The Religion of the Crow Indians

322 Anthropological Papers American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XXV,
having various animals play shinney for them with the sunrise and sunset
as their goals.
Sun's players were on the east side and included the
silver fox, coyote, and jackrabbit; Morningstar's players were in the
west and included the elk ;
deer species called u u xkace.
white-tail and black-tail deer, and another
During the game both Sun and Star caused
storms; Star made the snow very deep so that the little animals could
not run. At last the elk, being long-winded, won.
The sacred Tobacco about which center the performances of the
Tobacco society, is quite generally identified with the stars,—sometimes
it would seem with all of them collectively, then again more specifically
with the Morningstar.
The Dipper (i'g'e-s&'pud = Seven Stars) is mythologically conceived
as a group of seven human brothers who had become displeased with their
terrestrial experiences and decided to change their shape into something
that should last forever. At the close of their discussion they decide to
transform themselves into the constellation. 1 The Dipper not infrequently
blessed fasters with a vision : Lone-tree was among those adopted
by them. 2 The Stars often appeared painted in a particular way, holding
a pipe or with wreaths of medicines, which they turned over to the
visionary. As a result he would capture Horses and become a chief.
One Crow said that one of the Seven Stars is blind and that he has the
greatest power of them all.
The Four Winds are mentioned as recipients of smoke offerings but
play a minor part. On the other hand, the Thunder (sud) is important
both mythologically and religiously. As usual, he is identified with the
eagle (perhaps more commonly with the bald-headed eagle) . In myth he
is represented as the enemy of a water-monster, which destroys his young
Various Indians have
but is overcome with the aid of an expert hunter. 3
been adopted by the Thunder, among them Lone-tree and Big-ox, both
of whom were still alive in 1911.
Another mythic personage who appeared in visions is the uniformly
benevolent Dwarf, who, in spite of his diminutive stature is represented
as very powerful physically. 4
In addition to the mainly cosmic beings described above there are
the host of spirits—mostly in beast or bird shape—who appear in visions
and whose characteristics will appear more clearly from the account in
the following section.
Hbid., 126,210, 211.
2
This series, vol. 16, 41.
3
This volume, 144 seq.
Hbid., 165, 171 seq.