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Women Never Hunt
Women never go upon the hunting-field unless to assist a
childless husband in taking care of the game. After the laden ponies have
reached the camp, the duties of the women begin in the preservation of the
meat. They cut the hind quarters into thin slices, and hang them upon frames
to dry; the muscle over the ribs is cut in strips, dried, and braided; and
when the meat is well cured pemmican is made. The drying or tanning of the
skins then requires attention: the summer pelts are used for moccasins,
clothing, and tent covers; for robes and for bedding only the winter skins
are used. For the latter purpose the hide of the bull preferred because of
its weight, and the animal is cut and flayed differently from the
others.
The tribe was absent upon its hunting expedition about two months, during
which time there were many separate hunts,-always four, if possible,- and
they were all conducted in the same ceremonial manner.10
After each hunt the men whose tribal duty it was to serve the sacred tents
went out and brought in the wa-slia-bae and the pipe, and delivered them to
the leader. When the final hunt was over the bay was left standing in the
ground. Its purpose accomplished, it became meaningless.
The annual hunting expedition was full of vicissitudes;
the journeys and the camp gave opportunities to the young folk for sports
and friendly intercourse not possible at other times. The invisible line
dividing the
In-stha-sunda side of the Hoo-thu-ga from the Hun-ga-cheynu was very clearly
defined in the eye of the small boy; it was dangerous to cross that line it
could not be done without a skirmish. If a lad was sent with a message to
the opposite side of the camp, his first duty was to collect a strong
body-guard; and even with that he sometimes failed to fight his way through.
When these juvenile battles waxed too violent, the timely approach of a
soldier would cause a scurry to cover to escape his inexorable whip. Good
natured kicking-matches often occurred, in which no boy could kick below the
waist, or use his hands either for offense or defense. When outside the camp
circle these belligerent boys would join in an amicable chicken hunt,
roasting their game and having a love feast in some cozy nook beside an
improvised camp-fire.
During the journeys it was interesting to note how many
saddles would slip on the horses of the young women, and how instantly young
men appeared to adjust them, and how exceedingly slow was the operation; or
to observe the frequency with which, in the movements of the multitude,
certain couples would happen to be thrown together. The shadow of ever
impending danger seemed never to fall upon the young. War-parties might fall
upon the people as they traveled, or the camp be attacked, or the horses
stampeded; so it behooved the elder man to be always ready, unencumbered, as
he rode, of all but his weapons.
When disasters were frequent, or sickness or
dissensions came among the people, and there was much trouble, they appealed
to the chiefs, saying: " The way is bloody; give us another leader"; and the
man was obliged to retire from the office: the favor of Wakanda was not with
him. Sometimes the buffalo was hard to find, and the people suffered for
food; this also gave cause to depose the leader.
During a certain hunt a half-century ago, the runners could find no
buffaloes, and there was nothing to eat. The crying of the hungry children
went to the hearts of the chiefs, and sent them to the sacred tent, where,
in their ceremonial robes, with bowed heads, they counseled together to find
a new leader. They sent for man after man, but no one would take the
responsibility. Finally one of the chiefs, noted as a quiet, reverent man,
said without raising his head, " It is very hard, but I accept it." At dawn
he ordered the camp to go forward and meet the buffalo, while he remained
behind wrapped in the skin of a buffalo calf. No one was
there to know what appeals he made, clad in this strange guise, as he
wrestled in faith for his people; but the tribe had not gone more than a few
miles when they came in sight of a herd. The people made haste to be ready;
but the buffaloes came upon them in such numbers that the hunters slew them
right and left all that day, until they had more meat than they could cure,
and the flies appeared in such swarms that they call the spot to this day
"the place where the maggots frightened us."
10 The Omaha hunted the buffalo in this
manner on foot before the introduction of horses.
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Omaha Hunting Customs
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