Isinu[268]
; Kansas gens[241]
; Kinship system[252]-[255]
; Law[364]
; Ma¢iñka-gaxe gens[242]
; Marriage customs[259]
laws[255], [267]
; Meals[271]
; Medicines or fetiches[276], [317]
; Method of camping[219], [220]
; Migrations of[213]
; Sociology[211]-[370]
, Parental rights among[268]
, Personal habits of[269]
, Politeness[268]
; Preparations for attacking the enemy[326]
; Pregnancy among[263]
; Preparations for attacking the enemy[326]
; Present state of[214]
; Protective industries of[312]
, Refugees among[268]
, Regulative industries among[356]
, Sacred pipes of[221]
, tents of[221]
, Servants among[217]
, Societies among[342]
, Sociology[205]-[370]
; Tribal circles[219]
, visiting customs of[276]
; Wamanhe[269]
, warfare of[312]
, Women among[266]
Ordeal of the sacred bags, Omaha[328]
Origin of Omaha ₵atada gens, Mythical[237]
Ornaments of Omaha dancers, passim from[344]
Pæderastia among Omahas[365]
Parents of Omahas, Rights of[268]
Pa[p]anka dance, The Omaha[353]
Peace with another tribe, Omaha mode of making[368]
Personal law of Omahas[364]
Phratries, Omaha[215], [337]
Pipe dance, Omaha[276]
, The Calumet[277]
Pipes, Keepers of the sacred[222], [223], [358], [363]
, The Omaha sacred[221]-[224]
, Tradition of the[222]
Pitching tents, Omaha rules for[220]-[221]
Plumstone shooting[334]
Pole, Anointing the sacred[293]
, The sacred[234], [293]
Policemen, a class in the Omaha state[216]
appointed in hunting, Omaha[288]
war, Omaha[321]
, Power of the Omaha[363]
Politeness; Omahas[269]-[270]
Polyandry among Omahas[261]
Polygamy among Omahas[261]
Ponka chiefs, Initiation of[359]-[360]
dancing societies[355]
games[334], [336], [337], [339], [340]
Fort, Old[313]
mode of camping[219]
tradition of the sacred pole[234]
Ponkas, but one pipe in pipe dance[282]
migrations of[212]-[213]
Powell, Maj. J.W., defines the state[215]
Powers of Omaha principal chiefs[362]
subordinate chiefs[362]
keepers of sacred tents[362]
pipes[363]
Omaha policemen[363]
Preparation of food among Omahas[303]-[310]
Pregnancy among Omahas[263]
Profanity not an Omaha vice[370]
Property Omaha; debtors[367]
, Omaha gentile[366]
, household[366]
, law of[366]
, personal[366]
, tribal[366]
, theft of[367]
Prostitution among Omahas[365]
Protective industries of Omahas[312]-[333]
Proverbs, Omaha[334]
Pumpkins as food among Omahas[306]
Puns, Omaha[334]
Rattles, Collection of Indian, Omaha[278]
Rape among Omahas[365]
Refugees among Omahas, Rights of[268]
Regulative industries of Omahas[356]-[363]
Religion of Omahas[363]
Religious law of Omahas[368]
Remarriage among Omahas[258]
Return from hunting, Omahas[300]
Rice, wild[308]
Riddles, Omaha[334]
Roots as food among Omahas[307]
Sacred pipes, The Omaha[221]-[224]
, Keepers of the[222], [223], [358], [363]
pole, The Omaha[234], [293]
tents of Omahas[221], [226], [233]
Salt used by Omahas[309]
Schoopanism among Omahas[365]
Scouts of Omahas[226], [287], [321]
, Report of Omaha war[325]
, Service of Omaha[226]
, hunting[287], [288]
Sections of Omaha subgentes[215], [237], [239], [240]
Servants among Omahas[217]-[218]
Sham fight, Omaha[295]
Shooting arrows at a mark[339], [340]
Shooting at the rolling wheel[335]
, Order of, in the Wacicka dance[345]
Singing, Omaha[279], [316], [320], [322], [323], [325]
Skin bags in Omaha dances[343]
Sleeping customs, Omaha[273]
Social vices among Omahas[364]-[365]
; Adultery[364]
; Fornication[365]
; Pæderastia[365]
; Prostitution[365]
; Rape[365]
; Schoopanism[365]
Societies among Omahas[342]
Sociology, Omaha[205]-[370]
Songs, Omaha war[320], [322], [323], [325], [331]
State, Definition of the[215]
, The Omaha[215]-[218]
Stepmothers, Omaha[268]
Stick and ring, Omaha game of[337]
Stick counting[338]
Subgentes, Omaha[215], [225], [230], [235], [236], [241], [242], [245], [248], [249]
, Importance of the[258]
, Referred to in Anba-Hebe's tradition[222], [223]
, Sections of[215], [237], [239], [240]
, Subsections of[239]
Sun-dance, The[297], [298], [355]
, Fasting in[272]
System of kinship, Omaha[252]-[255]
Taboos of the Omaha gentes[225], [230], [231], [235], [237],[238], [239], [240], [241], [244], [245], [248]
Tents, Powers of the keepers of the sacred[362]
, Rules for pitching[220]-[221]
, The sacred[221], [226], [233]
Thanksgiving before return from hunt, Omaha[293]
Theft among Omahas[367]
Thunder bird myth, Worship of[227]
Tobacco of the Omahas[309]
Tradition of the pipes, Omaha[222]
sacred pole, Omaha[234]
, Ponka[234]
Trapping, Omaha[301]
Traps, Omaha fish[302]
Tribal circles, Omaha[219], [220], [286]
council, The Omaha[361]
Tukala dance obtained from the Dakotas, The[354]
Two Crows cited in Omaha Sociology passim[205]-[370]
Vices, Omaha social[364]
Visiting customs, Omaha[276]-[282]
Visitors' dance of relating exploits, Omaha[352]
Wacicka dance, The[342]
War customs of the Omahas: In defensive[312]-[314]
In preparation for defensive[313]
In preparation for offensive[315], [319]
Behavior of those at home[325]
Captured horses[326]
Feast[315], [319]
Followers, uninvited[317]
Large party[318]
Mandan dance[332]
New names taken[324]
Officers[318], [319], [321]
Opening of the sacred bags[321]
Ordeal of the sacred bags[328]
Order of camping[323]
Order of march[321]
Policemen[321]
Preparation for attack[326]
Preparation for starting[317]
Report of scouts[325]
Return of party[328]
Rewards of bravery[329]
Sacred bags[319], [321], [322]
Scalp dance[330]
Secret departure[317]
Small party[315]
Songs[320], [332], [323], [325], [331]
Treatment of captives[313], [332]
Treatment of wounded foes[332]
Wars, Origin of Omaha[312]
unlike old world, Indian[312]
Warriors assume new names on the way, Omaha and Ponka[324]
Wearing hair in the Hañga gens, Style of[235]
Wheel, Omaha shooting at the rolling[335]
Widowers, Omaha[268]
Widows, Omaha[267]
Wolf dance, The Omaha[348]
Women, Game of ball by Omaha[338]
, Social standing of Omaha[266]
Worship of the thunder, Omaha[227]