188 [--O] TRANS. ST. LOUIS ACAD. SCIENCE. 



Following his indications, the seats of the Kasi'hta square 

 are occupied as follows during the busk festival : The western 

 partition of the northern shed is held by the warriors or 

 tustenakis, the three others by the wild-cat, fox, panther, and 

 itamalgi gentes. The front seat in the westernmost corner is occu- 

 pied by the hiVli opunaya ox war-speaker (Cbi)^ who had to be con- 

 sulted on war questions and military mattei"s, and has been com- 

 pared to our '' Secretary ©f War." The other seven front seats 

 next to each partition pillar (+) are held by busk officials called 

 ima'Ia, who had to act as masters of ceremonies. Two pots filled 

 with miko-huyanidsha stand in front of the shed upon the area 

 of the square. 



In the -vestern shed one of the middle front seats is occupied 

 by the town-chief or miko (2/), who among the Kasi'htas is always 

 selected from the bear-clan or nokusalgi. Immediately to the 

 north of him sits the vice-chief (+), who is elected from the bear- 

 clan also. Around and behind these dignitaries the men of the 

 alligator and of the fish gens are occupying seats. Three pots 

 of black-drink, etc., are placed in front of this shed. 



The western front seat of the southern shed is assigned to 

 another dignitary, called Kosi miko (©), selected from the beaver 

 gens exclusively. He and the talua hiniha 'lako, or "grand 

 hiniha of the town," who sits in the partition corner next to 

 him (+), had the privilege of appointing another miko in case of 

 death or incapacity, provided the two agreed upon the same 

 person. They tried by their most suggestive means of oratory 

 to persuade him to accept the office ; afterwards he was silently 

 recognized as chief by the whole community. In the same shed 

 are sitting, in succession from west to east, the men of the bea- 

 ver, wind, ahalakalgi, bird, and deer gens. Two pots stand 

 in front of the southern shed. 



The eastern shed is not occupied by any officials, but re- 

 served to women, children, and strangers. No medicine -pots 

 are placed in front of this shed. 



On the last day of the busk dancing is going on between the 

 northern and western sheds. During the festivities the men dance 

 around the fire in the central part, and then women are not ad- 

 mitted there, though they are on other dance-occasions. The 



