Chapter VI: Cults of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Sapona 501

Authorities 501
Alleged belief in a Great Spirit 501
The great mystery a modern deity 501
Polytheism 502
Worship 502
Fasting 502
Sacrifice 502
The Okipa 502
The Daḣpike 503
Cult of the Yoni 505
Absaroka fear of a white buffalo cow 505
Mandan cults 506
Mandan divinities 506
Guardian spirits 507
Mandan belief about serpents and giants 507
Thunder lore of the Mandan 508
Astronomical lore 508
Mystery objects and places of the Mandan and Hidatsa 508
The mystery rock 508
Dreams 510
Oracles 510
Fetiches 510
Folklore 511
Sorcery 511
Jugglery 512
Ghost lore 512
The future life 512
Four as a mystic number among the Mandan 513
Hidatsa cults 513
Hidatsa divinities 513
Animism 514
Worship of the elements, etc. 514
Serpent worship 514
Fetiches 515
Tribal fetiches 515
Personal fetiches 515
Oracles 516
Dreams 516
Berdaches 516
Astronomical lore 517
Food lore 517
Four souls in each human being 517
Sorcery 517
Disposal of the dead 518
Hidatsa belief as to future existence 518
Sapona cults 518