Part of the Cheyenne and part of the Arapaho departed down the Arkansas river, while the rest remained about the head of the North Platte. Since that time the two divisions have been known as Southern and Northern Arapaho respectively. The Northern Arapaho, who are now on Wind River reservation in Wyoming, are considered to be the main body, since they have retained all their tribal religious paraphernalia. The Oto belong to the great Siouan linguistic family and originally formed, with other tribes, a part of the Winnebago. The typical ceremonial head dress of the Oto of the present time is shown here and in the next three plates.
Chieftainship is hereditary, provided the son or the grandson is qualified to assume the position.
If a chief dies, his office passes to the eldest son. If it be decided that no member of a deceased chief's family is worthy of the office, a successor is elected by the council. It is also customary for a man to adopt a new name after the performance of some noteworthy deed, or by fasting and dreaming, when he assumes the name of whatever appeared or was suggested by the dream. The medal worn by Old Eagle, in this case bearing the portrait of Lincoln, is like other medals given by the Government to noted chiefs from Washington's time. They are most closely related to the Omaha, Quapaw, Ponca, and Kansa, with whom they once formed a single body.