Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-11-07

and not for smoking. 1t is placed In
medicine bags and also used as in
cenSe in certain rites of publication
The practice Is mentioned by writer's,
who came into contact with the Grows
early in the nineteenth century, in
Guiding Macmillan of Weld, and its
origin goes back into the misty region
Of Crow myths. The tobacco was the
only plant cultivated by the Crows be-
fore the white men came, although
the related HidaSta and Mandan to
the east grew corn, pumpkins and
other vegetables.
Connected With the Stars
The tobacco planting ceremonies are
In charge Of the Tobacco society.
In the older days, membership was
largely confined to the old people of
the tribe, but in recent years nearly
everyone belonged. Members were
adopted into the society with elaborate
rituals and instructed into the secrets
of the order. The tobacco rites are
associated with the stars just as the
sun dances are with the sun.
According to n version, the Morn
ing Star met an old man and gave
him the tobacco and told him how 70
plant the tobacco and what songs to
sing to it. This man instructed four
other men in the rites of the tobacco
and they planted and harvested 1t. The
other Indians found that they were
always prosperous and lucky and that
their medicine was strong" Then
others sought adoption into the society,
often making vows that they would
join If certain things came to pass.
The society was made up in old days
OF different chapters which Sprang up
FROM uici0rc that fho{v rwtwt~utO~c hoA
received, uSuallv about some animal or
plant. The members of a chapter car
ried some distinctive emblem as the
dried body or skin Of its distinctive
animal, which its members carry in the
dances and in other planting cere-
monies. The names Of the tobacco
chapters included the Weasel, Otter,
Eagle, Crazy Dog, Egg, Strawberry,
Yellow Tobacco, Blackbird, Prairie
dog, Buffalo, Crane, Meadowlark, Elk,
Horse, Rattle, Prairie Chicken, and
many others.
Beginning Of Ceremony
Preparations for the tobacco planting
seed, and the deciding upon the spot
where the tobacco is to be planted.
Members of the society may have
visions as to the best place to plant it.
Quite possibly the dreamers have seen
different places and then the mixers
finally decide the point as to what
dream is most promising.
The seed is mixed with manur and
also with several kinds Of roots and
flowers. The mixing is accompanied
by a feast and q number of ceremOn-
les are performed including the soak
ing of the ingredients, singing Of songs,
and the preparation Of the bags of the
mixture. This is followed by a dance
lasting all night.
The day after the mixing the men,
hers of the Tobacco society go to the
place which has been selected for the
tobacco garden. The place is kept
secret and non-members are not per-
mitted to go near 1t while the plant
ing ceremonies are going on and at
the most may only observe 1t at a
distance. The members of the separate
tory lodge where they are painted by
the mixer. At each planting, there is
one person, usually q woman who
takes the lead, bearing of the
leading emblems Of the leaders chap
ter. The otter was formerly considered
the chief medicine animal of the So
ciety but In some districts the crane
nov has precedence.
-Four Is regarded as the sacred num-
Der by the Crows as well as most In
dian tribes, probably gaining its sig
n~iflcance from the four cardinal d.
rections. At every step in the tobacco
ceremony, q cycle Of four songs Is sung
the first being as the members pre-
pare to leave the lodges. A straight
line is then formed with the leaders
chapter In the center. Both men and
women belong to the society and help