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THE PONKA

The Ponka tribal circle was divided equally between the Tci"ju and Wajaje half-tribes. To the former belonged two phratries of two gentes each, i.e., numbers 1 to 4, inclusive, and to the latter two similar phratries, including gentes 5 to 8.

Tciⁿju half-tribe–Thunder or Fire phratry: Gens 1, Hisada, Legs-stretched-out-stiff (refers to a dead quadruped); Thunder people. Gens 2, Touch-not-the-skin-of-a-black-bear. Wind-makers or War phratry: Gens 3, C̸ixida, Wildcat (in two subgentes: 1, Sinde-agc̷ĕ, Wears-tails, i.e., locks of hair; Naqc̷e-it‘ajĭ, Does-not-touch-charcoal; and Waseʇu-it‘ajĭ, Does-not-touch-verdigris. 2, Wami-it‘ajĭ, Does-not-touch-blood). Gens 4, Nika-da-ɔna, "Bald human-head;" Elk people (in at least three subgentes: 1, e-sinde-it‘ajĭ, Does-not-touch-a-buffalo-tail; 2, e c̷eze c̷atajĭ, Does-not-eat-buffalo-tongues; 3, aqti kĭ Aⁿpaⁿc̷atajĭ, Does-not-eat-deer-and-elk).

Wajaje half-tribe—Earth phratry: Gens 5, Maʞaⁿ, Medicine, a buffalo gens, also called e-sĭnde it‘ajĭ Does-not-touch-buffalo-tails (in two subgentes: 1, Real Ponka, Keepers-of-a-sacred-pipe; 2, Gray Ponka). Gens 6, Wacabe, Dark buffalo (in two subgentes: 1, e-sĭnde,

  
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Buffalo tail, or e-c̷eze c̷atajĭ, Does-not-eat-buffalo-tongues, or e jiñga c̷atajĭ, Does-not-eat-a-very-young-buffalo-calf; 2, e-da it‘ajĭ, Does-not-touch-a-buffalo-head or skull). Water phratry (?): Gens 7, Wajaje, Osage (in two subgentes at present: 1, Dark Osage, Keepers-of-a-sacred-pipe, or Waseʇu-it‘ajĭ, Does-not-touch-verdigris, or Naqc̷e-it‘ajĭ, Does-not-touch-charcoal; 2, Gray Osage, or Wĕs‘ă wet‘ajĭ, Does-not-touch-serpents; 3, Necta, an Owl subgens, now extinct). Gens 8, Nuqe, Reddish-yellow buffalo (miscalled Nuxe, Ice). Subgentes uncertain, but there are four taboo names: Does-not-touch-a-buffalo-head (or skull), Does-not-touch-a-buffalo-calf, Does-not-touch-the-yellow-hide-of-a-buffalo-calf, and Does-not-eat-buffalo-tongues.

< THE OMAHA

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THE QUAPAW OR KWAPA >