PRELIMINARY CEREMONY. 



a. BAHOLAWU. (MAKE BAHOS.) 



Eight days before the beginning of the Odqol ceremony, a few of 

 the leaders, usually Masatoiniwa, Homikini, and Qoyangosi,' assemble 

 early in the morning in the ancestral home of the Sand clan for the 

 so-called bdholawu (baho-making). On this occasion usually the fol- 

 lowing prayer-offerings are made: 



By Masatoiniwa, one baho, one pflhu, and eight nakwdkwosis. 



By Ngdsi, eight nakwakwosis. 



By Homikini, eight nakwakwosis. 



In case other women are present^ they also make four nakwak- 

 wosis each. 



These are disposed of as follows, after all have smoked on them: 

 The baho made by Masdtoiniwa, as well as four of his, four of Homi- 

 kini's, and four of Ngdsi's nakwdkwosis are taken to the kikmongwi's 

 house for further disposition in the evening. All other nakwakwosis, 

 one from each participant, are deposited north, west, south, and east 

 of the village, by different members of the Society, who are called in 

 for that purpose if they have not participated in the baho-making. 



b. TIHTINGAPYANGWU. (CONSECRATING.) 



In the evening Ng6si proceeds to the house of the kikmongwi (vil- 

 lage chief ), where she is met by the kikmongwi Lololoma (No. i, PI. IV), 

 his brother Shokhungioma, and their sister Pungfian6msi,^ and the 

 chdakmongwi (crier chief Lomdnkwa). (See No. 2, PI. IV.) The tray 

 with the prayer offerings brought by Ng6si from the house of the Sand 

 clan, as already stated, is placed on the floor, and those present assemble 

 around it, squatting on the floor. All smoke over the tray, and then 

 each one picks up the tray and utters a prayer over it, whereupon 

 usually a few words are said about the approaching ceremony. From 

 this and from the prayers or talks uttered over the prayer-offerings 

 this little ceremony is sometimes also called mongwlalawaiyi (chief's 



' This priestess is usually called by her abbreviated name, Ngosi, and will be so called through- 

 out the paper. 



' While Lololoma is really the village chief, his brother and sister are also often called 

 kfkmongwi. This otlice and its privileges seem to be vested rather in the family than in one particular 

 member of it. The ancestral home of this family is now occupied by Pungiianomsi, and here this 

 meeting takes place. 



