MICHELSON ] OWL SACRED PACK OF THE FOX INDIANS 17 
the first time. Then the second time, the Kicko™*’ begins to speak. 
Then after they have ceased dancing for the third time, again the 
To kan™*. And after they have ceased dancing for the fourth 
time, then the Kick6™" prays to the manitou for a healthy life. 
This, indeed, is the time, namely, at sunrise, when those cele- 
brating the gens festival have indeed begun singing. Nearly at 
sunset verily is when they have completed the gens festival. They 
do not hold gens festivals for a short period, as this is against their 
religion. (It should last until) the sun shall set. 
Those celebrating the gens festival are not to go out at all. If 
they have seated themselves comfortably, there is where they are 
to sit all day. Nor is any one supposed to go out, prematurely. 
If, nevertheless, he does go out prematurely, then indeed, so it is 
said, he shall go at once to where he dwells. They have tobacco 
there to take out with them. ‘Then they will burn it as an offering 
to that owl. It is said that only the old, those who have indeed be- 
come white headed, may continue to enter back (again). Now as 
for the young people. If they go out, they go home. It is said that 
it is against their religion for them to enter back again, that is, the 
young people who are celebrating the gens festival. 
As for those invited, when the ceremonial attendants had merely 
started to talk at length, they ceased going out. 
Nor, it is said, did they then keep on talking to each other. Assoon 
as 0’ ndtci*”’? was pronounced, then, indeed, every one ceased talk- 
ing. Straightway, even those who were smoking would all remove 
their pipes from their mouths.'_ No onesmoked there during a speech. 
All sat very quietly. Only it is said that sometimes babies cried there 
during a speech. Then it was customary for the parent to go out. 
Then indeed she would go to where they lived. When she had arrived 
she would take off her finery where she (first) took it. This, it is said, 
is the way they did. 
Twice during an entire summer they worshiped this sacred pack. 
And when they celebrated a gens festival in winter, they merely sang, 
no one danced; nor did they use dancing songs; nor did they smoke; 
nor did they untie this sacred pack: they merely had it (there). 
Moreover, they did not blow the flute. It was merely that exactly 
as they began to sing they merely rattled the gourds; at the time 
they did not beat the drum. Moreover, it was only the one giving 
the gens festival that made a speech. And after they had eaten any 
one that desired began to make a speech. This is what they did. 
The women merely hum (the songs). Any one that feels inclined, 
hums. Not only the women celebrating the gens festival, but also 
1 A free rendition. 
147567°—21—-2 
