FEWKEs] PURPOSE OF DANCES 1011 
The priest prays to this representation of the god by scattering meal 
upon it, and the god has but to look about him on the altar to know 
what is wanted. Observe how the pantomime of imitating falling 
rain is performed in this way. The priest dips his aspergill in the 
medicine and asperges in turn to the six cardinal points in representa- 
tion of falling rain, and this is symbolic of what the priest wishes the 
gods of the six directions to do. 
The priest at another time asperges on a sand-picture symbol of a 
rain-cloud for the same reason—he shows what he wishes the Rain 
gods to do, viz, to sprinkle the earth with rain. 
Again, the priest pours water into his medicine bowl from six direc- 
tions to show the gods that he desires them to send rain from the six 
directions of the known world. He blows an immense cloud of smoke 
on the altar because he wishes clouds to appear. The act has the 
same significance—it is a prayer for the rain-cloud which the Rain 
gods may understand. For this purpose also the priest sounds his 
whizzer—to imitate the thunder which accompanies the rain. 
For this same purpose also the figures of aquatic animals—the tad- 
pole and the frog—which supposedly bring the rain, are displayed 
because they are silent prayers for rain. Hence, also, the Antelope 
priests wear rain-cloud symbols on their kilts and zigzag lightning 
marks on their bodies and limbs. 

