532 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1895. 



The k-i'uqalaLala goes around the fire saying ^'lioip, hoip, hoip, hoip," 

 and then takes the h I'mats'a's clothing and cedar bark ornaments off. 

 Then Ts'c'qanic gives the signal to the people to begin beating time, and 

 as soon as they begin he i)nts one end of the cedar bark into the fire. He 

 runs around tlie fire until he comes to the place where the ha/mats'a is 

 sitting. Here he swings the burning bark over the ha/matsa's head, and 

 at the same time the latter turns around sf^uatting and crying "hap, 

 hap, hap." Ts'e'qame goes around the fire once more, and keeping 

 his eye on the ha'mats'a until he reaches him tlie second time he swings 

 again the burning cedar bark over his head. This is done four times. 

 This is called nawa'qama. Then the he/lig-a lift the ha'mats'a, lug him 

 around the fire, and take him into the ma'wiL. The master of cere- 

 monies now calls the ye'wix-ila and asks him to pay Ts'e'qame for his 

 work. The ye'wix-ila goes into his bedroom and brings out a button 

 blanket, which he gives to him. Then the ye'wix-ila asks the master 

 of ceremonies or one of his relatives to distribute the rest of the brass 

 bracelets, coj^pers, and button blankets among the people. Each 

 person receives one stick of bracelets, one stick of coppers, and one 

 button blanket. 



Now all the profane must leave the house. The door is closed and 

 the j)urification of the ha'mats'a begins. Four men must take part 

 in this ceremony, — the kue'ts'cnox or the washer, the qa'nenox or 

 the rubber, the ts'e'silaenox or the tongsmaker, and the t'a'mtse- 

 nox or the time beater. Whatever these men ask for incidentally 

 to the ceremcmy must be given to them, and they retain it as their 

 X)ersonal property. When everything is quiet, the ts'e'silaenox asks 

 for a piece of cedar board about 6 feet long, for a wedge, and for a 

 stone hammer. After this is brought to him, the t'a'mtsenox sits 

 down in his i)lace ready to beat time. Then the ts'e'silaenox asks for 

 a belt. After he has received it, he i)uts it on, goes around the fire 

 four times, carrying a rattle in his hand, w^hile the t'a'mts'enox is beat- 

 ing time. He does not sing, but says -'hoip, hoip." After he has gone 

 around the fire four times, he stops, puts his rattle down, and stoops 

 three times, as though he was going to take up the hammer and wedge, 

 but he does not really take it until he stoops down the fourth time. 

 Every time he stoops the t'a'mtsenox gives a short rap on the board. 

 Then the ts'e'silaenox goes around the fire until he comes to the place 

 where the board is lying on the ground. He steps up to it, turns once 

 to the left, i>uts his wedge against the board, and pretends to drive it 

 in with his stone hammer, but he takes it off again, turns once more to 

 the left, and places it a second and third time against the board. 

 The fourth time he really, with one hard blow, drives the wedge into the 

 board and splits it. Then he asks the yc/wix-ila for a knife, and after 

 it is given to him he makes a pair of tongs out of the cedar board. 

 Then he asks for a clean mat and for a piece of soft white cedar bark. 

 He takes it uj) with his tongs, goes around the fire, and gives it to the 



