144 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. IV, 



gave to Watdngaa a piece of root, which he placed in his mouth, and 

 after chewing it a moment, spat upon his hands, which he rubbed over 

 his head. Some small pieces of this root were passed to the other 

 members of the circle. Hdwkan, with his pipe-stem, made four passes 

 toward the eaith, and next indicated a semicircular space to Wadnibe, 

 then the latter took an axe, and made four passes at each corner of 

 the indicated space, and one in the center. The axe was then passed 

 to Bech^aye, who did the same. They began digging with the axe, 

 loosening the earth. Watangaa and Chanitoe continued the work with 

 knives, making an excavation about a foot in diameter and four inches 

 deep, the dirt being placed in a blanket, which was lying between 

 Wadnibe and Hawkan. When they had finished the excavation, 

 Wadnibe deposited the dirt at the foot of the center-pole. The 

 bucket of hot water was then passed in near the excavation. 



A bag of pounded red berries and one of pounded herbs was 

 opened. Hdwkan took the bag of pounded berries, and taking a pinch 

 in his hand dropped a little in the southeast corner, then in the south- 

 west corner, and so on around the edge of the pail, his assistants 

 following his example, until the sack was entirely emptied. Hdwkan 

 took up the sack of pounded roots, and as before, gave a pinch to 

 each of the assistants, whereupon all repeated the preceding perform- 

 ance until the pounded root was all placed in the pail. 



Watdngaa handed Hdwkan the large spoon, whereupon the latter 

 told Watdngaa how to use it. The latter dipped up a tiny portion of 

 the liquid, thrusting the spoon first on the east side, second on the 

 south, third on the west, and finally on the north side. The spoon 

 was now passed to Wadnibe, who did the same, then to the Lodge- 

 Maker, then Chanitoe, and so on around the circle, the spoon being 

 passed in a dextral circuit. As the spoon was dipped in the central 

 portion by each one, after the four corners had been disturbed, it was 

 noticed that considerable more of the liquid was taken up at this point 

 than at the corners. When the spoon finally came to Wadnibe, she 

 thrust the spoon to the bottom. All this time the dried berries and 

 herbs were being thoroughly mixed with the water. Watdngaa passed 

 Hdwkan the wooden bowl, who taking it in both hands made four 

 passes, and then deposited it in the excavation which had been so 

 made as to receive the bowl. 



Watdngaa gave to Hdwkan a sage stem, which he straightened 

 and used as a rule to divide the bowl into halves, by placing it 

 across the rim of the bowl. While he held the stem in this position, 

 Watdngaa painted the north half of the rim of the bowl with the black- 

 ened tallow, Chanftoe and Debithe, during this operation, holding the 



