148 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. IV. 



of the clog root and of the red berries at the four cardinal points and 

 emptied the contents of the sacks into the kettle. 



Chanitoe took up a large, long-handled ladle of sheep's horn, with 

 which he made four motions toward the water, each motion being 

 accompanied by a similar movement on the part of Hdwkan with the 

 pipe-stem. He dipped the ladle into the southwest corner of the kettle 

 and poured the liquid back into the center. This performance was 

 repeated, but with one motion and with one ejection of spittle and one 

 movement of the pipe-stem on the part of Hdwkan, in the northwest, 

 northeast, and southeast corners. Four movements were then made 

 toward the center by both Chanitoe and Hdwkan, whereupon the 

 former thoroughly stirred the contents of the kettle. 



The kettle was placed over the fire, upon the tripod, where it 

 remained for some time, until the water began to boil. During this 

 time Hdwkan continued to discuss the rites of the ceremony and to 

 explain to the priests present, that as the sacred water was taken from 

 this tipi of preparation to the Offerings-lodge, it should be carried in 

 the right hand only, and that it should be "hidden from him." The 

 old priest, Hawkan's informant, did not explain what this meant, but 

 Hawkan supposed that he referred to the sun. 



When the kettle began to boil, Chanitoe took a coal from the fire 

 and placed it in front of Hawkan. He also lifted the kettle from the 

 fire and placed it at Hawkan's right. The latter opened a bag of 

 cedar-leaves, a pinch of which he placed upon the coal, making first 

 four passes from each of the cardinal points, beginning with the east 

 and continuing on the south, west, and north toward the coal, and 

 finally motioning his hand from above. He arose, lifted the kettle, 

 and passed it over the incense, with a circular motion, four times, 

 beginning each motion on the north side, and passing the kettle in a 

 sunwise circuit. He set the kettle down on the ground and prayed: 



hawkan's prayer. 



"Please, Father, Man- Above, do not get impatient at our constant 

 prayers. You caused the cedar tree to grow and from it we get leaves 

 for our incense for this pure water. 



"Come and live with us, you Spirits, Supernatural-Beings, and 

 help us in our supplications! We have boiled this water; placed the 

 root and eating-berries upon it, and it is now prepared. Poor and 

 humble as we are in this wdrld, surrounded by white people, please do 

 have mercy upon us! May this cloud of smoke (incense) reach your 

 nostrils, my Father and my Grandmother! Let our circuits (the 

 courses with the sun, during the day) be firm, and free from accidents! 



