nger brother, who had been slain by the monsters of the
deep. Upon the shore of the Great Water he dug two round holes, over one
of which he built a low enclosure of fragrant cedar boughs, and here he
gathered together the bones of his brother. In the other pit he made a
fire and heated four round stones, which he rolled one by one into the
lodge of boughs. Having closed every aperture save one, he sang a mystic
chant while he thrust in his arm and sprinkled water upon the stones
with a bunch of sage. Immediately steam arose, and as the legend says,
"there was an appearance of life." A second time he sprinkled water, and
the dry bones rattled together. The third time he seemed to hear soft
singing from within the lodge; and the fourth time a voice exclaimed:
"Brother, let me out!" (It should be noted that the number four is the
magic or sacred number of the Indian.)

This story gives the traditional origin of the "eneepee," which has
ever since been deemed essential to the Indian's effort to purify and
recreate his spirit. It is used both by the doctor and by his patient.
Every man must enter the cleansing bath and take the cold plunge which
follows, when preparing for any spiritual crisis, for possible death, or
imminent danger.

Not only the "eneepee" itself, but everything used in connection with
the mysterious event, the aromatic cedar and sage, the water, and
especially the water-worn boulders, are regarded as sacred, or at
the least adapted to a spiritual use. For the rock we have a
special reverent name--"Tunkan," a contraction of the Sioux word for
Grandfather.

The natural boulder enters into many of our solemn ceremonials, such
as the "Rain Dance," and the "Feast of Virgins." The lone hunter and
warrior reverently holds up his filled pipe to "Tunkan," in solitary
commemoration of a miracle which to him is as authentic and holy as the
raising of Lazarus to the devout Christian.

There is a legend that the First Man fell sick, and was taught by his
Elder Brother the ceremonial use of the pipe, in a prayer to the
spirits for ease and relief. This simple ceremony is the commonest daily
expression of thanks or "grace," as well as an oath of loyalty and good
faith when the warrior goes forth upon some perilous enterprise, and
it enters even into his "hambeday," or solitary prayer, ascending as a
rising vapor or incense to the Father of Spirits.

In all the war ceremonies and in medicine a special pipe is used,